Basic question about impedance and watts

Unsound,

I *think* that I know where you are coming from: if we have a 100W amp then 100W is the max. output power whereas the user usually never uses 100W. This is your line of thinking. Am I right?

ASSUMING I understood your line of reasoning: if we have a 100W amp & we want 90dB SPL @ 9.9 ft then we need 10W. We are using 10% of the total power. If we need to put out 100dB SPL, the amp has the reserve (as it is a 100W amp) so we are not yet tapping into its dynamic headroom. We are simply using the amp within its power rating.

Now what happens if we need to create 103dB SPL? We will need 200W! Where's that going to come from? The amp is already operating at max output power of 100W to create 100dB SPL.
Well, if this amp has 3dB dynamic headroom then it'll be able to put out 200W momentarily.
Dynamic Headroom always refers to an amp's max. power rating because within the amp's power rating there is no need to tap into the dynamic headroom i.e. you can use the amp within its rated spec.
The concept of "headroom" always refers to going beyond the max. rated spec (& NOT the steady-state power UNLESS your steady-state power consumption is at the amp's limit! Very rarely! However, we do have some head-bangers amongst us). You'll see the same for tape decks (atleast my Denon tape-deck does).
Hope this clarifies some.

Bombaywalla, you've got the idea. I think it was NAD, maybe 20 years ago, that was really pushing this concept. It does make some sense for budget gear. Of course there are no free rides and you rareley see more ambitious products touting this concept, even if they are capable of it.

Try Nad power...cheap,clean, and very musical...the c370 is in your ballpark..more than enough power for Thiels...I use the c350 with 4 ohm loads...and believe me...it is very loud in my 16 x 20 room...good luck...

I've found Aragon's customer service to be as good as Thiel's. Also, the laid back sound should take the "bite" off of the thiels nicely.

With all due respect to Elevick, I believe that Mondial the parent company for Aragon has recently been bought by Harmon. Judging by the previous comments posted here on Audiogon, I think it's fair to say that Harmon's reputation for customer service has been less than sterling. While Harmon may make a special case with these higher-end products, only time will tell and I think that untill further notice there may be more risk to owning Mondial products than previous owners may be accustomed to.