How much is too much...

Buy an amp that has enough power to drive your speakers in your room. Less efficent speakers and a large room will need more power.

Never buy ANY equipment on some magazine review or someone else's opinion. Go listen for yourself and buy the one that sounds the best to you. Insure that you can have an extended listening session. I made the mistake purchasing a bright system when I first got into this. Only if I would have listened to the system for an hour or so I probably would not have made this mistake.

Too little power is more of a problem than too much power.

Excellent answers above. If you could tell us what speakers you will be driving, this would be a good starting point and go from there.

You should buy what sounds best to you, no one elses' opinions matter!

Hi, Banksfriend, when you suggest other peoples opinions don't matter, does that also include your opinion? Forums = other opinions. But I understand & agree with you that your suggesting Thegoldenear should go with what sounds the best to him. I am quite certain that is how it will turn out in the end anyway. Good deal!