Integrated amplifier for Fritz Speakers

The specs for the Fritz Carbon state they are 87 dB sensitive, meaning that one watt to one speaker will play at that volume with the measuring microphone 1 meter in front of the speaker in an anechoic chamber. 

So, not surprising that's what your meters show for the listening volume you reported.

All that extra power is for when you listen a lot louder or play music with big dynamic peaks over the average level.

Yes that’s how it works !

fyi, while the 70’s Yamaha sounded great (and fun), I took it out and put the Van Alstine back in.  There’s just a whole order of magnitude of resolution between the two. 
Would love to hear these Carbons with an amp that’s just a smidge brighter… such as the Belles that keeps getting mentioned.

I know people have had success with Pass xa25 or int-25, though I wonder… would those be maybe too soft for Carbons and better suited to the Carreras?

But , my goodness, these speakers really create quite the presentation despite what powers them.  So happy with my purchase from Fritz.

Hegel!!!

I have Vandersteen VLR CT and the AVA SET 120 control amplifier in my den system (with Naim Uniti Atom preamp/DAC/streamer), which is a great pairing. Really brought those smooth carbon tweeters alive. If you go with the beryllium tweeter, Belles Aria would have great synergy I think. I had a Belles Aria, upgraded to Aria Signature which is in main system currently, paired with Focal 1007 Be standmounts with a beryllium tweeter.  I think surprisingly I preferred the $1500 AVA SET 120 over the $4400 Belles Aria Signature with the Vandersteen VLR CT. 

Fritz Carbon SE $2800 + AVA Control SET 120 $1399 — $4199

Fritz Carrera 7 $3800 + Belles Aria $2495 — $6295