Have you moved away from full range to standmount speakers + subs?

@douglas_schroeder --

... Better big tower speakers make nearly all bookshelf/monitor speakers sound wanting, especially if they do not have a subwoofer(s) associated. One of the most telling characteristics of larger speakers is their ability to create a sense of scale that smaller speakers cannot.

I very much agree on the above, but below quoted sentiment of yours strikes me as peculiarly "heated."

I use the Legacy Audio i.V4 Ultra Amplifier following the review at Dagogo.com on all speakers, even the very efficient PureAudioProject Quintet15 Horn (reviewed). You bet I put 600wpc on that speaker because it seems like a completely different experience than some pissy 100W tube amp. I have zero interest in such pathetic amplification, which is also noisier than the Legacy amp. Want a downgraded experience? Feel free to go that route. Lower power tube lovers think they’re genius, but they are hearing insipid sound. Whatever.

Sufficient amp power, not only as a measure of stated wattage, is very much dependent on overall speaker load and not least efficiency. Take +100dB all-horn speakers, 16 ohm load and relatively benign phase angle behavior even, and 15 watts + brute power supply SET's can make 'em sound beastly and beautiful indeed. Subs I'd pair with powerful high wattage SS amps in any case.  

I'm very much for the importance of headroom and amps being less affected by speaker load, also saying that on principle I don't disagree with you on the importance of having (more than) enough amp power at hand, but make your setup an active one and the relative importance of amp quality is somewhat lessened seeing directly into into each driver segment without the interference of a passive cross-over. Practically speaking this (i.e.: passive configuration) is, in my mind, the foremost reason for amps sounding different, and close to the only thing that partially validates ridiculously over-build amps costing upwards of smaller houses. 

My own fully actively driven speaker setup has more than 2,5kW in total (divided over 3 amps) with a speaker sensitivity ranging from 97dB to 111dB's, by no means anemic, but I've heard low SET-powered and passively configured all-horn setups sounding anything but malnourished as well, so I guess it goes to show.  

I have both. I swap them out to keep things interesting and love both the set ups. IME, the monitors do a more precise imaging. I went through quite a few monitors and the difference is substantial in relation to the sound stage and imaging. Enjoy the ride!

phusis, good points! Yes, I concur that when one reaches the far end of the speaker efficiency spectrum that extreme amp power is not necessary. I was thinking of speakers more in the range of 4-8 Ohm and 80 to mid 90's sensitivity. Nice clarification, thank you! 

Then why the blanket condemnation of tube amplification and dismissal out of hand? I dont think you do yourself any favors when you post nonsense like that paragraph on these forums. As if you have heard all the "pissy" 100W tube amps made. As phisus points out, the speaker/amp interaction is key. Just because the PAP speaker you discuss is higher efficiency doesnt mean that it is a tube friendly speaker. 

I also have separate systems, one with towers and the other with monitors/subs and each have their strengths. My listening training was with floor standers and is why I’m unable to fully appreciate the monitors. Difficult to undo what you know.