Buy new amp or new speakers for more power

You have presented a great question here......I recently debated what to do myself with sound quality and getting to hear what I want to hear from my system. I have a set of Sonus Faber Grand Pianos (love them!) But I said to myself "somethign is missing" I thought about getting a larger amp in 2 channel from the company that made my surround amp (Rotel) or getting a larger surround amp from Rotel, or starting fresh. I went with starting fresh, and ended up using 2 Classe CA101's is a mono configuration. What this did was provide me with enough power, current and controll to roll into the volume knob with out distorting. With less than 5 hrs on the amps, I started to hear details and such that I had not experienced ever before. I am a huge fan of buying a quality 2 channel or even better (if your budget or wife will allow) 2 mono amps. A set of Classe 101's will run you approx 3000 to 3200 bucks, and It will out perform a 2 channel amp rated at 2x300 from the same company. A set of mono's will give you a much greater reduction in noise, a huge increase in controll, and in many instances 2 smaller amps will save you money over 1 large one.

If you like your speakers, get more amp. You'll always be able to use a better/more powerful amp.

If you like your amp, get more efficient speakers.

I had some Hales speakers and they needed more power, so I got some big monoblocks. Then I sold the speakers for reasons unrelated to their performance.

When I replaced the speakers later, I got more efficient speakers (not because I needed more efficient speakers -- I just like the Aerial 9's, and it happens that they were much more efficient) so I now rarely use a fraction of the amps' capability.

All said and done, replace your weakest link.

R

A good sub will provide the heft you are looking for and take the load off of the amp you now own, just another option to think about.

Dave

I would not consider using the amp to 'bi-amp' your speakers. I don't think that is going to do what you seem to want to accomplish.

I don't think the amp is up to the job! There are a lot of good used 200 wpc amps available on AudiogoN that would do a much better job driving your speakers.

You did not mention a budget so it is difficult to make recommendations. I saw a B&K ST 140 for about $300 or there was a Pair of Wolcott 200 watt monoblocks for around $5000, not to mention 100s of other amps in between.

A little more info would help.