Heh, this is a tough one. One manufactures 100wpc sounds totally different then the next one. It greatly depends on a few very important factors:
Speakers efficentcy, room size, amperage output from a given amplifier, and finally, source material.
How loud do you want it to be? What kind of music do you prefer? Are you a bass, mid or highs person?
Much of this revolves around personal preferance. Even so, a good amplfier will usually, atleast, halve it's output as the load presented to it drops, for example:
100wpc into 8ohms, 150 into 4ohms and 200 into 2 ohms.
Remember as currant rises, voltage drops, and visa versa.
Really good amplfiers not only perfom to the above, and, far beyond this, but maitain the same "musical qualities" as they do at low output levels until they near their respective clipping power. Amperage, IMHO, is more important than wattage, this beyond a certain point of course- say 50wpc as a starting point for moderate output from say a 90db rated speaker system, and a good quality amplfier of course.
The biggest upgrade I have ever actually recieved a "thrill" factor from was in the source, in my case, my CD player of choice- Audio Refinement (YBA), it smoked my Denon 1650AR, and both my Sony ES players, as well as the previous Rotel I had.
It's up to you, but just remember the above, you'll do fine if you choose with you ears and not "glam factor".
Speakers efficentcy, room size, amperage output from a given amplifier, and finally, source material.
How loud do you want it to be? What kind of music do you prefer? Are you a bass, mid or highs person?
Much of this revolves around personal preferance. Even so, a good amplfier will usually, atleast, halve it's output as the load presented to it drops, for example:
100wpc into 8ohms, 150 into 4ohms and 200 into 2 ohms.
Remember as currant rises, voltage drops, and visa versa.
Really good amplfiers not only perfom to the above, and, far beyond this, but maitain the same "musical qualities" as they do at low output levels until they near their respective clipping power. Amperage, IMHO, is more important than wattage, this beyond a certain point of course- say 50wpc as a starting point for moderate output from say a 90db rated speaker system, and a good quality amplfier of course.
The biggest upgrade I have ever actually recieved a "thrill" factor from was in the source, in my case, my CD player of choice- Audio Refinement (YBA), it smoked my Denon 1650AR, and both my Sony ES players, as well as the previous Rotel I had.
It's up to you, but just remember the above, you'll do fine if you choose with you ears and not "glam factor".