How can I tell if I need more power?

DWPC

you have an excellent pair of speakers that you have not heard in their true resolving nature. You owe it to yourself to do a take home demo of some fine amps and preamps to hear what the Vandy's are truly capable of.

I used to swim in the world of good midfi - NAD amps

I made the jump to Audio Research several years ago and never looked back. there is plenty of good top end gear that can be had relatively inexpensively used to help you make that next dramatic and vital step.

As for whether you have too little power, if you are hearing distortion of quick loud passages in the music you may be clipping the amplifier. Probably not. But if you audition a full bodied amp and pre that let the music be registered fully then you'll really seem how much music you have been missing

Tom

If you think you need more power , which you probaly do try a NAD C-370, i just got one and its GREAT 120 wpc you cant go wrong, it drives my massive JBL floorstanders real loud and clear with barely even getting warmed up.

1.mids are "far away from you" in the soundstage
2.the sound of drum doesn't stop on time
3.bass responce is "trailing behind"

4.heavy speaker load for amplifier may cause it to oscilate

always remember that it is easier to blow drivers with the lower power amp than with higher.

Vandees will rock and sing with Pass X250 or VTL Mb125 monos will do approximately the same as Pass or even better.

With tubes in fact you can go bellow lowest power requirement upto 60W/ch.