More power for better sound at low volumes?

I like the comment about power supplies. We've been using HEXFREDs for 17 years; getting rid of the noise floor is a big deal when you have to run the amp at lower power levels.

In amplifiers if there are published specs, look for the distortion to decline linearly towards zero without a dip and increase as power decreases. You will find that this rules about about 90% of existing amplifiers, but if you play the amp at low power a lot is well worth while; IMO that is true even if you don't.

I went from sim i5.3 (85) to kwi 200 (200)a side.Absolutly yes.Has all the bass definition and dynamics intact.Really had to strain to hear(plus im getting Old)with lower wattage amp.

"Better sound," as pointed out by some of the comments here, is such a nebulous concept and means quite different things to different people, depending on what type of musical experience they prefer. Notice that I say "musical," for surely the passion that music may or not display is primary to and not always related to the sound, as many people assume. In fact, mild distortion is sometimes capable of adding a pleasant dimension to the music and can add to its enjoyment. About a year ago, I authored an approach to musical enjoyment on my own website, www.tut37alive.net/ and I think I titled it "So You Want to Buy a High-End Stereo?" Though my site covers such topics as Love. Death, Morality, etc., some readers may find it interesting.

The "key" in the question posed by Rustler was: ALL 'things' being 'equal'!
Rustler, having been a sales consultant for Clevelands' premiere A/V dealer and a CERTIFIED electronics tech since 1984, 'it' really does come down to 'basic electronics'!

IT TAKES TEN TIMES (10X) THE POWER FOR A HUMAN TO PERCEIVE SOUND TO BE TWICE (2X) AS LOUD…PERIOD.

YES . . . more (QUALITY) power will provide a 'cleaner' LOW-VOLUME sound, ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL!

HOPE 'THIS' HELPS, WITHOUT ALL THE 'TWEAKY-BABBLE'!

"If not, what is the secret to better low volume sound?"

A good pure class A ss amp or a good SET amp would be half the equation. The other half would be the right speaker. Many multiple way speakers do not sound coherent until they are turned up a bit.

Sometime in your journey you should try a SET mated with an appropriate speaker. It's may not be the end of the road for you but I think will be "near" the end.