Surprised at the suggestion equating lower power amps with better sound. My experience has been the opposite, and seeing mention of the Lavardin, I recently heard an integrated (55w per channel?), into Harbeth 30.1s on orchestral and other classical. My perception was that at the volumes I wanted, which were subjectively ‘appropriate’ to the music, but not that high, it was running out of steam. Same with a 30w Nait 3 into the 30.1s, but more so.
I thought the Lavardin SQ was fine at a moderate volumes (not my intention to knock it), so would be okay if I wanted to listen quietly, or had to restrict volume levels for other reasons. However, where dynamic range and transients are important, IÂ’d want a more powerful amp to do justice to the music, and my experience is that such an amp delivers SQ just as well. IMO 100watts in a domestic hifi amp is arguably not excessive and is a perhaps a useful benchmark. There are even more powerful options out there e,g, Quad, Rotel, at 200watts come easily to mind.