Newbie amp help......why?

Be afraid... be very afraid... one false step here and you'll have fallen into the abyss of audiofoolishness, from which, few ever return.

Sure... it's just a thought about adding an amp, or more subtley, just a harmless question regarding amps. Before you know it, you'll have a new Mercedes sitting in front of your couch! ;-)

Loudness isn't the only reason folks seek out additional, or replacement amplification.

Refinements,quality, both sonically and in regard to the overall builde, are also notes why going to an outboard amp is a valid endeavor. Chiefly, it's the sound though.

80% of the music (perhaps more), is made in the first 20 watts.... consequently, adding an amp 'just for watts sake', isn't usually the best path to follow as it seldom relates to sonic improvement.

Adding any 'this or that' item to a "what ever" product (outside of a pure replacement part) is generally intended to increase performance. In the case of audio, the performance increase is determined 'subjectively' by the sound it makes after the change/addition.

Louder is easy... better is not so easy.

Many separate amps however, will surpass the performance level of those within a receiver handily.

Your current limiting factor (s) is the power train and source, mainly. I suspect there are other areas you’ll need to address as well.

Personally, I like receivers. Though they do have their limitations. The very best idea I think you can proceed with is to make up your mind as to how you wish to go from here. Multi Channel? Or 2Ch. Wanna proceed modestly, or hock the family jewels?

Like yourself, though by sheer chance in my case, I heard a system a while back which simply floored me. Absolutely, hands down, flat out, the sweetest sounding rig I’d ever heard. Natural. Rich…. And wet. Full of body, and harmonic rightness.

Then I found out the price tag…. I did ponder a spurious withdrawal from a bank wherein I had no account, but the thought of a quick and clean getaway nixed the whole thing for me.

Long story short, and many here can attest as well, today my system I feel is superior to that one I heard several years ago. In fact I know it’s superior to a few others whose tags exceed good sense… and I’ve greater flexibility now with my own rig, than did that particular one. BTW that rig I heard also convinced me, as perhaps it did you, it’s what’s up front that counts.

Speakers alone will not pull off the show.

Take a gander at the other virtual rigs here on display… one can even just copy one for themselves… or by addition and subtraction, even improve upon them… That is as easy a way to go as I can think while avoiding a fair number of miscues along the way.

Or, go as I did. Ask. Listen. Research. Try. As you go you’ll find the sound you want. SS? Tubes? SET? Integrated? Digital? Analog? PC based? As it appears you’ve encountered the WAF factor already, I’d suggest a nice integrated unit. Perhaps a hybrid unit, so you can get a taste of what tubes can do for you… or not. Simple. One less set of ic’s… and usually they ain’t large overbearing or intimidating things. Many are elegant and very nice looking too.

Then I’d advise a source upgrade… or at the same time… there’s really no right or wrong way… just shorter and longer. Integrateds are a shorter path, but no shortcut in sonics and I’m near certain the improvements will easily reveal themselves over your current rigs performance.

Further, IF you tire of it, then the addition of an amp might make more sense, as you will have improved upon the preamp aspect as well.

However, do take some time first off to shuffle them speakers about a little and throw some sofa cushions into the corners behind them, Put some plants at the first reflection points and check that out! You should gain greater focus of the sound stage, right then and there.

Cabling, isolation, power conditioning, and room acoustics can be done as you go. . . . and they all do really matter.

Do have a good time and involve your better half as much as she is willing, and enjoy…. It’s all up from here.

BTW... I'm now the proud owner of a vintage XKE. It's a fixer upper, but it runs like a deer, handles very well, and is easy on gas. It doesn't get out much, and it really excels at big band jazz, vocals, blues, and pretty much anything but rap. rap seems to make it anxious and testy.