What power is required to drive Paradigm 100's

Replying to questions with more questions...

How loudly do you crank it up?
How large is the volume of your listening area? Is it smaller and maybe an enclosed area w/ 4 solid walls, or is it larger with maybe a cathedral ceiling or larger openings to other rooms or hallways?
Do you plan to employ "just" the 100s or also use a subwoofer?
And do you like your 3803 or do you really want to upgrade that too and the 100s could be a darned good reason? ;~)

All of those matter (along w/ any room treatment and maybe even what you usually listen to). The 100s do seem to love lotsa electrons so considering your amp section is a good thing now.

One last question - have you considered just adding an amp? You should be able to get something really decent here on A-gon if you don't mind used. There are all sorts of powerful options (depending on your budget), and you could probably just add the amp for a fraction of the cost of a new receiver.

You could just get the 100s and try them w/ the 3803 - if you like 'em as-is then you're not out of pocket for anything more than the speakers.

How big is your room and how loud do you wnat it to be? I'm running Studio 80s with a 100w/ch. Harman-Kardon 5 ch. amp and it gets plenty loud in my 25'x15' room. The Studio 100s should produce similar sound pressure leves with the same input...

-RW-

I too have upgraded from the 40's to the 80's. I know it's not the 100's, but I bought 4 Studio 80's and the Studio center channel. I am currently running a Yamaha RXV1 and still am not fully satisfied. The RXV1 is rated at 110 watts per channel. I think you will be wise to go to separates, or a power amp and use your receiver for a processor. I heard the 80's with a Bryston set up and the clarity and soundstage was unbelievable. If you can afford to buy the extra power, do it! Don't get me wrong, my setup is great, but after a year or so you start thinking about what it would sound like if I had separates, and so on.

The Studio 100's have the same published sensitivity as your Studio 60's. They both have 91 db/watt (in room) and 88 db/watt (anechoic). A Denon 3803 is rated at 110 watts per channel and that is well within the 15-350 watt "suitable amplifier power range" spec for the Paradigm Studio 100's.

If your question is really "how loud will my Denon drive them", then the answer can be calculated at this web page:

http://www.myhometheater.homestead.com/splcalculator.html

Plug in the following info:

Speaker sensitivity: 91
Amplifier power: 110
Distance: how far do you sit from the speakers?
Number of speakers: 2
Speaker placement: select the one that applies
Click "CALCULATE"

You will find that the room placement and distance from the speakers to your listening spot will make a big difference in how loud they will sound.
After you calc it with the correct input data, try running it again but bump the watts up to 200 or 250 to see what the difference would be. Keep in mind that anything over about 105 db is quite loud and every additional 3 db doubles the Sound Pressure Level.
While those 105+ db SPL might be more than you'd want to listen to, the higher power amplifiers typically have higher damping factors which translates into better control over the bass drivers under any conditions. That control is heard (and felt) as tighter, punchier, and often deeper bass with less tendency to distort and/or clip when played at high volume levels.

I used to own the original studio monitor, (which is basically the first studio 100).
The woofers bottomed-out a few times at high levels with a 250wpc Adcom 5800 power amplifier.
The sound was truly impressive though. These speakers come very close to the Servo-15 in absolute low frequency performance and cleanliness with a high-current amp.

I'd say the Denon is going to be more than adequate for anything but lease-breaking SPLs.
(coincidentally, I use a Denon 3802 as the front-end for my HT; it's a very nice receiver)