To join the conversation, I had an Ampeg SVT4 which was rated at 1200watts, but I could never get it to sound good once it got passed a certain volume. I seemed to run out of headroom quite quickly with that amp, then I got the Mesa 400+ and thats easily louder, and its rated at like 300-400watts I think. BUT, I did a tube modification where you take the drive tube and replace it from a 12ax7 to a 12au7, thus giving you a smaller output volume wise from the pre amp, but thats what master volume controls are for! Much more control over the EQ and the headroom is unbelievable. This thing never has to go passed 3 or 4, its so loud!!