Hello Friends - I know I keep asking these rather basic questions but thats how i would come to par with you guys.

I have this Yamaha AX-596 Integrated Stereo Amp rated at 100 w/c @ 8 ohms. This is being used to power a pair of Sonodyne Floorstanders - Sonus 1601 - which are rated at 80 Watts @ 4 ohms and a Sonodyne subwoofer - Roarr 2 - rated at 100 Watts @ 4 Ohms.

When ever i push up the volume of the amp to anywhere beyond 40% mark on the volume control - its protection circuitry just cuts in and pushes it to stand by mode. I assume this should be due to overheating or overloading - as per the amp literature.

Could you please help me with this one and tell me why does my amp shut down on its own at such puny volume? I hoped it would give me a couple of shattered window panes and a perforated ear drum - instead its giving me a shattered heart !

And there is this added problem - when i play my pioneer DVD player - DV366 - the sound output is reasonable - but when I direct my Satellite radio's output to the amp - thru the tuner connectors - the volume output is 60 - 70% less than the DVD output. What could be the reason for this?