One thing to keep in mind on the power issue with the Paradigm, their spec's say recommended amplifier power 15-350w, according to this review:

http://stereophile.com/floorloudspea...52/index3.html

This is a wide range. It's apparently a fairly efficient speaker. The listed sensitivity number seems to confirm that.

As for auditioning speakers...it's not as easy as audiophiles sometimes make it out to be. A few years ago, I listened carefully and for quite a while to a pair of speakers at Tweeter that I thought had amazing detail. I bought them and have been a little frustrated by their brightness for most of the time I've owned them.