One thing I've learned is that I need more clean room filling sound I want something that will play clean up to 80-85 instead of only about 76db and 6.5" bookshelf isn't cutting it. Many have suggested I need to get bigger speakers and keep the AVR, or at least get bigger speakers first and then see. Obviously I need to go with tower speakers or bigger bookshelves that have 8" woofers. I want to be blown away but not overkill. So if you think any of the following speakers are too big for my living room or there not a good match for someone sitting only 9 feet away let me know. Specs for my living room area is in my post #83. The thing is if I do as some of you want and just get subs and keep my 6.5" elacs what if then I'm still not satisfied somehow and I'm up still buying bigger speakers and that those new bigger speakers don't need a sub and I've already have the subs I'll be pissed. I don't want to continue rebuying stuff to replace over and over. I'm thinking of budgeting around $2000-3000 for towers or bigger bookshelves that have a 8" woofers. Is what I'm saying have any merit about the subs ?
Maybe something like the Wharfedale LINTON Heritage (6 ohms sensitivity: 90 dB) I like it's sound sig according to reviews a warmish smooth sound. I want something that will play good with older recordings like older Metallica stuff. There's also the Polk Audio Reserve R700 (8 ohms sensitivity: 88 dB) I guess in the end will my AVR Onkyo TX-NR6100 do these either these speaker options justice ?
You are missing that you are not at 76db, you are, by your own measurements hitting in the mid 90 db range. The number on your receiver is just that, a number, it tells you nothing, except you have turned it up louder or quieter. It does not tell you if you are clipping, it does not tell you if your speakers are distorting, it does not tell you if you are using 5 watts of power or 100 watts.
So all that said, given your statement you don't want to use subwoofers and would rather have floor standing speakers, I am going to let you in on some easy science: Hoffman's Iron Law- 1) Bass Extension, 2) Efficiency, 3) Small Enclosure, pick two. To maximize the efficiency of your systems (i.e. lessen the chance you need to get a bigger receiver or amplifier) and get good bass levels, the larger the enclosure the better. To get what you want, I would skip past the Wharfedale and like another poster suggested, look at something like the JBL L100, with its 12" woofer and relatively high efficiency.