it can go pretty high, but really really loud, rememeber you only get bookshelf speakers so it does limite how loud it goes, by all means more than capable for a bedroom or small lounge, again if you go for a second hand LINN you can always add a power amp at later stages so you have more flexibility. but the Denon are supplied with speakers from Misssion, so the speakers are fairly good. but rememeber the size of the speakers and power output will limit how loud it can go, but for a small system within your bduget i persoanlly dont think you can get better than Denon.