wattage rating compatibility
can these Bose 161's be used as the only speakers (yes, just 2 speakers for now) with a 140-w per channel receiver? will the 40-w rating difference between receiver and these speakers be too much? will I blow the speakers?
Yes. My receiver outputs 160w per channel. You won't blow them unless you crank the music. The wattage you're seeing on the speakers is what they draw from the source, not their limitation. Essentially, they require 100w, but the receiver is smart enough to avoid over-powering them. You can always run lower power speakers on a higher watt receiver; you cannot do the opposite.
I wouldn't advise these as standalone fronts as they don't produce low frequencies well.