Receiver Query: More Power, or Less Power w/ Amp?

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Hello everybody. First off, this is my first post here after lurking for a time. I can usually find any info I need in the archives, but I could use some opinions here.

I'm looking to upgrade to a receiver with HDMI and therefore lossless audio. I recently bought new speakers, the Premier Acoustic PA-6F Titanium set, with the PA-120 sub. Now, my current receiver spits out only 90 watts per channel, so the speakers aren't nearly pushed to their full potential. BTW, the towers and center are rated to 175w, and the surrounds to 150w. All at 8 ohms.

I'm thinking about splurging on a Pioneer Elite receiver. My question is, would it be better to get a VSX-23TXH, rated at 110wpc, and use a power amp on the front three channels, or to get a SC-25 to power everything? The SC-25 is rated at 140wpc, and I've read they're usually pretty accurately rated.

I don't know too much about external amps, but I was looking at an Emotiva XPA-3 to power the front 3 channels, if I went the VSX-23 route. (Conversely, I suppose getting the SC-25 AND the XPA-3 would be an option...what do you think about that? ) Which brings me to a secondary question about amps: the XPA-3 gives 200wpc, so would it be wise to use it on my 175w speakers? Not sure how that works.

So any help and opinions you guys can give will be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance,
John