Thaneian

I looked at test benches from Sound and Vision for the Pioneer VSX-832 (CAD$389.95) and the Sony STRDN1080 (CAD$599.99) and the power test ratings seemed pretty adequate. Pioneer VSX-832 (bench) 2 Channels driven (8ohm) 106w @ 0.1%THD and 122.5w @ 1%THD 5 Channels driven (8ohm) 70.4w @ 0.1% THD and 81.9w @ 1% THD Sony STRDN1080 (bench) 2 Channels driven (8ohm) 98.9w @ 0.1%THD and 121w @ 1%THD 5 Channels driven (8ohm) 66.2w @ 0.1% THD and 90w @ 1% THD 7 Channels driven (8ohm) 64.4w @ 0.1% THD and 75.5w @ 1% THD Compared to a Denon X3400H (bench) 2 Channels driven (8ohm) 123w @ 0.1%THD and 147w @ 1%THD 5 Channels driven (8ohm) 97.6w @ 0.1% THD and 106.1w @ 1% THD 7 Channels driven (8ohm) 72.7w @ 0.1% THD and 80.8w @ 1% THD Looks like the Sony or Pioneer would be adequate for my needs vs the more expensive Denon?

Hello, I am new to all this and I just bought 2 RP-260F and a RP-450C for black friday. My plan is to run 3.0 for HT and 2.0 for music to start off and slowly as my budget allows, start adding more speakers for a proper HT setup. I am trying to now buy a receiver but I am confused to what kind of power I should be looking at? For context here are the following stats: - I sit 9 feet or 3 meters away from the front - Current living room is 9ft high, 17ft long 17ft wide = 2600 cubic feet. This does not include openings to a hallway, kitchen and den. (It's a condo) - RP-260 sensitivity is 97db at 1 meter - 6db is lost for every doubling of distance from the speaker. Therefore, if I sit 3 meters away, I lose 9db in volume 88db @ 1w 91db @ 2w 94db @ 4w 97db @ 8w 100db @16w 103db @ 32w 106db @ 64w 109db @ 128w It's my understanding reading around that the reference peak level you want your speakers to be able to hit is 105db at the listening position. Based on that it looks like I should be perfectly fine with an receiver that can deliver at least 64w. What I don't understand is why everyone is pushing for expensive $800+ receivers and in some cases, adding an amp as well to power their speakers? Unless they are sitting more than 3 meters away from the front, why would you need that much power? And how does the 125w continuous power handling spec fit into all this? I can't find the link link anymore, it was an article from Klipsch recommending that you don't go below 80% of the continuous power rating. Which in the case of the RP-260 is 100w = 125x.8, which is much higher than the 64 watts it seems I only need. What am I missing here, do I need a receiver capable of 100w or 64w for my needs?