The 100 to 125 increase was two different receivers, then I bought a pre-pro and a 200 watt two channel amp + the recievers for center, & surrounds, and then now two 300 watt mono-blocs, + 5 channel amp for 7.1 - Although the emo has much lower distortion, the pioneer is also clean enough not to notice. Modern specs on most gear are so good these days I care more about signal to noise ratios.. It use to be distortion was measured @ rated power from 20 hz to 20k but now some are only measuring @1k which will appear to give a higher power rating with a false cleaner distortion spec. Some amps measure with all channels driven and some with one or two. And after all of that I must agree that the speaker upgrade should be first. Then a good sub, then amp then preamp, then another sub then high end source gear. And then if you keep reading these forums it won't stop, somebody please make it stop! My wife opened an old army locker full of amps in the garage the other day and said what are these for, I couldn't think of anything other than back-up.!