Took a few snippets...
Hi Skads, it just strikes me that the type of speakers you're considering to date are somewhat at odds with your stated needs (dedicated HT; 90% movies; better and louder sound...). So far, what you're considering are more like different flavours of the same thing that cost more, rather than a true upgrade.
You need to bust out of the old paradigm of glossy, mass produced, average sensitivity, quasi full range towers masquerading as high performance HT speakers!
To truly meet your needs, I'd aim for a front end of
3 X JTR Noesis 228HT's (US$1300 each). For precision, clarity and dynamics at
all volume levels, the JTR's will put "the usual suspects" in the shade. The combination of
genuine high sensitivity, high power handling/low distortion and controlled directivity (not spraying sound all over the side walls) are the keys that set the JTR Noesis apart.
If all three will be a stretch, just get a pair initially. Due to the controlled directivity of their horn, JTR's image very well so will achieve a solid "phantom" centre image with some experimentation with toe-in. Get the third later when budget permits.
Wish I'd spotted your thread before you bought the XPA-3.
You can confidently return it to help fund the speaker purchase as it will not be needed with the JTR's. Your Pioneer SC-25 will be fine. It is THX Select2 Plus certified and therefore will have about 10dB (10x power) up it's sleeve (headroom) at calibrated
reference level (0dBMV) in your proposed room driving the 98dB/2V/1m JTR's.
Suitable surrounds for the JTR's are these
JBL 834A's ($1100/pr).
If a walnut finish floats your boat, JTR will do a
range of veneers or custom matched finishes (at cost I understand). They're still a basic box though!
Jump on the Official JTR Speaker thread over at AVS and ask around. Many JTR owners are only too happy to oblige with an audition, and with any luck there's someone in your area. Failing that, like all good ID speaker companies, JTR has a "love 'em or send 'em back" policy.
Good luck!