Help please choosing AMP wattage for a newbe

Max wattage is a pretty useless figure. Min wattage and efficiency mean much more. Keep in mind that a 92db rated speaker will require 1/2 the wattage to hit the same volume as an 89db rated speaker. My main amp is only 20 watts and I never run out of power. However, 94db speakers are much less hungry than logans.
An 86db speaker will need 10 times the wattage to equal that of a 96db rated speaker (usually a horn).
Every 3db requires a doubling of wattage.
Percieved volume will double with an increase of 10db. So, you have to increase by 10 times to double volume. 1 watt on a 90db speaker will need about 9 watts to double the volume. The problem is that to double it again, 20db increase will take a ton of power (approx 75 watts) will achieve around 110db which is THX rated levels.
Now do that for an 86db speaker and you are looking at 175-190 watts to hit the same levels as that 90db speaker.

yep.... just don't stand on the gas pedal and you'll be fine.

I wouldn't buy an amp until the final choice of speakers is made.

The amp/speaker match is the most important in every system.

There's a good chance you won't need 350WPC.

Audiofeil

I wouldn't buy an amp until the final choice of speakers is
made.

I fail to see the reasoning here as to why speakers should be bought first, than an amp. Unless some esoteric speaker choice is ultimately made such as high eff horns are on the top of the short list. If someone is eyeing high current amp (s), I doubt horns are a recurring thought.

it looks like even money to me either way. Speakers then amp or amp then speakers. Both areas offer many choices of fine matches regardless which comes first.