Ntscdan don't you see what everyone is doing? Didn't you say that everything sounds great? Why do you want to go and rock the boat now? Sure those old JBL's may not be as transparent but if you are happy leave it alone until you become wanting for something more. When that time arrives, then start looking. Enjoyment from recorded music comes from your satisfaction not what other more experienced opinions have of your gear. When that enjoyment turns to a distraction of something missing from that enjoyment then it is time to look. Just one man's .02 cents but when I see so many trade perfectly good gear for something "different" or "better" in the quest to realize something that only exists in the concert hall maybe I'm just acknowledging something that many of us won't admit to.
I am nuts to use these speakers?
I fell into the world of "high end" audio by accident. I've always had mediocre Japanese gear with the exception of a Thorens 125 turntable and Altec Lansing speakers. Then I bought a used ARC Ref1 and an ARC Phono 2, tweaked the 25 year old Thorens with a new Goldring cartridge and it changed everything. I also picked up a used ARC CD1 but vinyl sounded so good that I went off the deep end and bought a VPI TNT 3.5 and replaced the Phono 2 with a ARC Ref Phone Preamp. My power amp is an ARC D130. I am using a pair of JBL 4311 studio monitors for speakers and assorted Cardas Hexlink for cables. I think the system sounds great. The JBL's are sitting on some lead shot filled target stands which also have spikes. My room has a concrete floor and I have separate power outlets run from the fuse box for all the gear. Anyhow I think that the speakers which I paid 300 bucks for from a radio station could probably use an upgrade considering the rest of the system. BUT I think they sound great. Basically if the vinyl is great it sounds great, if it is lousy vinyl the speakers seem unforgiving. ANY SUGGESTIONS on where to start looking? There seem to be a million speaker lines out there so any advice is appreciated.