Looking for ideas - new mono blocks for stereo music

Hi eothar,

I am Joining this discussion late, but if your still checking in I would concur with those who say that your issues would lay more with your power delivery. Your amps, 600W@8 ohms, have twice the rated power necessary to run your speakers. Your amps are not being maximized to their fullest potential - they are not getting enough power. If you have 20K to spend look towards Cabling. 

Also your JBLs have a frequency response of 32hz -40khz, you may want to consider adding a pair of subs. I had a pair of speakers with the same frequency response. I adjusted my power cables and added a pair of subs which gave me the desired effect you are looking to achieve.

My suggestion for getting the best value added out of $20K
Start by adding these cables, which would be better than adding  power amp to your system.

Stage 3 Concepts - will open up the soundstage and resolution - provide clean detailed bass and spacial separation you are craving - Think Krakens. 
www.stage3concepts.com

HB Power distributor - Power Slave....
www.hb-cable-design.com

Thales - for the price the best speaker cables you will ever own will add the detail you are seeking
www.tonarm.ch

I looked to REL for my sub Issues. JL makes great products as well - look for ones with at least a 15" drivers to pair with your JBLs. 

What I have realized is that most Speakers that have Frequency responses that run below 21 hz are usually have active subs.
The few that are not are astronomically high priced, except Devore's
Silverbacks - discontinued.

Good Luck
 





 

Good Day,
Just to clarify, I did carefully read the OP concerns.  I shared my observations because It took me a long time to appreciate the importance of building a strong foundation for a decent sound system. I shared my experiences because I found myself in a similar situation several years ago - at a cross roads on trying to achieve the best sound for the best value for my dollar.   
 
I like most initially looked at investing in the stuff you see, the components. Its not sexy to consider investing substantial money into the hidden unseen parts, like power delivery. But it is those parts that are the foundation of a system. I have seen people waste money buy throwing money at the problem by switching components and speakers in and out of their systems without ever addressing investing in a strong Power delivery foundation.

The point was not to say that too much power is a bad thing, Rather than to point out that the amps design is more than substantial for the speakers he has and is happy with.

He does not necessarily need new amps. However the amps that he has are most likely not performing to their maximum  performance. Perhaps - 50% maybe -  because they not getting enough power/ electricity to their internal components. If his amps are at not at peak performance neither is his system. 

The Power Chords I listed are solely engineered for that purpose. That is all they do. They are specifically designed to insure that maximum power/ electricity is delivery to each component so that the components  are operating at their maximum performance. The more Power the greater detail is achieved.

Additionally adding subs does not translate to to blowing out the neighborhood. Easily achieved by volume control.  His speakers are rated at 32hz at the low end, to further achieve getting down towards lets say 20Hz with out investing a ton of money he would need to get a sub.

By getting a sub to integrate with the system it would expand the mid to lower mid range increasing the overall sound stage and exposing a level of detail that he is seeking. This is unattainable with just his speakers alone.  That sound stage would also have greater spacial separation while simultaneously  achieving an overall lower bass response. 

This is just another long term cost effective way of looking at achieving or solving the issues the OP is facing.