About three years ago I took my annual bonus and put it towards a new sound system/TV. As a UPS employee I got a discount on a pair of JBL890's for just $350 per speaker with free delivery. I purchased an Onkyo TX-SR605 to power them.
Unfortunately I don't think the sound is as good as it should be. I was expecting to be totally wowed by a set of speakers that retail for $700 each, but this just hasn't been the case. So I've wondered if perhaps my disappointment is a function of the Onkyo receiver/amp, or if maybe something else is wrong.
Currently the speakers reside in my living room that measures about 22'X12'. They flank my fireplace which is centered on one of the 22' walls. I have hardwood floors, the fireplace is brick and my walls are plaster/lathe (it's an old house).
If you asked me to describe how the speakers sound, I would use the words harsh and flat. The upper range is unnatural sounding and makes me almost cringe sometimes. As for sounding flat, the speakers don't seem to fill the room with sound so much as just spill out into the room. It's like the difference between the smell of real roses and rose-scented air freshener--while one gets the job done, the other is simply amazing. My speakers are more like the air freshener. And the bass never sounds as tight as I imagined it would. The speakers will hold their own in a volume contest, but I bought them specifically because I wanted quality over quantity (i.e., I wanted amazing sound reproduction for me on the couch, not mediocre sound for the entire neighborhood).
What suggestions do you have? Is my amp the weak link? I've fiddled with all the different settings and pre-set "equalizer" functions and I just can't seem to find one that makes my hair stand on end like I had hoped. Or, is there something else I may be overlooking?
About three years ago I took my annual bonus and put it towards a new sound system/TV. As a UPS employee I got a discount on a pair of JBL890's for just $350 per speaker with free delivery. I purchased an Onkyo TX-SR605 to power them.
Unfortunately I don't think the sound is as good as it should be. I was expecting to be totally wowed by a set of speakers that retail for $700 each, but this just hasn't been the case. So I've wondered if perhaps my disappointment is a function of the Onkyo receiver/amp, or if maybe something else is wrong.
Currently the speakers reside in my living room that measures about 22'X12'. They flank my fireplace which is centered on one of the 22' walls. I have hardwood floors, the fireplace is brick and my walls are plaster/lathe (it's an old house).
If you asked me to describe how the speakers sound, I would use the words harsh and flat. The upper range is unnatural sounding and makes me almost cringe sometimes. As for sounding flat, the speakers don't seem to fill the room with sound so much as just spill out into the room. It's like the difference between the smell of real roses and rose-scented air freshener--while one gets the job done, the other is simply amazing. My speakers are more like the air freshener. And the bass never sounds as tight as I imagined it would. The speakers will hold their own in a volume contest, but I bought them specifically because I wanted quality over quantity (i.e., I wanted amazing sound reproduction for me on the couch, not mediocre sound for the entire neighborhood).
What suggestions do you have? Is my amp the weak link? I've fiddled with all the different settings and pre-set "equalizer" functions and I just can't seem to find one that makes my hair stand on end like I had hoped. Or, is there something else I may be overlooking?