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.
ntscdan
i go with tubegroover. if you are nuts about those speakers keep them. i have recently been in an upgrade fury and have improved my sound....but i have been doing more buying and selling than listening. now i am doing more listening...plus i am broke. i am a merlin fan for speakers though!

good luck
I second Tubegroover here as well. Sometimes, you just hit on a perfect synergy that you won't easily better. You seem to really like what you now have. Newer isn't always necessarily better. However, if you're unsure, see if a local dealer might let you audition a pair of newer speakers to see where you really stand.
Tubegroover speaks (er, I mean TYPES) words of wisdom. If it sounds good, go with it. Put on some Coltrane, pop open a bottle of high-end suds, and enjoy what you already know you enjoy for now.
All you have to do is go to the dealer from whom you bought your other equipment and borrow a pair of high quality speakers and just listen. I went through the same thing, and until I brought something home, I thought my speakers were just fine. They were not even close....

Ended up with Revel M20's. They, or the floorstanding F30's might be a good choice for you.
I agree with Tubegroover et al. I recently stopped thinking about equipment and went on a media/listening binge, and found it much more satisfying. I also agree that if you simply MUST hear what you are missing (or not missing) try to audition a pair or two. I've heard ProAc and Audio Physic are good matches with ARC, and also good in nearfield. There is a recent "what's good in nearfield" thread here as well. Happy listening!