I have a pair of JBL S38s I purchased a long time ago that now serve in my parents HT.
They sound very neutral and smooth with great bass for not being a floorstander.
Crisp clean highs without sounding too bright. It does very well in movies and producing loud spls without sounding distorted.
If you spent $1-2k on a better speaker, you'd basically get something a bit clearer than the S38s, and perhaps a bit more natural sounding (realistic).
The S38s are pretty hard to beat for the enjoyment they give for under $300.
Very happy with mine. I'm running H/K on the stereo and HT duties. They pair very well. Highly rec. for the price. I'm most impressed with the bass extension for an 8" 3-way and the clarity of the midrange. Here's a few shots of my S-38's.