PM, your own words in your last post show how you at least partially invalidated the comparison you made. You stated that you changed no control levels and that the Athenas(as were the Yamahas previously)were "louder". That's the problem, or at least part of it. In comparing different components it's necessary to adjust volumes to be as equal as possible(not really possible over the full range of speakers)since louder tends to be perceived as better. In particular, the highs become more apparent the louder a speaker is played, due to the Fletcher-Munson effect. Keep experimenting.
