I would expect those Studio 6s to be an improvement, too. And they look nicer than the Man-cave styled 500s!
Those aren't the worst looking speaker on the market, please don't misunderstand me. Yet they didn't really make them Spouse-friendly. The images I've seen of the Studio 6 and the HDIs make it look like JBL is interested in competing with the companies making slightly sexier products.
The JBL Studio 6 series - 698 is a speaker system that fulfills all the expectations of audiophiles. Enjoy the highest sound quality of PolyPlas cones and marvel at the world created by the power of speaker drivers that enhance concert-grade accuracy and sound effects. Buy the JBL Studio 698...
audioinfluence.com.au
Pretty nice!
Same with the HDIs... just wish they went true 3-way there, too.