Thanks for the suggestion. So you would think JBL are better than the Yamaha I have now? Also better than Canton? (link below)
www.accessories4less.com
I have never heard the NS-777, so cannot say. I would generally bet the JBL's were better because the NS-777 has been around for over a decade at an attractive price and has not generated much buzz among audio communities.
I would definitely consider the Canton Vento's better speakers, but they are $2600 for just the front two!
$400 won't get you the remaining 5 speakers.
But if you can afford the Vento's that is what I would do.
The Ventos are great speakers with fantastic build quality!
They are however (probably because they are European) more compact than you might think. I can't think of a better contrast than the JBL 490 which is massive! Just pull out a tape measure and get a sense of the size of the Vento before you buy. They sound great, but if you are looking for a visual domination of your room, the Ventos are not your speaker. Otherwise, Hell Yeah!