I wish I could answer either of your questions. I recently acquired a pair of JBL 120Ti speakers for a song, so to speak. I really like the imaging and sound they produce. I'm powering them with a Sansui AU717, also recently acquired.
My speakers cost around $700 each when new. I have no idea how they compare with the sound of today's high end speakers, but if you like the JBLs and they match your gear and your musical tastes, then I would not worry about comparing them with today's speakers.