It's not you, I think that is how it sounds. I liked it more than the Xtreme and IIC+, but now I'm really liking the IIC+, with similar settings. I think both IIC+ and IV sound better than the Xtreme, but I need to really try to dial in the Xtreme before I make bold comments. I still think the Crunch channel, with the gain around 1-2 oclock, treble around noon, mids pushed into the boost, presence at 11 o'clock. Then I take out the mids in the GEQ with a softer "V". I thiunk this helps with more gain from the mid-boost circuit, and then you can dial out any unwanted honky sounding mids in the GEQ. I have the V: 25 combo, so it could be different if you have the 90 watt or head. But the channel IV is more open IMO.