Like you, I do not like the KJV. It has too many archaic and obsolete words, and grammatical structures that do not exist in modern English. Beyond that, the manscripts used to translate the KJV were very recent, and corrupt. We have so much better manuscript evidence today.
I also started on the NAB. It was an excellent, fluid translation. I wasn't Catholic, although I began to suspect something when I saw the extra books, and the footnotes always supported Catholic doctrine, instead of what the words were actually saying.
I went to the NASB for 25 years, which was rather stilted. Then I switched to HCSB and then ESV. I also read the NIV a few times, and I went back to the HCSB, just because I find it to be a more open translation. I am waiting till the full notes NET comes out. This is a great new translation.
So, I would say do compare on Biblegateway.com. I would say ESV, NIV and NET would be your best bets for a readable translation. Don't listen to the KJV only people. They don't read Greek, which I do. They are brainwashed. Although, for some people that is the Bible they are familar with, and they like to read it, but don't think it is the ONLY version, that is ok. In the end, KJV is no more "inspired" than any other translation.
And welcome to CC!