Request advice-need "brighter" speakers than Totem Hawks


Hi All-
Love the community here; first time poster.
My gear:
i have a pair of Totem Hawks, driven by Sim Audio W-5 amp and P-5 pre. I listen primarily to Redbook CDs via a Marantz SA8005. Cables are all Audience AU24SE. I listen both through a modded Eastern Electric DAC (op amp upgraded, tube removed) and direct from CDP to preamp (teensy sound difference between DAC/no DAC, if any). My medium sized room is pretty dead sonically (carpet, textile window coverings).

My Issue:
The high frequencies are uncrisp, rolled off severely, muted, and just lacking generally, especially on contemporary works (jazz, rock). I don’t hear cymbals, hi-hats, or rich, crisp snare drums (yeah, I’m a drummer). Listening to my favorite disks is a deeply disappointing experience, Though classical sounds ok to fine. I am thinking that I need brighter speakers than the Hawks (though there are numerous folks who extoll Sim Audio plus Totem speakers, something is not right. I do have a bit of hi-freq. hearing loss from playing percussion for over 40 years (amateur), but I’ve heard a number of less expensive systems that sound better to me. My first thought is to go for a used pair of B&Ws (CM5s?) or Vandersteens (assuming good WAF on the latter) to swap out for the Hawks. I’m on a budget, but am not above selling some of the current gear to pay for the right equipment.

I would love love to hear some suggestions or alternate diagnoses/ideas. I am not limiting myself to speakers; I’ve tried a bunch of different cables to no good effect. Analysis Plus silver cables, for example, were a disaster with this gear, for example, FYI. Thanks in advance for any sage thoughts you choose to offer. -Bruce


bheiman

Showing 1 response by zamdrang

Hi, it sounds like you already made a choice but I wanted to chime in on the Dali Royal Tower you asked about.   I have had mine for about 9 years, they still put a smile on my face. 

They are absolutely beautiful with acoustic instruments and vocals,  excellent imaging and sound staging.  Transparent is a good word, warm is another.  The silk doom tweeter sold me immediately compared to many metal dome loaded speakers I heard.   I am constantly amazed about the amount and quality of the sound for such a small little speaker.   To this day I have moments they still raise my eyebrows and make me shake my head at how good they sound.  Frequently I will have experiences where the presence of the voice coming from the room with the stereo is so vivid it's startling.  I half expect to walk in the room and see someone sitting there.   Maybe many speakers do this I don't know, but I can't see why anyone would need anything more if that is the type of listening you do.   I listened to a lot of speakers at every price point at the Rocky Mountain Audio Show around the same time.  For the price it was a no brainer. Wonderful speaker.  

 I am a bit of a rocker, and if I had to nit pick, it would be the mid range punch of electric guitars.   The low end frequency response is conservative, some may feel the need for a sub, I have an EQ on my amp and can dial in all the bass I need.   Even though they are not ideal for most of my music collection, they are so pleasing otherwise I will never part with them.   

I run them with a Rega Apollo and Mcintosh MA6900 integrated.  

Good luck in your journey!