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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
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,397 posts
 
(Can anybody chime in on Sim Audio and the Audience AU24SE?)

This has been mentioned. Both the amp and cables have a laid back presentation with smooth highs.
psickerson
97 posts
 
If you want bright then listen the the B&W 805 diamonds.  You'll be reaching to find the volume soon enough.  I prefer a Speaker that tries to imitate live music rather than a speaker that tries to impress your friends with it's clicky hi hat sounds that distract from the vocals.



notlem
4 posts
 
I'll second the shout for Monitor Audio.  Until recently I had some RS6 floorstanders.  They are great at dynamics, plenty bright and have great bass.  Here in the UK you can pick them up for about £300 second hand and should have no problem selling them on again for the same.

My other suggestion is ATC.  More expensive and the passive models need at least 200W imo but they're used in the studios of many of the people who make the music we listen to and are certainly crystal clear.
bheiman OP
27 posts
 
Updates coming soon on results of suggestions I plan to implement this weekend! Stay Tuned. Thank you all for the advising to date. There remains a lot to think about, but my experiences with room conditioning and cabling (having now messed around extensively with both those variables) is that the main issue lies with the amp or the speakers, with a slight chance that the source is not giving a good signal (Marantz SACD8005). Again, my gratitude for the excellent reflections and suggestions received to date. Report on latest trials coming very soon!
-B
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,397 posts
 
In case you missed my question, how are the upper and lower binding posts connected? You said that you weren't using the stock brass jumpers.
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