Lowrider:
Interesting. I do have power conditioning in place I will bypass and report back.
Interesting. I do have power conditioning in place I will bypass and report back.
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
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
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- 94 posts total
Hello bheiman - I agree with lowrider, that just does not sound like the Totem Hawks I know (or Totem sound in general). I do wonder if there could be an impedance mis-match with your amp that is affecting high frequency output. Would be interesting if you could find a review (Stereophile?) showing impedance vs frequency range - though I think this is more typically a concern with bass output. Compare that trace to power output vs impedance for the W5. I have a hard time thinking your amp can’t drive them effectively, though. Don’t people say Totem used to show with Sim Audio gear at various shows??? Any chance you could drag the Hawks to another location (or borrow another amp) to see if they still sound too rolled off to you with different electronics. Does the Creek have the grunt for the Hawks? Unclear to me whether you still have the same degree of missing treble using the Creek with them (tone controls by-passed). Have you experimented with toe-in? OR with elevation? Get some hard wood plinths (e.g., dawns depot.com)...3-4" maybe even double up for 6" elevation and see how that affects treble. A call to Totem might be worthwhile too. Good luck trying to figure it out and finding what sounds good to you...new speakers or otherwise. |
Buy an equalizer and turn up the treble. Or replace your amp with an integrated that has tone controls. I’ve owned Hawks and Forests and they have a very balanced top end. I’ve said many times that many people, based on their listening preferences, would be happier with sound-reinforcement speakers like JBL pro or EAW, which can provide the presence and visceral impact they are seeking. Maybe you should seek out a pair of JBL 3211s or something like that? But try an equalizer first. BTW, I am an ex-professional drummer as well, so I know what drums and cymbals should sound like. |
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Check this thread out - https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/paul-speltz-speaker-cables?highlight=Speltz The second reponce in is from a guy that replaced his Audience Au24 cables with Speltz and liked the change. |
- 94 posts total