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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
5,418 posts
 
I think this is a serious finding: Left tweeter almost nothing coming out, with nothing in the upper-highs, and maybe nothing in the mid-highs. a little low-highs. No distortion at all (I think this is important--I listened very closely). Right Channel: Interesting--I heard the lo-highs, mid-highs, and hi-highs--all of them, but overall the signal was very very attenuated from what I might expect. It was not the case that "if I had both speakers firing like the right one it would be great. The right tweeter was, on an absolute level, was attenuated.
How are your cables hooked up to the speakers; is it a single-run of cable from amp to the binding posts? Are the upper and lower binding posts connected together with the stock jumpers?
It seems like your crossover is not functioning.

Are you using the upper or lower set of speaker terminals?
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,326 posts
 
Don't use music to test whether your individual drivers are working properly, instead use commonly available test tones such as pink noise or low to high frequency sweeps.  It will allow you to more accurately pinpoint your results.
mb1audio
151 posts
 
" I think this is a serious finding: Left tweeter almost nothing coming out, with nothing in the upper-highs, and maybe nothing in the mid-highs. a little low-highs. No distortion at all (I think this is important--I listened very closely). Right Channel: Interesting--I heard the lo-highs, mid-highs, and hi-highs--all of them, but overall the signal was very very attenuated from what I might expect. It was not the case that "if I had both speakers firing like the right one it would be great. The right tweeter was, on an absolute level, was attenuated. "

You need to verify its really the speakers. Swap the speakers position (Put the left speaker on the right channel and the right speaker on the left). Listen to the same music as before. If the speaker that used to be on the left still has the same problem, its a speaker issue. If not, the problem lies elsewhere. 
bheiman OP
27 posts
 
Good suggestions folks! Thanks you. 
In particular I will try the following:
1. Speaker-channel swapping (great idea).

2. Non-music source signal--I was having frustratingly large hassles telling what was going on. 

3. Binding posts: I will try the upper pair and variations.Good concept. My jumpers may be an issue, but I have been playing with those, and nothing seemed to change when I swapped in jumpers of digfferent types. 

4. Also: I ordered anti-cables Level 3 speaker cables as well as their Level 3 Jumpers. (Paul gave me a fine discount--what a cool guy). I think this will be a more "refining" move than something that solves my issue, but it's relatively inexpensive to try this approach.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,418 posts
 
Definitely do all of the above, but install the brass factory jumpers. Let's keep the speakers in their stock setup to determine if the problem is the internal wiring.
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