Hi Ryder,
I will say this, every Totem speaker I've heard is different. Sounds to me like the Model 1 is simply not for you. While you're looking, you should hear the One. Amazing speaker. If you closed your eyes you'd swear you were listening to be a big floorstander. They rock! and are very dynamic. And oddly, for you and I, they are voiced, at least the overall voicing in the mids, almost like the beloved Harbeths. As much as I love the 7's and 5's from Harbeth, I could easily live with the Ones.
Wish I could have them all!
Good luck.
(where you located?)