Veiled 'wet blanket' sound from tweeters


Is it my speakers or my amp?

My gear consists of B&W PM1 with Rotel Integrated RA-1570.  

I'm experiencing a lack of detail and separation from the speakers , specifically at the tweeter source.   Switching between headphones (Grado RS1) and speakers, it is like there is a heavy blanket covering the tweeters.  Midrange/bass is fine.

Switching sources between DAC/Turntable yeilds no difference.

I'm actually wondering if the crossovers have been damaged.   

I don't really have the luxury of switching components.  Any ideas on what my next steps should be?




128x128gmckay1960
Thank you all for your valuable input.  

oldhymec, definitely getting sound out of the tweeters so they are not blown.    If I can describe the difference in clarity between my headphones connected to the same amp vs. the speaker, there is far greater clarity from the high frequencies , whereas the speaker sounds veiled /muffled in that area of the audio spectrum.     

When I auditioned these speakers some 6 years earlier, they were clear as a bell...now its about 60% of what I recall.  


There’s a clue. Now if we can just pinpoint when in those 6 some years this change occurred....?
You’ve been exposed to hyper-detailed/bright headphones and now, by comparison, the speakers sound different.
OP, just make sure on the jumpers, that can cause all kinds of problems over time.. Just strip back some good copper, and get rid of the factory jumper. Dirt cheap, just to check, listen and see if there is a difference..

Check all your connections, loosen and retighten them. Plug and unplug them a few times to clean the pins, RCAs, XLRs, ICs and speaker cable if you use them, clean is good... fresh clean copper on the bi /wire/amp speaker post... They go bad.... They get dirty..

Cost nothing... LIKE MC said, did you change anything? always a clue, ay? Remember any loud pops, weird thing? anything?

Merry Christmas safe holidays, EVERYONE... Santa is on his way...

I love watching my Pup open presents.. LOL Junior too, the Bunny...

Regards