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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
rsgottlieb's avatar
rsgottlieb
37 posts
 
i listened to Totem Element fire recently and found them sweet but kind of laid back and dull. Not to my taste, certainly for $6k.
I have Monitor Audio Gold 50, which have a remarkable treble, and fit the bright, fast, light mold. 
You also might listen to Aerial, and for the new Beryllium tweeter, the new Paradigm Personal line.

stereo5's avatar
stereo5
2,766 posts
 

"The Pendragon's totally outperform B&W, Golden Ear and Triangle."

The Pendragons definitely do NOT outperform the Golden Ear speakers.   I tried the Pendragons in my secondary system and I kept asking, where's the bass?   I schlepped those monster speakers all the way around my man cave to no avail.  I expected good bass extension with the 2 10 inch woofers and large cabinet, but I was wrong.  I got better sound and bass from the Odyssey Kismet speakers I was using prior and those speakers have a 7 inch woofer and silk dome tweeter.


I returned the Pendragons at a cost of 295.00 for one way shipping.  I ended up with Golden Ear Triton Two speakers which sound perfect in this room, smooth mids and highs and bass to die for.

bmontani
40 posts
 
Thiel 3,7s?
bheiman OP
25 posts
 
A quick Thanks for the continuing advising. I am planning to implement the next measures sometime this week. Since I'm a public school teacher, work beckons heavily this week as my semester winds down. Thanks again to All, and I will post replies to various advice this week, too. 

Hoping to work through at least several more of the action items soon. 
-B
2channelforever
20 posts
 
I'm not familiar with your amp or speakers but curiosity led me to a review of the W-5 in which they note a slight roll off of higher treble - wondering if gradual hearing loss, maybe older caps, etc., all conspiring together? Thinking amp could just need a little tuning with caps.

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/simaudio_w5.htm
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