Speaker glare...help

Consider the full bodied Cardas Golden Cross cables. Full bass and midrange with a controlled top end.
Dan

Maybe change the CD player, as well...

I vote for better cables too, let us know what happens. I use Cardas NR myself w/all Classe setup.

The focal’s will be more apt to reveal this particular issue then perhaps other speakers. Trying warmer cabling as suggested is a good idea as is looking at your AC delivery, (think Oyaide GX or R1's in your case). Also room treatment at all first reflection points, back wall, ceiling etc…But because of your smallish room and perhaps you are more sensitive at particular freqs. You may end up looking at a speaker that is a little kinder in the treble.

You've got good equipment. I think that you need to find a Sumiko dealer to have Master Set done to properly place your speakers. In your small room you may also need room treatment, but start with the set. A proper set will get the speakers working together and almost eliminate intermodulation distortion. In my system I was able to listen at much higher levels while the bass seemed like it was coming from speakers twice as large as before. Yet the midrange was clearer and imaging larger and deeper.

It's worth every penny. No cable is going to fix this.

Dave