Speaker glare...help

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

With reference to Plato's suggestion about changing the CD player, try the $1.99 "The Black Hole" CD mat to reduce the glare while enhancing overall performance. This is made by Herbiesaudiolab.com
Click on "CD mat," and from that page click on "reviews/comments" to read about one of the least costly items ever made to upgrade digital playback.
It acts in many systems as a virtual equalizer reducing the perception of accentuated treble and glare "by reducing microphonic vibrations at the disc/clamp interface."

Noisy AC is a common cause. Experiment with power conditioning and digital isolation first.