I need some clarity

If you're determined to bark up the silver IC tree (which sounds like a decent idea), I'd suggest checking out the kits available from Homegrownaudio.com. Assuming you can solder, $40 for the Super Silver (which is, in most regards, the functional equivalent of the $240 Kimber KGAC) is a no-brainer. Oops, I stand corrected, they've upped the price a bit since I got mine, looke like a 1m kit will run you about $70. Still worth a look, even if they're not quite the bargain they used to be. (And, looking above, looks like Dekay beat me to this one, too. Rats.)

Law,

I think after reading the replies that there is strong evidence that speakers are your problem. Changing tubes, ICs or speaker wire will tweak the sound but not 'change' it. Stop spending money on tweaks and save for an 'upgrade.' To answer your question about Telefunken, I have found those tubes to be darker than others, but have a very sweet sound with good bass. A tube that would add a little brightness would be Siemens (as others have suggested) or an Amprex 7308 tube. But keep in mind, its a tweak, not a fix.

Try Bybee Quantum Purifiers on the positive terminal of each speaker binding post. The cost for both is about $150, and many people have had great results with them. The frequency range you desire is precisely where they work best. The remove noise and clear up the detail in the midrange and treble. Some claim they enhance the bass as well, but I didn't notice that so much. What you will get however is cleaner highs, more distinction between instruments, sounds, and vocals that occur simultaneously. Hope this helps.

I find it both amusing and sad - how many times do audiophiles have to been reminded not to treat cable swaps, tube swaps, tweaky supports, etc. as band-aids for fundamental system shortcomings? Lawbadman has a mid-fi system right now: Fine, we all had mid-fi systems at one point - the solution is not to go spending money blind on the sorts of tweaky band-aids that audiophiles like to apply in order to max out their high end systems, the solution is to continue putting the money toward fundamental system upgrades first. The poor guy's in a cramped dorm room, and is asking about adding tone controls, fer Pete's sake (which would make a lot more of a difference, but still wouldn't address the problem) - and he's obviously got a budget to contend with - he's not in need of your tweaky-ass BS yet! He should probably put the Maggie thing on the back burner right now and get some decent small monitors while he's still in school. Whatever - you guys ought to be more responsible than to persuade our fine student to chase after silver IC's and NOS tubes when his speakers and set-up won't even allow him to hear what he's doing, much less fix his problem. Boo! :-(

Zaikesman: Amen.