**HELP** FOCAL ELECTRA 1028Be sound issue (muffled)

@kennymacc 

+1

I have to agree. My first guess would have been missing jumpers between the woofer and high frequency binding posts. Perhaps there is something wrong with the crossovers. But it sounds by your description something is very wrong with those speakers. My first guess would have been what @erik_squires said. If underpowered or wrong combo of gear, they still should be clear and articulate.

Check your 50 year-old amplifier for DC offset and the correct bias. One speaker muffled, yes -- the internals are suspect. But both? Sounds to me that the drivers aren't travelling their full excursion.

I have Electras and do not have this issue at all.  Mine are sweet as can be.  You might need a higher current amplifier.  

I normally run mine with an AEC (Cary) tube amp.

they may not be my cup of tea,but the severe symptoms the OP is having is _NOT_ normal for those speakers. 

That preamp and amp date back to the mid to late 1970s. Have you ever had them serviced? That's what severe crossover distortion sounds like when the amps semiconductors hand of the A and B part of the signal to one and other. Probably something a qualified tech could easily fix and you might have to have some electrolytics replaced in critical areas. Hope is not lost though.