When I mentioned the attenuated treble and Jim commented that the 4.5" drivers might beam a bit in the higher frequencies, I said "Doh, why do I have them pointing straight ahead and not toed in toward the listening position?" They're finally veneered and varnished (unstained red oak), rewired with silver plated teflon insulated wire, and repositioned into the system with quite a bit of toe-in. The treble is much more prominent now. I suppose I instinctively point single drivers speakers straight ahead because every other budget priced pair I have heard that didn't have a contouring network has caused earbleed when heard on-axis. Not so with these. They're the best behaved single drivers I've heard.