The Official Totem Acoustics Speakers Thread

[rded]

Originally Posted by aces high

I just sold my Signatures so I don't think I'll be going down to the Studio's, I've had everything from the Cinema's to the SIgnatures. I also have a 7.1 Studio v5 setup in the basement, so it's time for something different than Paradigm. It's not that I don't like Paradigm's, it's just that's all I've had for years now and would like to try something different. There was nothing wrong with the speakers I just sold ( Paradigm Signature S1 v2) in fact I quite enjoyed them. It's just time to branch out and see what else is out there. This system is used more for dinner music and for when we have company over or when making dinner etc. So it doesn't get really cranked very often, we just want something that sounds good at low to moderate volumes. There will never be a subwoofer in this system, so we need something that has descent bass but it doesn't have too be pounding loud bass. The other equipment in this system is the Marantz PM8003 intergrated amp (70w x 2 8 ohms, 100w x 2 4 ohms), Marantz 5003 cd player, Kimber speaker wire and Kimber interconnects. I bought this gear about one year ago so it will be staying for another couple of years. The budget for new speakers is $2000, I don't want to spend any more than that, hopefully a bit less but would go up to $2k. I have next week off, so I'm going to go listen to some speakers. What we have around here is Paradigm, Totem, B&W, Canton, Def Tech, Misssion, Tannoy, Energy, PSB and I think that's about it. One day I would like to try some tube gear in this system, but I want to finish my HT first.

Hey AH!

I am glad to know that you are expanding your horizons as far as speaker choices and 2k speakers for background music while dining is way cool! BTW, are you looking for bookshelves or floorstanders? I have the Dynaudio Focus 110s that are used in a simalar fashion- for dinner music/living room lounging. They are connected to a Roth MC4 integrated tube amplifier and I really like the combo for low-mid level volume listening. So check out the Dyns out if you can.

[aces high]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

Aces I hope you can find what you are looking for and for dinner music in 2000$ the Sttaf sure is a great candidate but you sure can find something else that you prefer. The key is to bring your material and audition, just trust your ears, they will tell you what you want.:

I think you have a decent amount of speakers you can audition and find something you like in there.

I am going to listen to the Staffs and Arrows, plus the Imagine T's and I think Canton also makes some small tower speakers.

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by rded

Hey AH!

I am glad to know that you are expanding your horizons as far as speaker choices and 2k speakers for background music while dining is way cool! BTW, are you looking for bookshelves or floorstanders? I have the Dynaudio Focus 110s that are used in a simalar fashion- for dinner music/living room lounging. They are connected to a Roth MC4 integrated tube amplifier and I really like the combo for low-mid level volume listening. So check out the Dyns out if you can.

Rhett, I Think Aces is looking for a small tower as he just sold his stands, I was proud to suggest the Dyns Focus 110 and 140 and I even said they love tube amps but I'll let Ace take his own decision.

[rded]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

Rhett, I Think Aces is looking for a small tower as he just sold his stands, I was proud to suggest the Dyns Focus 110 and 140 and I even said they love tube amps but I'll let Ace take his own decision.

Cool! That's why I asked above.... Unfortunately the only tower for Dyn that's remotely close to to 2k in price is the Excite x32 which is now 3k. MAybe a demo pair will run about $2100-2200 but that's still over 2k

Anyways, good luck on your speaker search AH!

[callas01]

I think is great that you are seeing what else is out there, I know its always hard to try something different that you have held close for a long time. I have been auditioning speakers for 1.5 yrs just to see how things sound, and I always come back home and just enjoy my Energys even more, I have heard a lot of things and it wasn't until I heard the Totems and Dyns that I knew there was something worth upgrading too.

As far as function and personality, the Excites and the Sttafs both love a wide variety of music. I thought the Excites did a little better with alternative rock(but I still loved Incubis on the Sttafs too), and they both did excellent with blues and female vocals. I didn't get a chance to play any classical music, but I will when I go back.

The Arros, were nice, they seemed to have a narrow sound stage, but I guess thats what you get with a 4" driver, but the bass was very nice, much better with John Mayer then with Incubis or Foo Fighters, however, the dealer I go to has everything in the middle of the room so you can hear exactly what your buying, instead of against a wall where he can play with the bass and soundstage to make them sound more then what they really are. They definetly were not bad speakers, better then some of the other much larger $1300 speakers I have heard. He did say for an apartment or condo, the Arros would be great, so for a dining/kitchen I am sure they would do very well, and for as small as they are, they would fit easily.

but like I said above, check into Dali, Focal, and Amphion if you can as well... and Monitor Audio. Energys are nice as well, a little different then what you will hear from Paradigm or psb. The RC series is on sale everywhere, they are linear and laidback, fairly neutral also. PSB and Energy will both be linear, so there wont be screaming highs or the deepest lows, everything will be very well balanced. Canton, When I heard those $4k speakers I thought, really? They did nothing for me, may be different for you, but the Dali Ikons next to them sounded so much better.

hope that helps....

[BigAl87]

Steve FYI the Arro has a 4.5 inches driver and the dreamcatcher has a 4 inch driver.

Very impressive amount of bass in such a small package but of course they lack air dsplacement in lage room. They will show you what they are really good at in small room sort of like John's new 2 channel room.

As for placement positionning in the middle of the room is still sort of unfair, Totems are Picky on positionning and I strongly recommend to go by Totem's recommendation for room placement.

You can find that information in the FAQ section of their website.

http://www.totemacoustic.com/support/faq/

[callas01]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

Steve FYI the Arro has a 4.5 inches driver and the dreamcatcher has a 4 inch driver.

Very impressive amount of bass in such a small package but of course they lack air dsplacement in lage room. They will show you what they are really good at in small room sort of like John's new 2 channel room.

As for placement positionning in the middle of the room is still sort of unfair, Totems are Picky on positionning and I strongly recommend to go by Totem's recommendation for room placement.

You can find that information in the FAQ section of their website.

http://www.totemacoustic.com/support/faq/

yes, but the Sttafs played big in the middle of a 2200 sq ft room. they sounded big whether standing, seated, far right or left, where the Arros didn't have that type of soundstage. Like I said, the dealer puts everything in the middle of the room so you can see EXACTLY what they are. He will move them if you want to know what it will sound like in a room or against a wall or whatever, but he wants you to know what your buying.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by callas01

yes, but the Sttafs played big in the middle of a 2200 sq ft room. they sounded big whether standing, seated, far right or left, where the Arros didn't have that type of soundstage. Like I said, the dealer puts everything in the middle of the room so you can see EXACTLY what they are. He will move them if you want to know what it will sound like in a room or against a wall or whatever, but he wants you to know what your buying.

I'd have to agree Steve! The Arros need a little more help in the lower end, so they shouldn't be placed too far out in the room. The Sttaf's have a very, very surprising amount of bass that is quick and full. You wouldn't think so for a speaker rated to go down to only <39db.

John

[callas01]

Originally Posted by John72953

I'd have to agree Steve! The Arros need a little more help in the lower end, so they shouldn't be placed too far out in the room. The Sttaf's have a very, very surprising amount of bass that is quick and full. You wouldn't think so for a speaker rated to go down to only <39db.

John

I agree too, they do need to be in a smaller room against a wall, but my point was the dealer wants you to hear them without help so you know what they really sound like, and then he will go from there if you like them, he will put them anywhere you want for you so you can hear them with the help of room placement.

However I like that he puts them out in the open, you know how HONEST that makes a speaker sound...? It doesn't allow you to hide the speakers Flaws. And lets be honest, there isn't a perfect speaker....

So you're right, the Arros do need a little help with room placement. And the Sttafs are a much bigger sounding speaker. I liked both, Loved the sttafs, Also really loved the Excites.

[-DLS-]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

Steve FYI the Arro has a 4.5 inches driver and the dreamcatcher has a 4 inch driver.

Very impressive amount of bass in such a small package but of course they lack air dsplacement in lage room. They will show you what they are really good at in small room sort of like John's new 2 channel room.

As for placement positionning in the middle of the room is still sort of unfair, Totems are Picky on positionning and I strongly recommend to go by Totem's recommendation for room placement.

You can find that information in the FAQ section of their website.

http://www.totemacoustic.com/support/faq/

Originally Posted by callas01

yes, but the Sttafs played big in the middle of a 2200 sq ft room. they sounded big whether standing, seated, far right or left, where the Arros didn't have that type of soundstage. Like I said, the dealer puts everything in the middle of the room so you can see EXACTLY what they are. He will move them if you want to know what it will sound like in a room or against a wall or whatever, but he wants you to know what your buying.

I would kind of agree with BigAl.. callas your dealer isn't doing any good for the speakers placing them in the middle of the room..

Here is a quote from Ethan Winer who I believe really knows his stuff when it comes to these type of things.. it makes sense too.

AVOIDING NULLS
In all rectangular rooms the bass response is most lacking at the halfway points - halfway between the front and rear walls, halfway between the left and right sides, and halfway between the floor and ceiling. Therefore, the worst place to sit is exactly halfway back in the room, with your ears halfway between the floor and ceiling, or halfway between the left and right walls. You shouldn't put loudspeakers in those places either.

Didn't count how many times I read "halfway" in that paragraph but it pretty much says middle of the room. callas - you might have to re-audition some of the speakers he did that with and see what kind of difference it makes.. I wonder what your dealer/rep would have to say about that statement..

[callas01]

thats not how he has them setup. they are setup in a very large room, almost like a small acoustically treated warehouse.

Mick from Dynaudio USA, suggested to Rhett that I go see this guy.

also, like I said, once you know what speakers you are down too, he will put them in a room and do all the calibration, he will check room placement, multi-channel or 2-channel, he will connect to a receiver or seperates.

He said why he does this, is that you hear the speakers and know what they are. Basically, we all know, that when you place against a wall it improves the bass by adding bass, it can improve the imaging, etc. He wants you to hear them first, for what they are, then he will put them in any room you want or in one of his other setup spots.

Trust me, there is no bass nulls the way its setup. Rhett said he would love to hear the dealers pair of Saphires in there able to just completely open up, in that setup with the large room.

[-DLS-]

Originally Posted by callas01

thats not how he has them setup. they are setup in a very large room, almost like a small acoustically treated warehouse.

Mick from Dynaudio USA, suggested to Rhett that I go see this guy.

also, like I said, once you know what speakers you are down too, he will put them in a room and do all the calibration, he will check room placement, multi-channel or 2-channel, he will connect to a receiver or seperates.

He said why he does this, is that you hear the speakers and know what they are. Basically, we all know, that when you place against a wall it improves the bass by adding bass, it can improve the imaging, etc. He wants you to hear them first, for what they are, then he will put them in any room you want or in one of his other setup spots.

Trust me, there is no bass nulls the way its setup. Rhett said he would love to hear the dealers pair of Saphires in there able to just completely open up, in that setup with the large room.

Sound interesting.. seems kind of like how the Totem dealer had them in the middle of the room bud didn't want me to listen to them.. I got a picture of how he had the Totems against a half wall in the middle of the room with Monitor Audios on the other side. There was too much other stuff in the room though. So I'm just trying to picture this.. does he have just the speakers and whatever gear by itself in the middle or is there a whole bunch of other gear around the room.. Did he use super long cables/power chord or is there an outlet on the floor or halfwall like my dealers place? Still kind of odd that he would put them in a mini warehouse type room even if it was acoustically treated. I understand that you could move them after I just don't get it since I've never been to a place that does this. If the Sttafs sounded that big in a room that size I would be very impressed and looking forward to a proper demo even more..

[callas01]

Originally Posted by -DLS-

Sound interesting.. seems kind of like how the Totem dealer had them in the middle of the room bud didn't want me to listen to them.. I got a picture of how he had the Totems against a half wall in the middle of the room with Monitor Audios on the other side. There was too much other stuff in the room though. So I'm just trying to picture this.. does he have just the speakers and whatever gear by itself in the middle or is there a whole bunch of other gear around the room.. Did he use super long cables/power chord or is there an outlet on the floor or halfwall like my dealers place? Still kind of odd that he would put them in a mini warehouse type room even if it was acoustically treated. I understand that you could move them after I just don't get it since I've never been to a place that does this. If the Sttafs sounded that big in a room that size I would be very impressed and looking forward to a proper demo even more..

the only speakers that sounded small were the Totem Arros, the Amphions, Excites, Sttafs, T+A, Dalis all sounded large, all the equipment is fed from an outlet in the floor and the equipment is right there too, speaker cable runs are fairly short maybe about 6 ft. there is a lot of equipment in there around the room, but most of it is behind a wall that is about 6 feet behind you. the main room is a 2200 sq ft room, and then next door he has different auditioning rooms he will move the speakers to, or will put them again his projector wall in the same room

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by callas01

the only speakers that sounded small were the Totem Arros, the Amphions, Excites, Sttafs, T+A, Dalis all sounded large, all the equipment is fed from an outlet in the floor and the equipment is right there too, speaker cable runs are fairly short maybe about 6 ft. there is a lot of equipment in there around the room, but most of it is behind a wall that is about 6 feet behind you. the main room is a 2200 sq ft room, and then next door he has different auditioning rooms he will move the speakers to, or will put them again his projector wall in the same room

I get you but what to expect seriously from a 4.5 inch woofer with a 0.75 inch tweeter in such a large room, the Sttaf has à 5.25 inch driver wich is technically 33.3% bigger in surface than that tiny 4.5 inch driver, Vince would not be happy about that placement .

Read the following Vince's comment on the Forrest

http://www.stereophile.com/floorloud...8/index11.html

For a speaker this size it's amazing what the Arro can do and I dare ya to listen to them in a 250 SQ FT room and see what they can do. Sure a Paradigm Studio 100 will sound better in that room but will the Studio sound better in the 250 SQ ft room. I'll let DLS decide when he will setup his 2 channel rig.

[Johnny Vinyl]

On the subject of mass-loading, this is something I have yet to implement with my Sttaf's for use as a comparison. Once my room is completely done (curtains and acoustic panels) I will most likely give that a shot after I've become completely familiar with their sound in the new small room (about 115 sq.ft.).

John

[-DLS-]

Originally Posted by callas01

the only speakers that sounded small were the Totem Arros, the Amphions, Excites, Sttafs, T+A, Dalis all sounded large, all the equipment is fed from an outlet in the floor and the equipment is right there too, speaker cable runs are fairly short maybe about 6 ft. there is a lot of equipment in there around the room, but most of it is behind a wall that is about 6 feet behind you. the main room is a 2200 sq ft room, and then next door he has different auditioning rooms he will move the speakers to, or will put them again his projector wall in the same room

WOW that's a huge room! Like a 55 x 40 ft listening room.. or however it's shaped but that a nice size for the Sttafs or any speaker to fill up. Especially a treated room you would have to turn it up much more. Hope no water ever gets into that room.. not good for that outlet or the equipment on that outlet .

Originally Posted by BigAl87

I get you but what to expect seriously from a 4.5 inch woofer with a 0.75 inch tweeter in such a large room, the Sttaf has à 5.25 inch driver wich is technically 33.3% bigger in surface than that tiny 4.5 inch driver, Vince would not be happy about that placement .

Read the following Vince's comment on the Forrest

http://www.stereophile.com/floorloud...8/index11.html

For a speaker this size it's amazing what the Arro can do and I dare ya to listen to them in a 250 SQ FT room and see what they can do. Sure a Paradigm Studio 100 will sound better in that room but will the Studio sound better in the 250 SQ ft room. I'll let DLS decide when he will setup his 2 channel rig.

My HT room is exactly 10% of that dealers room at 220 sqft... close enough to 250 but my 2 ch room is gonna be smaller than that - about the size as one of my kids rooms maybe 10 x 12, 10 x13'. I would bring the Studios up and compare them to whatever I get though.. Even the Studio v4 40's too see how much different tey are from the v5 100's. That room also may be still far from now. we'll see what new speakers come out along the way.. I just saw a new ad for new KEF speaker/line either in the hometheatermag or stereophile that looks interesting.

[BigAl87]

Originally Posted by -DLS-

WOW that's a huge room! Like a 55 x 40 ft listening room.. or however it's shaped but that a nice size for the Sttafs or any speaker to fill up. Especially a treated room you would have to turn it up much more. Hope no water ever gets into that room.. not good for that outlet or the equipment on that outlet .




My HT room is exactly 10% of that dealers room at 220 sqft... close enough to 250 but my 2 ch room is gonna be smaller than that - about the size as one of my kids rooms maybe 10 x 12, 10 x13'. I would bring the Studios up and compare them to whatever I get though.. Even the Studio v4 40's too see how much different tey are from the v5 100's. That room also may be still far from now. we'll see what new speakers come out along the way.. I just saw a new ad for new KEF speaker/line either in the hometheatermag or stereophile that looks interesting.

Hmmm 120 to 130 square feet the Arro will blow you away in a room that size just my 2 cents.

[-DLS-]

Originally Posted by BigAl87

Hmmm 120 to 130 square feet the Arro will blow you away in a room that size just my 2 cents.

Thanks man. I plan on listening to those as well... and whatever else I can check out I guess but I wanna keep these speakers for a long time and a future move might mean a bigger room too.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by -DLS-

WOW that's a huge room! Like a 55 x 40 ft listening room.. or however it's shaped but that a nice size for the Sttafs or any speaker to fill up. Especially a treated room you would have to turn it up much more. Hope no water ever gets into that room.. not good for that outlet or the equipment on that outlet .




My HT room is exactly 10% of that dealers room at 220 sqft... close enough to 250 but my 2 ch room is gonna be smaller than that - about the size as one of my kids rooms maybe 10 x 12, 10 x13'. I would bring the Studios up and compare them to whatever I get though.. Even the Studio v4 40's too see how much different tey are from the v5 100's. That room also may be still far from now. we'll see what new speakers come out along the way.. I just saw a new ad for new KEF speaker/line either in the hometheatermag or stereophile that looks interesting.

on their website the speaker is partially covered... and there is a countdown clock.... What KEF really needs to do is drop the C series line... IT SUCKS, IMO.

in terms of the main room at the dealer, he mostly is using the front half of the room.

[BigAl87]

Steve,

Do your homework.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/speakers/9...ml#post3608133