I chose the Totem fire as bookshelf speaker....with need for a speaker that was genuinely 'bookshelf'.
I chose the Totem over the B&W 805d3 and Kef reference 1, in which respect the CNET 'review' of the Kef reference 1 'strikes a chord'
ie "the 805D3 is a higher resolution, more transparent design".
I found the Kef muddy....there is no other word for it....and the Totem narrowly more resolving but with deeper bass than the B&W 805D3.
To re-iterate, the Totem midrange resolution exceeded that of the B&W.
'The 'continuum' cone B&W midrange is, as another dealer offered, compromised by attempts to employ it as a woofer.
I hope these impressions are of use to others. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to hear all 3 loudspeakers in the same system and room.
I chose the Totem over the B&W 805d3 and Kef reference 1, in which respect the CNET 'review' of the Kef reference 1 'strikes a chord'
ie "the 805D3 is a higher resolution, more transparent design".
I found the Kef muddy....there is no other word for it....and the Totem narrowly more resolving but with deeper bass than the B&W 805D3.
To re-iterate, the Totem midrange resolution exceeded that of the B&W.
'The 'continuum' cone B&W midrange is, as another dealer offered, compromised by attempts to employ it as a woofer.
I hope these impressions are of use to others. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to hear all 3 loudspeakers in the same system and room.