Would you pick the Ones over the forest and the Model One sigs? How do the One compare to its base, the Model One sig?
Dali Helicon 300 vs Totem The One
Has anybody had a chance to compare the Dali Helicons 300 and the Totems The One?
I have listened to the Dali Helicons 300MK1 (haven't heard the MK2) and Totem The Ones twice. I'm still hesitating between both of them and I'm loosing hours of sleep ;). I listened to both pairs with rega apollo cd player and cursa 3 preamp and exon (not exon 3, the generation before) monoblocks, 125 watt I think.
I find the choice hard to make. The Totems have smoother highs, tighter and more precise bass. The Dali, however, seem to have more detail in the mids, and seem to have a fuller sound. I like the Dali for my old jazz recordings (whether it is big band or most of the rudy van guelder recordings on blue note or on prestige). They give warmth and life to those recordings. However, with better recordings (in regards to the recording quality, not the music :)) the highs tend to sound harsh. I was told that I could compensate that with proper choice of cables (what do you think?). I find the Dali Helicons more amplifier friendly as my amps were much less hot after the listening session compared to the session with the Totems (burning hot at the end).
As for the Totem, sometimes I found they lacked detail and precision in the mids, and I would loose the cymbal more often in the mix, due(I guess) to the smoother highs. I don't know if that comes from my amplifiers (not being conrad johnson quality, but the best rega model) or the fact that they might not have been completely breaken in (available september 1, they would have needed 24 hours of listening per week to have reached 200 in the store, unless they had had some playing time in factory...). I talked to Vince from Totem and he affirmed that my amplification was enought for The Ones, so did the clerk at the store. I also listened to the Totems in a much larger room than the Dali, which had a more appropriate room size for bookhshelve speakers. Could that explain some of the differences mentionned?
That being said, The Ones are a very good speaker, they do need proper amplification, like most Totems. Nicely defined, punched bass, without being dry like the Sonus Faber Cremona bookshelf I had heard with the same setup as well. Good piano sound, great for electronic music as well. They sound smooth, like butter.
I find the Dali full and warm, with a bit of sloppiness in the bass. I heard the MK2 version is supposed to be improved in that matter, but I haven't heard them. I like the defenition a clarity and the sense of air they give my recordings, especially the old ones. Anybody here can comment on the MK2 improvements as well?
Anyway here am I, stalled and having to make a choice. My room is 12 feet long by 12 feet large by 8 feet high. I definitly need a bookshelf speaker (unless the Totem forrest would work as well?).
Thanks in advance, any comment can help.
I have listened to the Dali Helicons 300MK1 (haven't heard the MK2) and Totem The Ones twice. I'm still hesitating between both of them and I'm loosing hours of sleep ;). I listened to both pairs with rega apollo cd player and cursa 3 preamp and exon (not exon 3, the generation before) monoblocks, 125 watt I think.
I find the choice hard to make. The Totems have smoother highs, tighter and more precise bass. The Dali, however, seem to have more detail in the mids, and seem to have a fuller sound. I like the Dali for my old jazz recordings (whether it is big band or most of the rudy van guelder recordings on blue note or on prestige). They give warmth and life to those recordings. However, with better recordings (in regards to the recording quality, not the music :)) the highs tend to sound harsh. I was told that I could compensate that with proper choice of cables (what do you think?). I find the Dali Helicons more amplifier friendly as my amps were much less hot after the listening session compared to the session with the Totems (burning hot at the end).
As for the Totem, sometimes I found they lacked detail and precision in the mids, and I would loose the cymbal more often in the mix, due(I guess) to the smoother highs. I don't know if that comes from my amplifiers (not being conrad johnson quality, but the best rega model) or the fact that they might not have been completely breaken in (available september 1, they would have needed 24 hours of listening per week to have reached 200 in the store, unless they had had some playing time in factory...). I talked to Vince from Totem and he affirmed that my amplification was enought for The Ones, so did the clerk at the store. I also listened to the Totems in a much larger room than the Dali, which had a more appropriate room size for bookhshelve speakers. Could that explain some of the differences mentionned?
That being said, The Ones are a very good speaker, they do need proper amplification, like most Totems. Nicely defined, punched bass, without being dry like the Sonus Faber Cremona bookshelf I had heard with the same setup as well. Good piano sound, great for electronic music as well. They sound smooth, like butter.
I find the Dali full and warm, with a bit of sloppiness in the bass. I heard the MK2 version is supposed to be improved in that matter, but I haven't heard them. I like the defenition a clarity and the sense of air they give my recordings, especially the old ones. Anybody here can comment on the MK2 improvements as well?
Anyway here am I, stalled and having to make a choice. My room is 12 feet long by 12 feet large by 8 feet high. I definitly need a bookshelf speaker (unless the Totem forrest would work as well?).
Thanks in advance, any comment can help.
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- 5 posts total
- 5 posts total