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Powering Totem Sttafs and Rainmakers

Hi all,

Just bought Totem Sttafs and Rainmakers (I like 4 stereo speakers in one room, I also like floor-standing speakers on stands so mid-range is ear-level). But my Integra stereo receiver under-compels Totems and anyway the 8 ohm Sttafs & 4ohm Rainmakers will kill the Integra in time. The Nad C375BEE would feed the power hungry Totems and drive down to 2-3 ohms but is it worthless without a Niles or similar switcher? I use an OPPO DVD as my CD player but soon will likely run all my audio / video from my laptop + Moon DAC. Are there tube pre’s and solid state amps that pair well with the Totems that I should consider? Or another integrated superior to the Nad for the Totems? What about cables? Thanks in advance. -Scott
scottmoshen

Showing 2 responses by rar1

rar1's avatar
rar1
1,816 posts
 
Hi Scott:

If you look back at your original post you ask some very specific questions about using amplifiers with already purchased speakers in a set-up that is not too common ... two sets of speakers in the same room off of the same amp amp with the floorstanders on stands, no less.

I have never heard the Staffs and the Rainmakers playing in the same room at the same time, so I don't know if you are going to run into voicing issues, no matter what amp you use. If you have gone CD shopping in J&R Music in NYC, the sound of the music playing changes every so many feet because they have different brands of speakers connected to the same amplifier.

I would find a local Totem dealer and see if he can re-create your set-up with the amplifiers on hand and decide for yourself. It may be easier to purchase an amp on-line, but your set-up is too specific and you are committed to the Totems in a big way.

Rich

rar1's avatar
rar1
1,816 posts
 
I am using an Outlaw RR2150 with a pair of Totem Mites, which are 8 ohms, 87db to the Rainmakers 4 ohms, 87db.

There is definitely not a lack of power with the Outlaw as it is a true 100 wpc. The receiver is also stable at 2 ohms, see measurements from Sterophile review .

For 2 speaker connections, the following is from the user manual:

Speaker A/B Selection

The RR 2150 allows you to connect two pairs of speakers, each of which will be sent the same output signal. Four options are available, depending on where you set the Speaker Selector Switch (FP14).

 Set the switch to the “A” position to listen to speakers connected to the “A” speaker output terminals only.

 Set the switch to the “B”position to listen to speakers connected to the “B” speaker output terminals only.

 Set the switch to the “A+B” position to listen to both sets of speakers.

 Set the switch to “OFF” to disable all speakers connected to the
RR 2150.

Hope this helps.

Rich
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