I'm happy to find someone else here enjoying Totem Acoustics as much as I. I've listened to the B&K's and the Paradigms, and to be honest, I prefer the Totems.
I started with wanting, and I mean wanting to buy the Energy Veritas 2.4's to 2.8's, somewhere in there, but I really thought the Energy Conneisseurs sounded better (I think this is the result of leap-frog of generation). I was very unimpressed.
So, I tried out the Totems, went from the Arro to the Hawk to the Forest. I stopped there. I only have so much money. Gorgeous... it got better as I went up the line. I'll try to post a more full review of these things at a later date. Let me say, though, the better the gear you put with them, the better and better they get. I have no idea where the potential on these speakers, Totem Forests, ends at this point.
-Bill |
I agree the the last to writers. I've owned Snell C's,D's,E's and the Ultra 2 sub with a B&K AVR507. When my wife and I bought the B&K it was such a dramatic improvement on the sound quality of our system we staid up all night listening to our CD collection. Something we hadn't done in yrs. I've been looking for a new pair of something different that owners gush about. I settled on the Totem Forest's. My wife was shocked at the sound and as usual, the price. She said I could buy them only if she could buy the chair she was sitting in. Ha! That was easy! We get the speankers home and set them up for breaking using my old but trusty Luxman R-117. Wow is the only word that comes to mind. And if what others say is true about them only getting better as they break in, I don't know how they could get any better. Anyways. Now I'm looking to replace all of my Snell's and theater system with the Totem's. By the way, the only other pair of speakers I've ever bought new was Snell E-III's. Anyways, I'm in love and I'd absolutely reccomend these to anyone. And the fact that the WAF is high doe not hurt. |
This is actually a review of the Totem "Beaks" mentioned previoiusly. While seemingly simple, they are a revelation when used correctly, as I've demonstrated to countless listeners in my home. Best application is to use two pairs of beaks, with one set placed atop the speakers (ANY speakers) at the outside front corners and the second set placed on the inside rear corners. The Beaks' cylindrical sides should be tangential to the speakers' edges at each corner.
With the Beaks so configured, listen to familiar music and have two assistants standing beside the speakers. To make this test most telling, listen blindfolded, or with your eyes closed if you can keep from cheating. At some random point in the music, the assistants should step towards the speakers and quickly remove the Beaks, without letting you know. What you should hear, if you're a practiced listener, is an immediate diffusion of the soundstage and a loss of focus in the bass and center image. When the Beaks are replaced, again without your knowing, you should hear a refocussing of the soundstage and a tightening of the bass. After that, you won't want to listen to your system without Beaks! |
Stan,
Info on Totem Beak
http://www.hifi.com.sg/products/accessory/totem/beak.htm |
Best Totem value for the money/performance ratio. They just sound right. I had the Model 1, Hawk and now I do have the Mani-2 Signature.
Don't get me wrong here, I love the Mani-2 but still feel the Hawk is a better value. It is a speaker that does a lots of things right. |
Hifi,
I have listened to the Hawks and to the Mani-2s and I must say that thought the price difference is quite substantial; I would still buy the Mani-2s. The bass response, the clarity and the warmth of the Mani-2s is just astounding. The one thing that bothers me is the power needed to drive them. I have heard that the forests are amazing as well and that they don't need as much power to drive them, but I have not had a chance to listen to them yet. Can anyone here be able to give me an objective comparison in sound? |
I just placed a set of Totem Hawks in my living room as a vinyl based 2-channel serious listen system. Powered by a Plinius 9100 intregrated amp with a Rega P-5 and a Shelter 501 MkII moving coil cartridge, the Hawks are simply outstanding! The speakers have only grown in bass development, clear rich mids and a soft yet detailed treble. I have about 125 to 150 hours of play on the speakers and I have nothing but good things to say, I could not be happier. The speakers simply disappear in the room and fill the space with great sound.
I have yet to fiddle with any of the Totem accessories, any thoughts on the Beaks? One set or two? Where best to place them on the top of the speaker? Do they really work or is this just a great sales tool? I am inclined to beleive the manufacturer as the speakers have done all that has been promised, but... |
I saw youse guys post and I had to respond,I have owned 30 pair of speakers over the last 20 years, and have gone from dynamic to planar and back. I have to say that besides my current speakers, the Hawks which I reluctantly sold to keep my speaker addiction going were the overall best I have owned. They best speakers that cost 5-10k. You may ask about what I currently own? I have a pair of Omega Super Alnicos 3R which in my opinion are the best monitors in existence. They are single driver and they are almost perfect. The hawks now may take 2nd place |
The Totem Hawks have been in my system now for about six months and they have only continued to bloom into a great sounding speaker. In fact, they have absolutely disappeared within the soundstage that now covers the long axis wall in my living room. This little speaker has gone beyond all of my expectations and I am thoroughly pleased with the purchase. Each listening session has been and continues to be a real joy!
I did purchase a set of Beaks shortly after putting the speaker in service. They did seem to imporove the integration of the drivers and produed a smooth yet detailed presentation of the wide array of music types that I tend to listen. I'm in the market for a new "red book" 2 channel CD player and stopped into a shop in the Philly area that just happened to be a Totem dealer.
During the audition of the player, the Onwer popped two set of Beaks on the top of the cabinets and wow, the sound became seamless, tight and highly engaging in his show room. Impressed, I coughed up the dough for a second set and headed home(without the CD player).
I place the second set of beaks at the rear inside corner of the speakers and fired up an old Eric Johnson album (Tones). The recordng always seemed to center Eric's voice deep in the sound stage, and with the second chunk of aluminum, he was now fron and center, detailed with a "reach out and touch me" presence. I tried several other records with the same results, Van Morrison's Moondance had a completely new feel. These thing work, but many others have indicated, I have no clue as to the science, but they really work!
Totem has done an outstanding job on this speaker, in fact the dealer that sold me the Beaks indicated that he normally tires to get his clients to consider the Hawk over the Forrest and spend the difference on an improved source or better cabling, or...
Be that as it may, I can absolutely recommmend this speaker, as it has become the spot where I seriously listen to all of my music. Our family room 5 channel/SACD TV system has become more for watching and less for listening, and that's OK. The 2 channed vinyl based system headlined by the Hawks just has far more soul, and lets the music take over. |
Doe's anyone use the Hawk with some medium power tube amplification
Readed that they need lot of power
Is 50 watts enough to drive them |
50 Watts are more than enough to drive the Hawks. I am using a set of Audio Space EL-34 Mono locks rated at 30 watts to drive them in my listening room. The room is 11x9, too small for my Legacy Audio Focus 20/20 so I am using the Hawk instead with excellent results. The Bass is wicked, listening to vinyl records some Four Play smooth Jazz CD is a charm, and I do not miss the Focus 20/20. The Hawk is amazing for such a small speaker with two small drivers. |
THEY HAVE THAT ELUSIVE WISH I COULD HEAR ALL THAT IN ANY DESIGHNER CRAVES |
I believe Totem The One speaker is the best from all Totem speakers, and if you want this speaker to give you the superb sond, use with this speaker:
1- A-88T integrated/power vacuum tube amplifier.
2- RAYSONIC Vacuum Tube Top Loading CD Player.
3- Bada LB-5500 Power Filter Plant.
4- Audience-Au 24 2.5 meter Speaker cables.
5- Interconnect Cables Audience Au-24.
6- Cable Elevators: Dark Field.
7- Power Cable Anaconda CX.
8- Harmonix tuning feet. |
I've heard Totem Mani 2s and been impressed, but never "The One".
How are these two models different?
Thanks. |
Hey, 2021 and I still have the totem hawks... Are there still some owners left?
Mines were manufactured in 12/2012. |
I bought mine in 2003 and I still have it. It is located in my bedroom with my second McIntosh system along with a Pioneer RT909 reel to reel tape recorder. I have no plans to sell them. |
