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Review: Totem Beak Tweak

Category: Accessories

Anyone posted hear tweak reviews?

Let me tell you that tweak is not the simpliest component to describe especially according to the A'Gon review standards he... he...:-)

For a long time I always thought what kinda toy is always displayed above almost all Totem speakers(except Wind that has angled top) and why I should pay for that extra or even consider to acquire these "toys" other than seing that it just looks cool??? When I came to the local dealer I "touched" them, picked them up and saw only some aluminium cone shaped semi-hollow figures that weigh approximately 20g each and was even more confused having been used to believe that they should've been heavy as hell made of lead or some other heavy metal.

After I brought these "toys" home and started to place them on top of each speaker I couldn't believe my ears how wide I could play with placement of these "toys" on its top varying the stage and radiation that is very close to the performance of the room equalizer!

After experimenting with my my Totem speakers I brought them to my friend who has Tannoy R1 on the main system and some Polk monitors(don't remember what model) on the bedroom system and started to experiment on both pairs of speakers with nearly the same results or even better(probably depends on room as well)!

The downsides of Beaks that they're built mainly for flat top boxed designes and certainly will slide or more precisely will have no use against angle top or angle-positioned speakers.

The positive side is that I can't imagine my speakers without beaks right now and it's realy fun to adjust! They can eliminate many room acoustic problems if used on relatively small and boxed speakers. A truly great engineering work thanks to Vincent!
128x128marakanetz
15 responses Add your response
leedistad
104 posts
 
In all seriousness, the Beak is one of those things that on the surface of I would sneer at, because that is my nature. Yet, the darn things work wonders.

When I was still in the business, my colleagues and I once spent half a day monkeying with the beaks in our Totem demo room. Their impact is palpable. Every client I sold the Beaks to were highly satisfied. For a stubborn empiricist like me to buy into what I usually dismiss as voodoo is noteworthy.

Last year, I sold some extras I had lying around at home to fellow A'Goner Nwickend who is a super nice fellow with a very impressive system, and he was quite pleased as I recall.

For what it's worth, I have met Vince from Totem on many occasions and he is a tremendous individual that I greatly respect. Even though I no longer vend Totem (or HiFi, for that matter) I remain a huge fan.
graysonjohnson
1 posts
 
I have the beaks on my Totem Forests. One night I placed the beak in the top center of the speaker and then sat my girlfriend on top of the beak. I heard frequencies that night I had never heard before.
kotta's avatar
kotta
649 posts
 
I tried the beer can on top of my JM Labs. Have only one problem, seeing a full/unopened can of brew is just too much of a temptation! Cheers.
imin2u
392 posts
 
OK, OK.
First of all, if you can see through the beer it is no good.
I tried Guiness (tall cans) but found Beamish (tall cans) work better.
Go figure.
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz OP
5,473 posts
 
wat's wrong with mixing origins indeed?
neither i have 100% canadian\montreal system either!
i'd say i've got canadian\US\UK\Swiss system.

i personally favor german beer despite having no component made in germany and it does improve the sound after not more than a quart of internal consumption.
fyneplace
40 posts
 
In audio, synergy is important. Given the fact that Totems are a Canadian speaker, I would strongly suggest a Canadian beer. If you are really into ultimate tweaking, realize that the Totem comes from Montreal. Therefore I would choose a beer from Montreal-based Molson brewery. And stick with a premium brand. I tried the ale and it hurts the sound.

Remember, you heard it here first, on Audiogon.
bigzrocks
1 posts
 
one of those huge fosters should have those high frequencies tamed in no time....the tabs can be collcted and used in place of led shot in a variety of stands.
imin2u
392 posts
 
Marakanetz, please report back with the correct kind of beer and how much to leave in the can.
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz OP
5,473 posts
 
jrd,
Thanks for insight I will definitely try it!
What brands of can/beer will work the best?:-)
ymkhoo's avatar
ymkhoo
0 posts
 
that can of beer your collage roommate put on your speaker accomplished the same thing...he was a drunken genius.
rbstehno
1,431 posts
 
I currently have 1 pair on top of my Totem Model 1's and I just ordered another pair. I have been told that 2 pairs at opposite corners will give you a bigger improvement over a single pair. If there isn't any noticable improvement, I will put the 2nd pair on top of my Totem Arro speakers in my den.
theaudiotweak
2,797 posts
 
Peter Snell of many years ago and Brent Riehl of recent have had more effective variations of the same principles.. Tom
stehno
1,453 posts
 
Several years ago, I was in a listening room without the beaks in place and noticed the beaming of the highs coming from the Totems. I asked the salesman if the beaks sitting on the window ledge worked.

He placed them in position and I noticed the beaming disappeared immediately.

He explained that Totem discovered that the high frequencies like to congregate at a certain point just over the top of the speaker and then shoot forward from that point. And the beaks prevent the highs from congregating. Or something like that.

That explanation seemed to defy logic and/or physics, but the beaks worked!!

-IMO
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz OP
5,473 posts
 
As I can assume that this product somehow enters the resonance of the cabinette thus changing the angle of radiation of a certain freequencies. In my case it's highs and upper-mids.

I can also assume that the beak has certain resonance freequency range and if the cabinette is not in that range than it might not be affected. Its shape more or less defines the resulting vectors of a new re-shaped radiation.

I believe that the same product can be done for more different speaker models basing on cabinette resonance.

I just realy onto finding out that trick if Vincent would just share his secret a-bit(not to details)...
kotta's avatar
kotta
649 posts
 
I have these on some Kef Uni-Q 1 bookself loudspeakers and they difinately make an improvement on this loudspeaker. Haven't heard anywhere near the level of improvement when I tried them on some JM Lab's (Chorus 707)I have. I suppose this product is somewhat loudspeaker/system dependent? You'll have to decide for yourself if the improvement warrants the expense. I felt for the Kef's the $80 I spent was worth it. A well-made product that deserves an audition.
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