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Small living room speaker options.. Totem Arro?

Hi,

I've recently moved into a small condo and feel like my LSi9s are just not working so well in this small living room (11x14). These speakers need to be a bit away from the wall and are fairly large in stature. I am also doing much more low volume listening now and feel like the LSi9 works better when at mid volume, otherwise it's kind of a sleepy speaker that isn't very detailed, especially missing much of the mid section when listening at very low volumes.

So what I want is a small form factor speaker that has clear and live presentation at low volume. From everything I read it seems that the Totem ARRO is a very good contender for this job, especially since it's small and loves to be close to the wall, which is where I'd have it for aesthetic purposes. 

My gear consists of a Classe SSP AMP2 (Class D), which is a 200w amp, so I think I should have no shortage of power. My pre is an Outlaw 975 which will probably get upgraded over the next year or two, but for now this is what I'm working with.

Would love to hear any thoughts on the Arro in this setup and any other options I might look into at this price point and size. Again, keeping in mind low listening volume requirement and lively/punchy presentation, although I'm not a fan of "bright"  speakers. 

Should I consider the Totem Staff? I would probably like it's tonality better, because it's closer to my LSi9 in the sense that it's a more laid back speaker. But I am not sure if it will work as well as the arro in low listening volume and it is also a larger speaker in terms of dimensions that also probably would not work quite as well backed up against the wall.

Any and all thoughts much appreciated! 
lietuvis91

Showing 8 responses by schubert

schubert
7,386 posts
 
Well, as I told Mr. Silly they are good enough to sound like live acoustic music in my system . Everything counts in a system , everything .
When you shop with your ego money will always be the main factor. I listen to my Rega RS-I ’s the most because the Sig 1’s are better than most classical recordings .
In their defense, Americans are raised in a culture when money is the be-all and end-all and many don’t even realize what is running their show . Or ever will . Another factor is most have never heard enough live acoustical serious music to know how it sounds in the first place .
schubert
7,386 posts
 
It sure will .
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Max watts are for a steady input , they can handle 300 watt peaks easily .
I cut them off at 80 hz and my Gallo sub takes things down to around 30hz at a good level . That "good crossover’ and rock-steady box gives them
clarity and rhythm as close to the sound at the thousands of Classical events I have attended in last 60 years as I believe possible . Decent drivers have impeccable tone as well.
Also , it is impossible to judge speakers out side your room and not in your system .
The worse thing you can do in audio is judge a speaker when it can only play what is upstream when odds are 100 to 1 its not the speaker . When you get as close to live as possible , the system is balanced , everybody is playing from the same score . Not a matter of money .

In any event , specs and guess mean nothing . Size ain’t everything ,
If your "game" is right its nothing .
schubert
7,386 posts
 
I bought a pr of Totem Signature 1’s on here a couple years ago for $950 .
Paired to a Gallo TR-1 sub,$250 on here, they punch at the 5 K present level .
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Hard to say, varies by room .
As I recall , Harbeth impedence doesn't vary much so might be ok at low volume . Arro i'snt .
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Of course they would, they sound quite similar to Rega's  Brit sound .
I bought the Rega RS-1's I have as a demo from a large dealer, Needle Doctor , for 500$ . Whats a P3SER going for ?
schubert
7,386 posts
 
The Rega are more easy to drive, important in condo. I've has several prs of totems still have a pr of totem sigs1 . they need a lot of juice and not at their best at low volume where rega excel .
I usually have about 20 prs of speakers at one time and in last 45 years owned well over a hundred .
schubert
7,386 posts
 
I've had Rega RS-3 and still have a pr of RS-1 in bedroom , neither were ever bright , very underated 
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