Let me say. I purchased a set of totems in 1999 the First year they were out. These one are a bit different, the employed the famous Dynaudio 17w6 woofer and a seas tweeter. Let me tell you the sound these produced was nothing short of Awesome. At that time I had a Nakamichi integrated Amp. you know the stasis by Nelson Pass Here we are 20 years later. I am still trying to find that sound. Soon. Working on this.
I will be looking at a set of Totem Mani 2 Signatures on Saturday. I will be running them with a Bryston 4B SST pro power amp and Audio Research SP14 pre. I will also be looking at a pair of Harbeth SHL5 speakers but leaning towards the Mani 2s. Thanks for posting!
Hi Will, the most obvious difference is whether someone wants a tower speaker or bookshelf, so part of the answer is up to your tastes and preferences. Sound-wise, the larger cabinet of the Forest allows for a bit more bass extension and heft vs. the Fire. Both are really good sounding!
The Marantz Model 30 is probably one of the best in that category. The NAD M10 is pretty good. Finally the Naim Unti Atom while a little thin sounds very sweet as well. I'd personally take the Marantz most likely though.
From my exp, the Totems will sound good on the suggested amps, but I'd stay away from Marantz. Sorry GP I do not like them. The budget would be Arcam SA20 Or Musical Fidelity M5si. Both are good in there right. If you want to jump out of a window, nothing will be as good as a McIntosh. Since you have Totems I would stay away from tubes, too costly for the ROI.
You definitely don't need to spend $5k to get these sounding good. Start lower with a Rotel RMB-1582 mkii, then work your way up. I find just picking a high budget and then choosing based on a number rather than results is a foolish thing to do. My Anthem PVA 7 sounded far better than my NAD Masters series M25, as an example, for half the price.
The Totem Forest is a great solution. But to look at the components. The driver is a Hi-Vi Research D 6.8. Cost? Canada? 169.00 dollars. Reviews compare the Totem Forest’s to the Totem Forest signature as a leap in parings of components. Same 169.00 dollar Canadian price speaker. The cabinet is the real hero. We al know that transducers, drivers will have a quality and limit for load. The Hi-Vi research D 6.8 transducer has a 60 watt nominal rating into 4 ohms. @ 86 ish DB. Then you say that to make it truly shine, you feel it performs better with a huge 200 watt amp with super high current. Let’s just be real here. The Forest by Totem is a good speaker because of the cabinet and its bracing with Borosilicate paint. The price of both the Forest and Forest Signature is based on the aforementioned cabinet. Still… I consider it over priced for a 169.00 dollar driver.
Hi Bruce, thanks for your comments. Having worked for several speaker vendors, the magic is in how the ingredients are put together. If there is a secret to engineering, it lies in understanding that the parts together make up a system. We find the size vs. soundstage ratio with Totem to be amazing
Let me say. I purchased a set of totems in 1999 the First year they were out. These one are a bit different, the employed the famous Dynaudio 17w6 woofer and a seas tweeter.
Let me tell you the sound these produced was nothing short of Awesome. At that time I had a Nakamichi integrated Amp. you know the stasis by Nelson Pass
Here we are 20 years later. I am still trying to find that sound. Soon. Working on this.
Was it the model 1’s that you owned?
@@TO-vw3sy Sorry they were the Forest.
I will be looking at a set of Totem Mani 2 Signatures on Saturday. I will be running them with a Bryston 4B SST pro power amp and Audio Research SP14 pre. I will also be looking at a pair of Harbeth SHL5 speakers but leaning towards the Mani 2s. Thanks for posting!
Get the Manis. That setup is going to be stellar, just wonderful.
As they are approx same $ as the Fire V2. have you compared them?
Hi Will, the most obvious difference is whether someone wants a tower speaker or bookshelf, so part of the answer is up to your tastes and preferences. Sound-wise, the larger cabinet of the Forest allows for a bit more bass extension and heft vs. the Fire. Both are really good sounding!
Favorite; my Mani-2s. Also like my Arrows driven by a new Dynaco ST-35.
Thanks Patrick
Can you suggest two or three amps that would pair well with the totems (under $5000)? Thanks!
The Marantz Model 30 is probably one of the best in that category. The NAD M10 is pretty good. Finally the Naim Unti Atom while a little thin sounds very sweet as well. I'd personally take the Marantz most likely though.
Bryston 3 or 4 series. Naim supernait 3 is a good integrated amp that will work with them too.
@@GramophoneMD Thanks. Have you heard Gold Note or Sim Audio with the Sigs?
From my exp, the Totems will sound good on the suggested amps, but I'd stay away from Marantz. Sorry GP I do not like them. The budget would be Arcam SA20 Or Musical Fidelity M5si. Both are good in there right. If you want to jump out of a window, nothing will be as good as a McIntosh. Since you have Totems I would stay away from tubes, too costly for the ROI.
You definitely don't need to spend $5k to get these sounding good. Start lower with a Rotel RMB-1582 mkii, then work your way up. I find just picking a high budget and then choosing based on a number rather than results is a foolish thing to do. My Anthem PVA 7 sounded far better than my NAD Masters series M25, as an example, for half the price.
How would these compare to the original Model 1’s?
Similar character, just improved in low end extension, and I'd say better treble and mid range detail as well.
The Totem Forest is a great solution.
But to look at the components.
The driver is a Hi-Vi Research D 6.8.
Cost? Canada? 169.00 dollars.
Reviews compare the Totem Forest’s to the Totem Forest signature as a leap in parings of components. Same 169.00 dollar Canadian price speaker.
The cabinet is the real hero.
We al know that transducers, drivers will have a quality and limit for load.
The Hi-Vi research D 6.8 transducer has a 60 watt nominal rating into 4 ohms. @ 86 ish DB. Then you say that to make it truly shine, you feel it performs better with a huge 200 watt amp with super high current.
Let’s just be real here. The Forest by Totem is a good speaker because of the cabinet and its bracing with Borosilicate paint.
The price of both the Forest and Forest Signature is based on the aforementioned cabinet. Still… I consider it over priced for a 169.00 dollar driver.
Hi Bruce, thanks for your comments. Having worked for several speaker vendors, the magic is in how the ingredients are put together. If there is a secret to engineering, it lies in understanding that the parts together make up a system. We find the size vs. soundstage ratio with Totem to be amazing
Agree
Best speaker for musicality for my taste
Looks like a Dynaudio driver.
Vince (Totem CEO/Designer) sometimes uses customized Dynaudio and Morel drivers as they are excellent and will build to his spec.