View Full Version : An update to those who helped
Neijii
09-15-2008, 11:17 PM
Well we thought I was going to get the B&W 685s, I went to the store and the guy had me listen to one other pair that I completely fell in love with. Totem Mite. I ended up purchasing it for the same price as the 685s would of cost and am very pleased.
To me, the sound is more crisp and the bass is deeper. I do want to thank you all for helping and I plan on sticking around this board to contribute and learn :D
speakerman39
09-15-2008, 11:22 PM
Well we thought I was going to get the B&W 685s, I went to the store and the guy had me listen to one other pair that I completely fell in love with. Totem Mite. I ended up purchasing it for the same price as the 685s would of cost and am very pleased.
To me, the sound is more crisp and the bass is deeper. I do want to thank you all for helping and I plan on sticking around this board to contribute and learn :D
Hey, I read your thread and found it loaded with lots of useful information. Congrats on the purchase! I am glad you made a well informed decision. Kudos to you for researching it so thoroughly. ;);) I have never heard any of the Totem speakers myself, but many here as well as on other forums speak highly of them. Just for the record, I have always liked the B&W 602 s3. It is one of my favs.
Cheers,
Phil
mazersteven
09-15-2008, 11:26 PM
Did you at least listen to the CM1's? :cool:
Neijii
09-15-2008, 11:26 PM
Yea, I get caught up in the research when I make major purchases. Mazer helped a lot along with a few other great guys.
I was about to buy the 685s and the guy had me turn around as he hooked up different speakers and played them, after listening I told them they were probably too much money. He said they were the same and I was wowed.
I had him go back and forth with the same song between the Totems and B&Ws and I really felt the Mites were better hands down.
Neijii
09-15-2008, 11:27 PM
Did you at least listen to the CM1's? :cool:
They actually didn't have them in stock, I DID ask...I really did fall in love with these speakers.
In the end, it's up to your ears. I'm happy you demoed something before purchasing and if you're happy, then money well spent.
Neijii
09-15-2008, 11:36 PM
Yea, and I don't feel coulda woulda shoulda either..I'm very happy with my choice.
One tech question..I can bi wire these speakers and was advised to do so..how?
Yea, and I don't feel coulda woulda shoulda either..I'm very happy with my choice.
One tech question..I can bi wire these speakers and was advised to do so..how?
http://www.brilliancehifi.co.uk/how-to-bi-wire-speakers.htm
Biwiring is very subjective and to me, the difference is inaudible, but that might not be the case with you.
Neijii
09-15-2008, 11:44 PM
oo ok..was just confused because the rears to these speakers have 4 inputs so I figured using 4 would be better than two haha
jamie2112
09-15-2008, 11:58 PM
Congratulations on your buy. I am glad you are happy with your totems. They are very nice......now its time to enjoy them...:)
Neijii
09-16-2008, 12:03 AM
yup yup..gonna play them while i'm at work to break them in faster :D
mazersteven
09-16-2008, 12:05 AM
yup yup..gonna play them while i'm at work to break them in faster :D
I know what their web-site says. But speakers break in in seconds IMO.
TLS Guy
09-16-2008, 02:31 AM
Well we thought I was going to get the B&W 685s, I went to the store and the guy had me listen to one other pair that I completely fell in love with. Totem Mite. I ended up purchasing it for the same price as the 685s would of cost and am very pleased.
To me, the sound is more crisp and the bass is deeper. I do want to thank you all for helping and I plan on sticking around this board to contribute and learn :D
Good purchase! I guess I gave you a bit of a push, to send the Aperion's back. You now have a thoroughbred set of speakers. You have a respectable bass. Those speakers extend over an octave lower than your last ones. I think you know what I mean when I said that the last ones were not very useful. Enjoy!
Matt34
09-16-2008, 03:58 AM
Um, you guys are slacking, 13 posts and no demand of pics?:confused:
:p
Dammit!! Where are the pics? WHERE ARE THE PICSS????!! :mad:
Is that better? ;)
Congrats man on your purchase. Totem makes some fine sounding speakers and they are a little unconventional in their construction. My next upgrade right after my devorse :D will be to Totem.
Neijii
09-16-2008, 11:00 AM
haha yea, you can't compare these to those Aperions. I'll have pics once I get a new console stand since I need more room now lol
Nuance AH
09-16-2008, 11:18 AM
Congratulations, Neijii. Enjoy!
zumbo
09-16-2008, 04:49 PM
Like I said, never trust an audio shop that tries to rip you off with extremely overpriced cables.
5.5" woofers
20-80w
50Hz-20kHz
87dB
They must've hooked them up with those magic cables they offered you. On paper, there is noooooo way those things outperformed the 685's. But, as long as you are happy. Just another reason I stay out of stereo shops now days.;)
Oh, and it's usually a good idea to give an update on a current thread in the current thread. No need to have us jumping around.
zumbo
09-16-2008, 05:05 PM
I looked again, and I guess the specs are close. I just can't believe a 5.5" woofer can produce more bass than a 6.5". Oh well, you were there.:cool: Once you get your sub, the bass won't matter anyway.
mazersteven
09-16-2008, 05:08 PM
I just can't believe a 5.5" woofer can produce more bass than a 6.5".
Wouldn't enclosure volume have an impact also?
zumbo
09-16-2008, 07:21 PM
Wouldn't enclosure volume have an impact also?
Sure. Along with port, and placement. But, one really shouldn't be concerned about bass when auditioning such a speaker. I have never auditioned Totem, so I can't say either way. But, B&W's are just sooooooo good at mids. It's sometimes better to audition such a speaker with a sub, as well as alone. One might miss what B&W has worked so hard at perfecting. If I were just to play my Cerwin Vegas in 2-channel, compared to my Quarts in 2-channel, many people may think the Cerwins blow the Quarts away. (I know a lot of stupid people) However, add the sub to the mix, and you quickly begin to understand how much better the Quarts are at what they were designed to do.
Sure. Along with port, and placement. But, one really shouldn't be concerned about bass when auditioning such a speaker. I have never auditioned Totem, so I can't say either way. But, B&W's are just sooooooo good at mids. It's sometimes better to audition such a speaker with a sub, as well as alone. One might miss what B&W has worked so hard at perfecting. If I were just to play my Cerwin Vegas in 2-channel, compared to my Quarts in 2-channel, many people may think the Cerwins blow the Quarts away. (I know a lot of stupid people) However, add the sub to the mix, and you quickly begin to understand how much better the Quarts are at what they were designed to do.
The B&W's can sound a little bright to people. Is that a normal tendency for them?
zumbo
09-16-2008, 07:59 PM
The B&W's can sound a little bright to people. Is that a normal tendency for them?
I have heard that a good bit, but I don't consider them to be bright. You never know how people in different demo rooms have a system set. This is another huge reason I don't spend too much time in different shops. Many of the places available to me will have some twenty year-old(no offense meant) working for minimum wage running the room. And, other shops may have older people who just don't have the experience to be doing what they are doing. My guy at my local B&W dealer knows exactly how to set-up a system. They offer Klipsch as their entry-level brand. That, is what I consider bright. Even harsh.:eek:
Neijii
09-16-2008, 08:44 PM
Both speakers were hooked up to the same receiver/amp with the same wiring. I just liked the sound on the Totems more. And like you said, the 685s were made in China, these in Canada.
The guy who helped me actually went to MIT for audio something...doesn't matter, I'm happy with the purchase.
zumbo
09-16-2008, 08:52 PM
Both speakers were hooked up to the same receiver/amp with the same wiring. I just liked the sound on the Totems more. And like you said, the 685s were made in China, these in Canada.
The guy who helped me actually went to MIT for audio something...doesn't matter, I'm happy with the purchase.
The wiring comment was a joke.:p
I have heard that a good bit, but I don't consider them to be bright. You never know how people in different demo rooms have a system set. This is another huge reason I don't spend too much time in different shops. Many of the places available to me will have some twenty year-old(no offense meant) working for minimum wage running the room. And, other shops may have older people who just don't have the experience to be doing what they are doing. My guy at my local B&W dealer knows exactly how to set-up a system. They offer Klipsch as their entry-level brand. That, is what I consider bright. Even harsh.:eek:
Good point. And yes, I've heard many people mention that they can only listen to Klipsch speakers for a little while until they can't take it anymore.
Neijii
09-17-2008, 12:22 AM
Well here's a pic. It looks a lot nicer in person lol...still working on the wires.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v605/Ripped85/0916082315.jpg
I have heard that a good bit, but I don't consider them to be bright. You never know how people in different demo rooms have a system set. This is another huge reason I don't spend too much time in different shops. Many of the places available to me will have some twenty year-old(no offense meant) working for minimum wage running the room. And, other shops may have older people who just don't have the experience to be doing what they are doing. My guy at my local B&W dealer knows exactly how to set-up a system. They offer Klipsch as their entry-level brand. That, is what I consider bright. Even harsh.:eek:
Specialty audio shops is where you want to go instead of these huge chain stores. As far as B&W goes, liking a speaker is purely subjective and I noticed a few shocked looks on this thread when Totem was picked over B&W. :p It didn't surprise me. Totem makes some really kick *** speakers but unfortunately alot of these are inefficient and require a real robust amp to drive them.
Neijii
09-17-2008, 11:19 AM
You should go listen to the 685 and Mite side by side if you can...i found that there was a big difference.
AcuDefTechGuy
09-17-2008, 11:37 AM
the 685s were made in China
What?
They make some B&W speakers in China now?
It's not bad, of course, but just interesing!
What other B&W speakers are made in China?
Neijii
09-17-2008, 11:50 AM
The lower ends, like the ones I was looking at...not sure about the others.
What?
They make some B&W speakers in China now?
It's not bad, of course, but just interesing!
What other B&W speakers are made in China?
I believe just the 600 series and they have strict QC.
zumbo
09-17-2008, 04:59 PM
Specialty audio shops is where you want to go instead of these huge chain stores. As far as B&W goes, liking a speaker is purely subjective and I noticed a few shocked looks on this thread when Totem was picked over B&W. :p It didn't surprise me. Totem makes some really kick *** speakers but unfortunately alot of these are inefficient and require a real robust amp to drive them.
Stereo shop, specialty shop, however you want to word it. Doesn't matter here, all but one have the type employee I mentioned. BB, CC, and others are for the typical American audio consumer. You should know there is nothing typical about my system.
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