All,
As an update, nothing’s changed in my thinking since my weekend blitz, so Totem “Fire” ($6K) is still at the top of my list, with Joseph Audio Pulsar ($7700) in second. My auditions of the Totems have been on a McIntosh MAC6700 receiver rated at 200 wpc ($6500). My next step (hopefully Thursday) will be listening to them at another dealer running on a Bryston B135 SST2 integrated (135 wpc, $4695+$375 for remote). Also, on the recommendation of a couple of forum members whose opinions I’ve come to value as this post has evolved I have connected with Jim Salk regarding comparable models in his line to consider. I’m waiting to hear back from him, but the “Exotica Monitor” ($5995/pr) seems an appropriate candidate given it’s about the same price as the $6K Totems. I’ll keep you "posted" on that.
So on this Christmas eve I’d like to thank all of you who’ve followed and contributed to this post thus far. It’s been extremely valuable to me by introducing many new options. In return I thought I’d present you with a stocking stuffer and list all the speakers I have considered to at least some extent in my search. For many of these my consideration was primarily based on on-line research or contacts with manufacturers. I actually listened to about 60% of them. They’re in no particular order, and represent a wide price range.
If I eliminated any of them it may not have been because of their sound. It could have been any number of factors from appearance, electronics or room compatibility, accessibility, dealer quality, forum input, power handling, efficiency, price (to some extent), etc., etc., etc. I think most of the prices are correct, but don’t rely on these because there may be some errors.
As such, this listing may a pink elephant of a gift that’s of little value other than giving you more of my perspective, but if you’re searching (and aren’t we all?) I think many of the speakers on it that are in your price range are worth considering for a “short list” of your own.
As many of you suggested, the most important evaluation will be the in-home trial, which at this point I’m planning at least for my front runner.
So here’s the list below. Although I was hunting for stand mounts, a few floor standers slipped in along the way. For some I’ve added my fleeting impressions, again for whatever they're worth. Have a great holiday.
• Polk LSiM703, $1500 – Reviewed well and could be a good deal. I’d like to have heard them
• KEF R300, $1800 – As good or better than the McIntosh XR50’s at $4000
• Monitor Audio PL100, $5750 w/ stands
• Paradigm Signature S2, $3900 w/ stands – A very good speaker, but I heard just a few things significantly not right
• Joseph Audio Pulsar, $7700 – My #2 choice, but I’d hate having to use spade lugs
• Dali Epicon 2, $8000 w/ stands – Great speaker, but for that price I’d invest more and go with the Dynaudio Confidence C1 at $9K
• ProAc Response D Two, $3500
• Epos Elan 15, $1400
• Epos Elan 35, $2400
• Spendor SP1/2R2, $6800 – Too “polite” for me
• Aperion Speakers – Recommended on forum, but don’t think the stand mount would compete at upper end of the price range I’m considering
• KEF LS50 – Great recommendation (thx Ponzio). I think anyone seeking mini-monitors should listen
• Totem Acoustic Element Ember, $4200 – focused on big brother Fire
• Totem Acoustic Element Fire, $6000 – My #1 at this point
• JBL Studio 590, $2000 – Always loved the better quality JBL’s and would have definitely auditioned if I wanted floor standers
• Klipsch RF-7 II, $3400 – Pretty in cherry
• Sonus Faber Olympica 1, $6500. Stands priced at $1200 pr - Good speaker, but I don’t get the hype I’ve heard over these and won’t pay $1200 for stands
• Monitor Audio RX6, $1200 – Great top end and overall value
• Thiel SCS4, $2300 – Respect the name and liked the form factor, but not the sound
• B&W CM5, $1900 w/ stands – Should have spent more time with these
• B&W CM9, $3000 – Hopeful going in but just not impressed
• B&W PM1, $3350 w/ stands – Disappointed. Didn’t expect much bass but heard even less
• B&W 805D, $5700 w/ stands – OK, but I found site and sound of tweeter distracting
• B&W 804D, $7500 – Same as above, although fared better when switched from Marantz to McIntosh
• Revel Performa3 M106, $2500 w/ stands – To me the best value among stand mounts I heard
• Revel Performa3 F206, $3500 – Also a good value for rooms too big for the F208
• Revel Performa3 F208, $5000
• Focal 1008BE – Should have made a point to hear these, but couldn’t find a dealer anywhere near who’d home demo
• McIntosh XR50, $4000 – what I’d expect from an amp company going beyond their core competency
• Dynaudio Contour S 1.4, $3,300
• Dynaudio Confidence C1 Signature, $9000 w/ stands – world class in most respects, just not my cup of tea