Totem Acoustic Tribe V LCR

[oldduffer]

I'm looking to use the Tribe V from Totem as a LCR around a 126" front projection screen. Not much info to be found on these units in particular and Totem in general.

any info/experience/review would be appreciated on both the speakers and the company.

Thanks

 

[jostenmeat]

I would say that the general attitude is that they are a very well respected company. The worst types of criticisms of the past might be that they were a bit too voiced or something, but as with much of the internet, lots of anecdotes. The one thing I used to fear with them was the super low sensitivity of some of their speakers. They often used Dynaudio drivers (very well respected), but some did use HiVi drivers that looked identical to Dynaudio, but well, are not Dynaudio. I believe they may recently have gotten into custom/OEM drivers (no longer modified Dyn drivers)? These speakers are very new, yes, or have they been around for a while? I'm not sure if anyone here will know much about them at all, and well over 99% of us do not ever us in-wall speakers, to unfortunately add to our overall unfamiliarity. Good luck!

 

[GranteedEV]

Can't comment on totems as i've only heard their lesser stuff

But I will say that 126" screen means you have a large room? Getting high SPLs (or more specifically, undistorted dynamic range) at decent distances is not something I personally associate the totem brand with. You should really look into something that can do a solid 105db peaks undistorted at your seating position.

 

[Chicagorep]

duffer, I haunt this site also so I'll repeat myself. I have listened the Tribe V and I will put them toe to toe against most the floor standing speakers on the market today, they are that good. The four Torrent woofers are hand made at Totem and are one of the few drivers that are wired directly to the amp. There is one cap protecting the tweeter. They are 8 ohm speakers at 89db efficient and they play down to 35hz Place a good quality amp in front of them and they will perform for you and they will play loud. I know you want to be confident about their performance before shelling out alot of money but I can assure they will exceed your expectations.

 

[InTheIndustry]

I'm looking to use the Tribe V from Totem as a LCR around a 126" front projection screen. Not much info to be found on these units in particular and Totem in general.

any info/experience/review would be appreciated on both the speakers and the company.

Thanks

We do Totem speakers and they are an excellent product. The company is a little different in their marketing approach, but overall are nice to deal with and make a great product as long as it's being used as intended.

We've never used the Tribes with a large projection screen like that, but I think GranteedEV brings up some valid concerns. NOT because the Tribe V can or cannot fill your room with force.... but because without knowing more about your room, other equipment, listening volumes/habits, etc. It's tough for me to say "Oh, yeah, the Tribe V is perfect for you". In fact, I would probably recommend the Tribe V as an on-wall solution for a screen half the size of yours.

For a theater/music system in the $9K retail range for the front stage I think that there are other pieces more suited for much better performance.... again, depending on your room. I don't know if you're working with a system designer or not, but on a screen that big I cannot think as to why any professional would point you towards those as a "best" solution for a screen/room that big unless there were installation concerns?

As an example of what I would recommend if the installation would permit...

- 2 of these as your L/R: BG Radia LA-600 http://bgradia.com/PDFs/R-600-literature.pdf
- 1 of these as your center: BG Radia CC-400 http://bgradia.com/PDFs/R-400C-literature.pdf

To be frank, we have our choice of dozens of speaker brands and these are what we are doing for our reference theater in our Design Gallery (thread coming soon ). These retail at $10,500 for the front 3, but a reasonable discount from your dealer will get them within range of the Tribe V. These will ANNIHILATE the Totem Tribe V in every way shape and form. They do require some installation work, but are well worth it.

You probably can't tell from my comments, but I think the Tribe V is an awesome on-wall speaker. Perhaps the finest in its category. However, if your room is as large as I'm guessing & will allow different types of speakers to be installed behind and around the screen, I would investigate those options thoroughly before investing in the Tribe V.

- If you think you're getting bad info from your dealer/system designer or need help/have questions, please feel free to PM me about your bid or system design and I'll be happy to give you candid advice as to maybe why certain products are being recommended or not -

 

[GranteedEV]

Not many single tweeter speakers are really designed for large rooms. The few that are use rather high crossover points (IE PMC BB5) or multiple tweeters (on paper undesirable , although I don't know for sure if the effects are as pronounced. IE RBH T2/R). Many people believe that ones you've added a second tweeter to a speaker, you need a line source from floor to ceiling. The ribbon based system above seems to follow this rule. My only question, having never heard one, would be how they sound closer up, where the sound of the many drivers (converges or not). At a distance however it's a more desirable solution than most single tweeter speakers.

Besides line arrays, though I would be looking into compression driver based speakers (technically single tweeters, but designed for larger areas and loaded to a waveguide). One which I presume would work extremely well in a large room, although it's not technically an in-wall, but since it's custom with linear phase digital crossover, could be made to work in a wall, would be a seaton spark or seaton catalyst.

http://www.seaton-sound-forum.com/post?id=3364736

 

[Chicagorep]

Oldduffer, find a dealer who can audition the Tribes for you. When I listened to them it was at Cedia last fall. It was in the convention hall that is millions of cubic feet in area and a lot of noise going on. The were playing loud enough to be heard above all the other chaos going on around me. They will play loud in a large room, they will fill your room, they will sound exceptionally well, they will make you very happy, they will make your friends jealous and they will make great 2 channel music speakers. As I said on the other forum just make sure you use at least 2 subs in that room, using only one sub is one of the biggest mistakes made in home theaters, I don't care how big it is.

 

[InTheIndustry]

Oldduffer, find a dealer who can audition the Tribes for you. When I listened to them it was at Cedia last fall. It was in the convention hall that is millions of cubic feet in area and a lot of noise going on. The were playing loud enough to be heard above all the other chaos going on around me. They will play loud in a large room, they will fill your room, they will sound exceptionally well, they will make you very happy, they will make your friends jealous and they will make great 2 channel music speakers. As I said on the other forum just make sure you use at least 2 subs in that room, using only one sub is one of the biggest mistakes made in home theaters, I don't care how big it is.

Just read his AVS forum post on this same subject.

In a 13'x20' room the Tribe V is a great choice. I imagine that with a screen so big/wide, thin on-walls are optimal and the Tribe V is as good as it gets for an on-wall.

Which is what I was referring to by wondering about the room & install conditions. Personally, I would do an AT screen and larger speakers behind it, but that is a matter of taste. The Tribe V is about as good as you can do on-wall and shares very little company in sound or build quality.

If you go with them... Enjoy!

 

[InTheIndustry]

Lots of info for you!

Not many single tweeter speakers are really designed for large rooms. The few that are use rather high crossover points (IE PMC BB5) or multiple tweeters (on paper undesirable , although I don't know for sure if the effects are as pronounced. IE RBH T2/R). Many people believe that ones you've added a second tweeter to a speaker, you need a line source from floor to ceiling. The ribbon based system above seems to follow this rule. My only question, having never heard one, would be how they sound closer up, where the sound of the many drivers (converges or not). At a distance however it's a more desirable solution than most single tweeter speakers.

Besides line arrays, though I would be looking into compression driver based speakers (technically single tweeters, but designed for larger areas and loaded to a waveguide). One which I presume would work extremely well in a large room, although it's not technically an in-wall, but since it's custom with linear phase digital crossover, could be made to work in a wall, would be a seaton spark or seaton catalyst.

http://www.seaton-sound-forum.com/post?id=3364736

Some good questions!

PM Sent for you!!!!!

 

[oldduffer]

Many, many thanks for the replies. Great information, some looked for and much more food for thought. It's appreciated. If I go the onwall route, I definitely have good info to proceed.

If I go with a more stylized system in this 13' X 20' room with 126" 1.78 screen, meaning break out the carpenters tools, moulding, trim, and stain. Can you give an opinion for me about these:

RBH SI-6100/R as a built in speaker LCR?

Thanks again, the help is appreciated.


ps. Radia looks like a true killer!

 

[jostenmeat]

I think you should read my recent post regarding a projector setup:
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showpost.php?p=799604&postcount=15

There are two systems here already that use a 126" 1.78 screen, and both are using Seymour CenterStage XD. One of them is mine. I changed from a Dalite HP to this DIY material.

The other system went from a Stewart, I think it might have been the reference ST130. I don't think either of us are going back to our old screen.

Basically, you can have a false wall without a speaker in sight up front, including the ideal setup of three identical, vertically arrayed speakers, with a 126" AT weaved screen, all for about $1500, and it can be so good, even the IMAX theater sucks in comparison, forget the DLP theaters, or regular theaters. Of course this assumes you are breaking out the "carpenters tools" to build the screen frame, false wall, and speakers themselves. You can build some ER18s for $300 a piece. If you are a more skilled woodworker, you can look at those mighty Holtz Statements, assuming you can give them some breathing space.

 

[dkielm]

Totem or Focals?

Hi, I've been reading several forums looking for clues on whether to buy center and L/R speakers from TOTEM or Stick with FOCAL (Audio Lab) which I have in a different area in my house.
Does anyone have any experience comparing these two companies/Speakers?
how do they compare price/value/sound quality?
I'm considering an in-wall for my center due to the room design, immediately underneath my projection screen. The rest would be floor standing.

My HTheatre is set in a very large room, I have a somehow big projection screen and my preamp and power amp are Krell.
I will also use the speakers for audio, sourcing my music from a Moon CD player and a QSonix music server/DAC MH2 Young.
THANKS

 

[moves]

I agree with having them tested in your room size. I own a pair of Forests and they are lovely. My dealer told me that if I wanted Cinema loudness, Totem will not do this - get something like a synchrony one... He was saying that the thing about Totem is that they play very detailed - meaning that they sound very, very good at loud volumes for a relatively medium sized room (something like 18 X 18).

He turned it loud and said why would you want it any louder that that? (it was loud) If you want louder but less detail go with a PSB or something alike. But if you care more about detail then totem will do a better job.