How good are Totem Arro's

[griffinconst]

Haven't heard myself but have read and heard from others they are excellent.
Anybody know these? What can you tell me?
Thanks

 

[Lordoftherings]

These are Canadian speakers well build, nice looking, small towers (floorstanding) speakers with small drivers (4.5 " and .75"), with great resolution, but you need a sub to supplement them.
They weight 18 pounds per tower, and are 4-ohm with 87db sensitivity.
They retail for $1,350/pair.

Is this for a stereo system?

Because that's what they're good at with a high resolution sound, very clean and precise with excellent focus and imaging.

 

[swspiers]

I can back-up the statement that they are optimal for 2-channel. I'm not familiar enough with their line to comment on HT options.

Further, I believe they need quality amplification. Nothing crazy like Krell or Theta, but a typical Sony probably won't cut it.

Can you tell us more about your system?

-S

 

[just listening]

Any Totem speaker will image like gangbusters, IMHO, far better than the usual suspects mentioned on this forum. Vocalization and width of soundstage can be stunning. Bass response is better than one might think, but if you do like it deep, a sub is a good option. One of the best things you can do for the Arro's is put ballast of some type in the bottom of each mini-tower. It acts like putting sand in a speaker stand for monitors.

I agree with stepping up a bit on amplification, Rotel & Cambridge play very nice. Also, Totem's in general can be outstanding with integrated tube amps. Class D chip amps are not a great match to my ears, it restrains the "Totem" sound. WAF is quite high as they are actually quite small and the veneer finishes are outstanding.

 

[bandphan]

Agree with all, I haven't heard anything bad in their line. I will say that if you look used you can pick up a pair of their reference monitors for around a G.

 

[bandphan]

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1252106460&/Totem-1-Signature

 

[lsiberian]

These are Canadian speakers well build, nice looking, small towers (floorstanding) speakers with small drivers (4.5 " and .75"), with great resolution, but you need a sub to supplement them.
They weight 18 pounds per tower, and are 4-ohm with 87db sensitivity.
They retail for $1,350/pair.

Is this for a stereo system?

Because that's what they're good at with a high resolution sound, very clean and precise with excellent focus and imaging.

18 lbs is very light for a tower. Are they built out of ply?

 

[3db]

18 lbs is very light for a tower. Are they built out of ply?

here ere the specs

Break in time: 100 - 150 hours
Placement from rear wall: 6" - 3' / 152 - 914 mm
Placement distance apart: 2' - 12' / 610 - 3 658 mm
Mass Loading: 10 - 20 lb / 4.5 - 9 kg in each cabinet
Frequency Response: 40 Hz - 20 kHz ± 3 dB (with proper room positioning)
Impedance: 4 ohms
Sensitivity: 87 dB
Recommended Power: 20 - 80 W
Crossover frequency: 2.4 kHz, 2nd order Linkwitz-Riley (optimized)
Woofer: 4.5" / 114 mm sandwich cone double magnet”
Tweeter: 1 impregnated textile dome 0.75" / 19 mm (low resonance freq.)
Max SPL's: In average size listening room (12' x 20' / 4 m x 6 m)
103 dB peak (12' x 15' / 3 658 x 4 572 mm) from pair at 7' / 2 m
Dimensions (w x h x d): 5.1 x 33.5 x 7.1" / 130 x 850 x 180 mm

I'm not sure the bolded line is their weight or not. To me mass laoding infers add additional weight to the cabinet but I'm not sure. I do know that they have a "lock and mitre" joints (if that makes sense) and their fit and finish are 2nd to none.

 

[just listening]

Iseberian:
Totem uses either 1/2 or 3/4 mdf depending on the speaker. The Arro is a mini-tower version of their Dreamcatcher mini-monitor. Yes, compared to others they do seem light in weight, but once you see the construction quality and hear the sound you'll be amazed.

 

[Lordoftherings]

Some great reviews.

Here's three reviews of the Totem Acoustic Arro >------>

1. >------> http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/todd28.htm

2. >------> http://www.audio-ideas.com/reviews/loudspeakers/totem_arro.html

3. >------> http://www.whathifi.com/Review/Totem-Arro/

*** That should well cover your questions.

>------> Totem Acoustic is one of the best Canadian speaker company.
The arro is part of that great line of speakers.

 

[griffinconst]

Thanks everyone. All the usual suspects here. I trust all you guys. It looks like everytrhing I've heard and read is true.
Do you think they will fill up a 14x20 room w/ a sub nice and loud?
Also, do you think my Onkyo 805 can power them well enough? I was rockin out on Sat. night with my receiver at +3 with some B&W 220's and a Def Tech sub. It was loud and I liked it!!!
How does Onkyo's scale work, is 0 80db or 100 db? If I got the Arro's, could they handle this sort of volume on occation or should I keep trying for some used Paradigm Monitor 9's?
I listen to mostly rock, some jazz and classical.
Thanks for all the info, I appreciate it very much.

 

[griffinconst]

Haven't heard myself but have read and heard from others they are excellent.

Thanks for chiming in Dave. - Kevin

 

[WmAx]

Just realize, these speakers are purely designed for 'coloration'; not accuracy. All music played through these will take on a fixed timbre distortion due to the highly resonant cabinet system. In addition, it seems that historically, Totem has a very substantial E.Q. curve built into the response.

Some people like this kind of speaker.... this is just a notice to the effect.

-Chris

 

[griffinconst]

Just realize, these speakers are purely designed for 'coloration'; not accuracy. All music played through these will take on a fixed timbre distortion due to the highly resonant cabinet system. In addition, it seems that historically, Totem has a very substantial E.Q. curve built into the response.

Some people like this kind of speaker.... this is just a notice to the effect.

-Chris

Thanks WmAx,
It's good to know I can always count on you give me the good word........"Some people like this kind of speaker"....... That's awesome!

 

[Lordoftherings]

Just realize, these speakers are purely designed for 'coloration'; not accuracy. All music played through these will take on a fixed timbre distortion due to the highly resonant cabinet system. In addition, it seems that historically, Totem has a very substantial E.Q. curve built into the response.

Some people like this kind of speaker.... this is just a notice to the effect.

-Chris

They do need to be fill with shot lead, and a good dose at that.

But Chris, how many speakers don't have any coloration at all???

Are Paradigm Monitor 9 better in their own coloration, or can you build some that would be colored only by the studio recording mixes???

Regards bro,

Bob

 

[Lordoftherings]

Thanks everyone. All the usual suspects here. I trust all you guys. It looks like everytrhing I've heard and read is true.
Do you think they will fill up a 14x20 room w/ a sub nice and loud?
Also, do you think my Onkyo 805 can power them well enough? I was rockin out on Sat. night with my receiver at +3 with some B&W 220's and a Def Tech sub. It was loud and I liked it!!!
How does Onkyo's scale work, is 0 80db or 100 db? If I got the Arro's, could they handle this sort of volume on occation or should I keep trying for some used Paradigm Monitor 9's?
I listen to mostly rock, some jazz and classical.
Thanks for all the info, I appreciate it very much.

I'll give you my straight opinion: with your Onkyo 805, get the Paradigm Monitor 9, a much fuller sound for what you're looking for.
By the way, I also own the 805.

The Totem Arros are for another clientele, and you're not it. No harm meant.
You are actually like me, you want SOUND and lot's of it. The Arros won't provide that, period.

Regards,

Bob

 

[griffinconst]

Thanks Bob - Of the speakers I've heard, Monitor 9's do seem like what I'm looking for and within my tight budget.
I see them go on ebay under $400 often.

 

[bandphan]

IMO you should get the speakers that sound the best to you

 

[just listening]

Yes, Totem's do color, but for most listeners it's a pleasant one, with an emphasis on depth and richness. I've only met one person who after listening to any pair of Totem's wasn't happy with their sound. Measurements only tell a part of the story. In the end, it's all about your ears, in your room, with your gear.

Since you are pairing it with an Onkyo receiver, in general terms the Paradigm 9 will pair easier due to thie higher efficiency level (92db vs. 86db). However, Paradigm's monitor series can be too bright and won't have the richness of the Arro's. The 9's will play louder, so one question is loud more important than depth?

The final thing to consider is how long do you plan on having the Onkyo?

Either speaker brand is quality, though the resale value of the Monitor's doesn't hold up as well as Totem's.

 

[WmAx]

YMeasurements only tell a part of the story. In the end, it's all about your ears, in your room, with your gear.

With the right measurements, most of the story is told, at least if you are sufficiently knowledgeable in the field, and intimately familiar with the credible perceptual research.

But your statement is accurate in reference to the majority of audio enthusiasts and even most speaker designers.

-Chris