newbie ..help! need advice totem mites or dreamcatchers ...any totem users out there?

[Manuell]

Hi there

First of all I want to thank you in advance for your help. I am newbie to this so I am trying to gather experienced opinions. I have auditioned them but the one store that carries them in my city in British Columbia Canada isn't exactly a hifi store. So the environment is not the best for listening or comparing for that matter.

Please feel free to add your thoughts...its hard when you don't have the trained ear or the understanding of the lingo.

I am trying to decided between the Totems Mites ($600) and Totems Dreamcatcher's ($400) speakers. I have auditioned them once but in all honesty
I am having a little trouble in really hearing the differences between the two...I realize the size and casing contribute to the extra $200. I do have the means to afford the mites but I wanted to ask those of you whom have familiarity with totem speakers if in your opinion the mites are worth the extra money.

The totem will be paired up with rega apollo cd , rega brio or mira3.

Thank you! my first post

 

[mazersteven]

Welcome to Audioholics

If your having trouble hearing the difference between the two. Then IMO you just saved $200 bucks.

But I have never heard them so maybe it was your listening environment.

 

[Manuell]

Thanks mazor. Very happy to find this place..lots of helpful experienced people here.

 

[Tom Andry]

I'd ask for an in-home audition. Some stores will accommodate you - especially if they think you might spend an extra $200 because of it.

 

[Manuell]

Thanks Tom. It's a nice community you have created here. It's very helpful to those starting out. I wanted to ask you, I've noticed It's been very hard to find much reviews on the web regarding some of the totem speakers...even doing search on this forum , I had very if not nil finds? Are these speakers that unfavored?
Just curious..

 

[gus6464]

If you get the Dreamcatchers I would recommend to not pair it with the Brio. The speakers are 4ohm and the Brio cannot handle the high loads.

 

[Manuell]

gus6464: Thank you Gus. Good to know. I will probably end up going with the rega miras, used one anyways.

 

[Spiderant]

Totem Mites with NAD C315BEE

Greetings Manuell,

I've had the Totem Mites for a year in my studio and I absolutely love them. The first time I heard them (in the SoundRoom when they were on 4th ave) I remember hearing details I had never heard before. I finally saved up to buy a pair at A&B Sound. When I first started to listen to them, I found them overly bright when paired with a VUUM Itube amplifier, which only puts out 15 watts (The Mites require 20). However, a few weeks ago I picked up a NAD C315BEE from Commercial Electronics, and this is a heavenly match. The Mites now go very deep to the point that I almost thought they were "bassy" when I first hooked up the amp. But the NAD brings out all the best quality of the Mites including articulation, clarity and a superb soundstage. Best of all, I have yet to play a CD that sounds grating or edgy. So far I've had zero listener fatigue from this combo.

Last night I listened to Mahler's 4th (Bernstein / Concertgebouworkest Amsterdam), a 1988 recording that I used to think was flat and muddy sounding. Holy Moley, did it ever sound good. Everything, from the chimes, to the kettle drums, to the boy soprano--it was fantastic. Now I'm going to go back to listen to all my cds recorded in the last century that I used to think were poorly mastered and see if they too sound better. So Totem Mites with the NAD C315BEE gets a full recommendation from me (BTW I also have a NAD 3020 which I found sounded 'foggy' compared to the new NAD).

Keep it lit -- Roland.

 

[3db]

gus6464: Thank you Gus. Good to know. I will probably end up going with the rega miras, used one anyways.

The Mites are 8 ohms. You should audition them before settling for the rega's.