Top 5 or fewer sounds you listen for when evaluating speakers - be specific.

[fuzz092888]

That link is dead, try this one:
Sound Engineer's Hard Work [HD] - YouTube

Hahaha that's hilarious.

I finally got the demo CD today and got to listen to some of it. Really excellent recordings on it, they showed some pretty interesting differences between the two pairs of speakers I have up front. Granted one pair is set up somewhat correctly and the other is really hampered by they're set up. One thing that I found really interesting was on one track he was standing about two feet from the microphone, outside and he ripped two pieces of paper and a piece of tin foil. He said on the track that you could have someone stand right in front of you and rip similar pieces of paper to compare the sound. A pretty easy way to hear if the speakers are neutral or not. In the other tracks there is a ton of ambient detail that you really need a pair of good speakers to discern all the sounds and to bring all those sound together into a cohesive whole. Great CD.

 

[jcunwired]

Hey there fuzz, it's been awhile.

I could search but I'm lazy - what other pair of speakers do you have? Let me guess, the new version of the Philharmonics I'm setting up another 2 channel system in a new room, looking for monitors for $1k or so, just curious.

 

[fuzz092888]

Hey man, unfortunately not the new Phils. Although I'm sure my GF would be absolutely thrilled to hear that I'm selling the ones I have for smaller ones. I may, but we'll see. Anyways, the other speakers I have are these. They were right around $1K, but that was because John from Source already had the cabs made and I just wanted the veneer changed. However, if you're looking for a pair of monitors there is obviously the Philharmonitors. The new ones, or you can probably work something out for the old style as well.

I'll toss these into the mix as well

Bookshelf-minilist

I have total faith in John at Source Technology. The 8.3's are everything he said they would be and more and I'm sure his monitors would be as well. Good luck, let us all know where you're heading with the monitor search You've piqued my interest.

EDIT: I thought they were sold, but these are still available. They retail for $3K, the new version has a different woofer, but these are still excellent monitors and a tremendous value. I actually considered picking them up.

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/monitors-source-technologies-1-7-smii-black-monitors-mint-customer-trade-in-2013-03-09-speakers-068001

Hey there fuzz, it's been awhile.

I could search but I'm lazy - what other pair of speakers do you have? Let me guess, the new version of the Philharmonics I'm setting up another 2 channel system in a new room, looking for monitors for $1k or so, just curious.

 

[jcunwired]

Thank you sir. I've never heard of Source, but what little I can find on them is very positive. The 1.8WC might work well in the space I just put Kefs, I think I'll give them a call tomorrow. It's a big room, open floor plan, 25' ceilings and about 1200sf, the only decent place to mount them is on shelves about 8' up. Placement may be an issue, they're undoubtedly rear ported. I need a wide soundstage, relatively accurate off-axis response (of course), and something forgiving, this is the room where my wife and daughter will be playing their music and streaming Pandora. The things we do for love The Kefs deliver on all accounts and sound quite good, but I'm still curious. I'll ask them about the 1.7 on audiogon too, kind of odd in that ad that they mention them as good nearfield monitors based on flat FR and low distortion I doubt seriously there is a place to listen locally, looks like another blind purchase possibility. By the way, I noticed their 1.6WC uses a Vifa tweeter similar to the speaker Dennis just put together (maybe the same one).

I've just talked a Totem dealer into letting me have a pair of Rainmakers for a few days to audition in my home "already broken in" I'm kind of excited about it. They sound fantastic in their setup.

The new speakers look great!

Thanks again for the reference.

 

[KEW]

With the Rainmakers, play them at differing volumes. I think Totem's design is to incorporate cabinet resonance into the speaker.
The Rainmakers I listened to sounded pretty nice at a moderate volume in a larger audio room. But I would want to make sure the cabinet resonance stayed balanced at different volumes before I emptied my wallet.

 

[Hobbit]

I usually grab a handful of music, mostly jazz (bebop, big band), and blues. One of my favorites is Robben Fords Life Song, which I recently posted in the "what are you listening to now thread." Robben's handling of the guitar is exquisite. He's very much about intonation; he thinks a lot about where on the neck he plays the notes as well as how he strikes the note (or not). It's all about note accent with him.

 

[jcunwired]

With the Rainmakers, play them at differing volumes. I think Totem's design is to incorporate cabinet resonance into the speaker.
The Rainmakers I listened to sounded pretty nice at a moderate volume in a larger audio room. But I would want to make sure the cabinet resonance stayed balanced at different volumes before I emptied my wallet.

Thank you for the great advice. A few years ago when I first heard Totem my newbie arse was very impressed, but then I'd had little contact with any audio gear between the average setup and very high end components some of my friends have (Vandersteen, Martin Logan, Magnepan). I was smitten. But I'm also weary of their claims of break in requirements, accessories like claws and beaks to improve sound. I don't want to be running to the volume knob, moving my beak around (ahem!) every time a different song or genre is played. This audition will hopefully put it all to rest, and honestly I'm hoping I don't like them in my home.

 

[fuzz092888]

I've never heard his bookshelves before, but I have that pair of surrounds and obviously the towers and they're awesome. John is a straight shooter, like Dennis, and in my experience with him won't push a sale if the speakers aren't right for your planned purpose. I've met him in person and been over to his shop before so I can vouch for his stuff. I know the tweeter in the 1.8 looks slightly different than the one Dennis just used. They do mention them as nearfield monitors, but most of John's stuff can handle a fair amount of power before going into thermal compression. I'm not sure if the 1.7's fit that bill, but they have a rated power handling of up to 300W.

Can't go wrong with any of the ones you mentioned though. I remember auditioning some Totem floor standers and enjoyed them.

Thank you sir. I've never heard of Source, but what little I can find on them is very positive. The 1.8WC might work well in the space I just put Kefs, I think I'll give them a call tomorrow. It's a big room, open floor plan, 25' ceilings and about 1200sf, the only decent place to mount them is on shelves about 8' up. Placement may be an issue, they're undoubtedly rear ported. I need a wide soundstage, relatively accurate off-axis response (of course), and something forgiving, this is the room where my wife and daughter will be playing their music and streaming Pandora. The things we do for love The Kefs deliver on all accounts and sound quite good, but I'm still curious. I'll ask them about the 1.7 on audiogon too, kind of odd in that ad that they mention them as good nearfield monitors based on flat FR and low distortion I doubt seriously there is a place to listen locally, looks like another blind purchase possibility. By the way, I noticed their 1.6WC uses a Vifa tweeter similar to the speaker Dennis just put together (maybe the same one).

I've just talked a Totem dealer into letting me have a pair of Rainmakers for a few days to audition in my home "already broken in" I'm kind of excited about it. They sound fantastic in their setup.

The new speakers look great!

Thanks again for the reference.