I have the Totem's and love them dearly but it took a lot of trial and error. The post above is absolutely correct. You need loads of power and I mean serious power to load up the speakers. If you could afford tube amps big enough to run the totems then you probably wouldn't have Totems. If you don't give the Totem's enough power they sound bright and bass is just not really there. It will sound like a avg. bookshelf but give it the juice and Oh'Boy they shine.
However, I have recently hooked up a Ayre AX-7e to the Totem's and they are now doing things that are unmatched to anything else plugged into the totems. For years I've had the wrong gear until now. I have loads of big but very tight & defined bass, wide soundstage, awesome speed and timing. Did I forget to say lot's of air? Very musical and not bright. I couldn't believe how good the bass is now, the floor was shaking with a stand up bass recording that I have.
Just today I hooked up a YBA Ya201 to the Totem's to try out and it's no contest, less soundstage, muddy bass, brighter, less separation of instruments and slower compared to the Ayre. Very disappointing but the YBA is over a $1000 cheaper used. With all the equipment I have tried out, the Ayre is hands down the only amp worth using unless your willing to spend serious money.
So the right equipment and good stands is critical and the Totems like to be at least 24" min. from the rear wall. When done right, they sing.
The Totems are working very well for me for TV when placed correctly because they image so well and give off a very wide soundstage that you don't need a center channel. The speakers disappear.
However, I have recently hooked up a Ayre AX-7e to the Totem's and they are now doing things that are unmatched to anything else plugged into the totems. For years I've had the wrong gear until now. I have loads of big but very tight & defined bass, wide soundstage, awesome speed and timing. Did I forget to say lot's of air? Very musical and not bright. I couldn't believe how good the bass is now, the floor was shaking with a stand up bass recording that I have.
Just today I hooked up a YBA Ya201 to the Totem's to try out and it's no contest, less soundstage, muddy bass, brighter, less separation of instruments and slower compared to the Ayre. Very disappointing but the YBA is over a $1000 cheaper used. With all the equipment I have tried out, the Ayre is hands down the only amp worth using unless your willing to spend serious money.
So the right equipment and good stands is critical and the Totems like to be at least 24" min. from the rear wall. When done right, they sing.
The Totems are working very well for me for TV when placed correctly because they image so well and give off a very wide soundstage that you don't need a center channel. The speakers disappear.