Totem Acoustic Forest Signatures


I am putting together a new 2 channel system! I am looking for a new pair of speakers and my budget is around $7000. This thread has to deal only with the Totem Acoustic Forest Signatures!!!!!!  I have always been a fan of Totem Acoustic and love the Totem sound.  I have owned almost all their speakers except for the element series and the Forest Signatures. I have been trying to find reviews on the signatures but can't find anything useful so I am turning to the Audiogon crowd.

Has anyone demoed these or does anyone currently own a pair or owned a pair in the past that can give some useful insight? I don't listen to my music at high volumes and my music mainly consists of R&B from the 50's till now.

The speakers will be hooked up to the following - Hegel H360 integrated 
- Hegel Cdp4a CD player 
- Audioquest Wild Blue Yonder interconnects
- Audioquest Wild Wood speaker cable
- Audioquest Wel Signature power cables
- Shunyata MPC12A power conditioner but looking to upgrade to their new Denali series.
brandonosman23
Hello again scthom - 
Just to be clear, the Parsecs were only mentioned by way of full disclosure.  They might or might not contribute to the sound you are looking for.  They are part of the new "generation" of Cardas wire...not as warm - a little more neutral - than "vintage" Cardas wire but still very much a Cardas house sound (or so i think).  

Paul Laudati's Clear Day Double Shotgun (all silver) speaker cable was what I wanted to suggest.  Paul did offer a 30 day in-home/money back trial on them.  I write "did" because he has recently experienced some very serious health issues.  I don't know if he's back making cables.  If not, but you can find some of his used, well worth trying out.  

Taking advantage of borrowing from The Cable Co. is definitely a good way to go.  If you call, the sales guy can consult their database (customer derived info) and make recommendations for you to try based on your gear, budget and sound preference.  Maybe the newer Black Mesh Oval 9 is something to try out?  I've not heard Analysis Plus wire at all but they enjoy a good reputation.

One thing you can try right now (assuming you are using a single run of cable with jumpers and the Forests aren't bi-wired) is use the Nordost diagonal speaker connection method.  That is, attach Red (+) to the low frequency + post and Black (-) to the upper frequency - post.  See if you hear any increase in upper frequency information using this approach.  [Just fyi, Audioquest recommends the opposite when single-wiring bi-wireable speakers...Red to upper + post; Black to lower - post.]
If you're interested, I should be able to find a link(s) to relevant info.  

Removing the rear balls from the Totem claws would be another easy thing to try.  See if it gets you more detail.  

Good luck.

This morning, Peter Gabriel, "Salsbury Hill"
And "SO", Special Edition

I'm still experimenting with speaker placement after adding the Mapleshade 18"x15"x2" blocks under my Signatures.


Hi Ghosthouse,

I’m going to borrow some speaker cables from the Cable Company. That seems like the best way to go.

Thanks
ghosthouse 
You Were right! "You never know what your missing till it's gone." The Mapleshade plinths are keepers. Full stop. 

I taped the floor with painters tape and removed the blocks and played the previous cd. It was immediatly evident they were missing. The Mapleshade blocks expanded the sound. The bass which I originally thought was missing on the blocks was back. It was muddy and confused in comparison when the speakers were on the carpet. 

Dave_b
 "Cohesion".... I didn't think the soundstage could get better but has. I suppose the carpet muddied the sound. High frequency energy is smooooth. It was good before, much better now. Liquid mids!

Listening to Crowded House, Woodface. Great production. Huge soundstage. Vocals are magical on the Signatures! Such great harmonies. And the harmonica on "There goes God" is the room, literally.

N