Totem speakers

I've owned the Hawk and Forrest sets.  Both wonderful and engaging.  Haven't tried the Mite but can speak for the Naim/Totem synergy.   I don't know that I would call the sound laid back per se...my experience was they have a balanced sound with good meat.  One thing I noticed when comparing them to PMC of the same ilk, the PMC had a "better" tweeter, but the Totem was much fuller and enjoyable to listen to.

Thank you for your reply. And what about the PRAT?My amp is a Densen and works fine with my Epos but I need a small speaker.

that is part of the synergy, again, just my opinion....but they work well to bring out the music being given.  Using Naim, they do the job.  Not sure the sound of other amps/etc..but if you like what you got, the Totem isn't going to color the sound in any harmful way.

OK, thank you for the feedback.

Yes all you have heard/read is true. Naim and Totem go very well together. Densen and Totem unknown quantity to me but the Mite is a great speaker for the price. I would describe the sound as honest, uncoloured in a positive way.

I've owned Arro's and Hawk's and both were a great match with Naim gear.

If you can stretch your budget a little, go for the new Sky standmounts. Amazing speakers.

The Totem Mite is a bit expensive where I live. The dealer is asking 900 €, and on the Net the price is $700 USA.With the discount it cost me 765 €

I am not sure how does the Totem Mite compare to the Model 1. I have listened to the Totem Model 1 in my system, driven by NAC 202 and NAP 200. Although the Model 1s are fun and engaging speakers, they sound unrefined and a bit bright at the top.

For €135 it's surely best to have the chance of a proper demonstration to let you know whether you actually like the speakers. If you buy them from the US and then have to sell them because you don't like them you'll lose money anyway. You certainly can't buy speakers on the basis of what people on here might say. You've been buying Hifi for long enough to know that, I'd imagine.  

Yes, I really need a demo. I don´t buy anything  without it.I´m listening too B&W, Tannoy and Totem.

I have B&W CM1's which have almost a similar size as the Totem Mites. Small speakers can produce surprisingly good sound but this needs to be compensated on the AMP side. I use a Supernait which is needed to get all out the CM1's.

I consider the CM1's not entirely neutral but this is fine for random listening.

I have the CM1 s2 in my short list too.Some B&W sound a little  polite, but all are different. CM1 has the foot-tappy, boogie-groovy, lightning fast enough ?Or is a bit laid back and polite?

I'm 1.5 year in Naim world now and combine B&W CM1 (S1) and B&W CM5 (S2) with Naim Amps.

My CM1s are in my 50m2 living room and powered by a SuperNait. This is my favorite setup, the SN has more than sufficient power to squeeze all of the music out of these tiny speakers. I think it is thanks to the SuperNait that they perform so well. I've auditioned Proac Studio 140's and recently Neat Iota Alpha's and they were good but not better than the CM1s - and these speakers are at least double the price. I also think that the CM1s reach further in my ~10 meter long living especially when close to the wall.

I use them on either the original CM1 stands or on the solid wood bookshelves (solid oak). I always have the bassreflex ports closed with the plugs which comes with the speakers. This is needed to have controlled and non-booming bass.

When I listen to music having proper drums, I feel the skin of the drums resonating in my room. Its like someone is sitting there. There is no stereo gap even given the 4 meters distance between the speakers.

When I put the CM1's + SuperNait in my work room (4x3 meters) - there is too much tension in the music. I prefer in my working room my CM5's. I think this is because the CM1's come only to sing when you throw loads of power to them.

I would say: CM1's very good, but have a decent sized room for it and sufficient amplification.

Well, that's why I have Naim.

B&W + Naim can be very good, but is not the most favorite combination on this forum.

2 more things to mention:

If you have a wife, B&W's have a high WAF. I tried to bring in some Ovators last year, this was a no-go. Then I showed a photo of CM5 rosewood and I immediately got 'permission' to buy them. Quite same thing happened with the CM1's.

Second, the CM1's perform from 50Hz upwards. If you listen to Organ music or full blown Jazz having that Double Base, you might need to look to full range speakers or a subwoofer combination.

My short list:

Totem Mite

B&W CM 1 s2

Tannoy

Epos K1

Totem Mite has always been a favorite of mine. Small speaker that makes a big sound. 

I'll second that the new Totem Sky is excellent also. If you can afford the Sky it is well worth a listen. 

Yes, but Totem Mite here are a bit expensive, 900€.In USA Mite costs $700 and B&W CM1 $900, so I guess here costs more due to shipment costs.B&W is more afordable, it costs 900€ the same in USA.If in USA Totem costs less, I suppose that CM1 is better value.

I used to own the Hawks and I also listened to the Sky, just like the guys mentioned above, go for the Sky, highly recommended. I didn't beleive that this big sound is coming from stand mounts with amazing musicality 

The Dreamcatcher sounds much better than the Mite IMO, and less money too! Agree with others on the SKY though, if you can go for that. 

I also think that the Mites are $900 USD now in the States..  They used to be like $700, but Totem pricing has crept up over the years.  Heck the staff used to be $1,500 and now are like $2500.

Brubacca posted:

I also think that the Mites are $900 USD now in the States..  They used to be like $700, but Totem pricing has crept up over the years.  Heck the staff used to be $1,500 and now are like $2500.

I didn´t know. The B&W  CM1 s2 is a revision of the original CM1, unlike the Mite is the same, so I guess B&W get some advantage.But I have to listen and decide. I have heard B&W CM1 and I liked it, but the amplifier was a 40 Watts Rotel. I guess I have to listen it in a better set up

There's nothing special about the Mites.  Small and bland.  They're a bit of a letdown compared to Arros or Hawks.  Don't care for staffs either - too much bass.  Speaker companies are obliged to cover a spectrum of needs - not all the models are going to be winners.     

I am considering bringing S/H Arros on 122x/FC2x/150x as alternate to my Kans in my study. How tight is their bass? Can I place them against a bookcase?

Chag -  

I auditioned Arros a few years back and was surprised how much bass they did produce from such a slim cabinet. Unfortunately they are rear ported so not so good close to a wall. They sound the complete opposite of Kans !

Don´t hijack my thread Hehehe

And what about B&W speakers?They give enought PRAT ?