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Anonymous | Hello, I am new to this forum and just have a question about this speaker system which was recommended highly to me....... Would anyone here have any thoughts on these speakers...... And would anyone have a recommendation for a receiver if I move forward with the purchase of these speakers...... Regards. |
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Anonymous | One more effort to see if anyone is familiar with and can tell me some things about Totem speakers..... In particular, the Dreamcatcher 5.1.... Regards. |
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Bronze Member Username: GoosePost Number: 28 Registered: 01-2004 | Totem is an audiophile brand of speakers made in Canada. Their website has this about the Dreamcatcher system: http://www.totemacoustic.com/english/products/homeTheatre_dreamcatch.htm Some reviews include: http://customretailermag.com/doc/278956222635332.bsp http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue8/dreamcatcher.htm If you want larger speakers for the fronts then you could substitute the Totem Arro. Note that Totem sells grilles as an option, if that matters to you. |
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Silver Member Username: HawkPost Number: 199 Registered: 12-2003 | Anon: I was very intrigued by your post, so I e-mailed Totem for a referral to a Totem dealer--and they e-mailed me with a name and address of a dealer I was unaware of not too far from me. So this morning I went there and spent about two and a half hours testing several Totems, but focused mostly on the Dreamcatcher system. I was pretty impressed. Now, I don't know what you are going to use them for (music/HT?), but the Dreamcatcher is a highly detailed small speaker that makes an excellent system for most applications. Not real strong in the bass, nevertheless the sub does a nice job of filling in the low end to present an excellent soundstage. They are just a little bright sounding and a littel bit forward, but not in any way displeasing, so I would recommend this system with just a couple of caveats: 1. Not meant for a large room; 2. They are low impedence speakers (4 ohm), but the dealer I heard them at drove them with a H/K AVR630 without any difficulty. Therefore, I would suggest they need high quality electronics. In other words, I think they would be comfortable with an NAD 743 on up, for instance, but not a Marantz 5400. You would probably need to be into a Marantz 7400 to be comfortable with the DreamCatcher system. An H/K 630 is obviously a good choice, but not a 230. I think the key is that it must be a high quality power supply. The dealer told me that he never tries to demo them with Integras, for instance, so I conclude any Onkyo would be a poor choice. Nevertheless, at $1695(US) for the full 5.1 system, I think they are a real bargain if you are careful with the electronics you pair them with. I hope this helps. |
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Anonymous | I cannot believe you were so intrigued to check them out, but I am very happy that was the case. And I thank you! I have heard good things about that system and plan to give a listen this weekend..... I appreciate you checking them out, as another opinion is very valued. I am surprised that this system needs to be paired with such high quality electronics. But I will take that caveat. I am also plan to give a listen to the Totem Mite, which I believe is a bit pricier. Can you explain the significance of low impedence? On the receiver match and then just its significance standing alone? What does it mean? I know that some I am considering have a higher impedence. |
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Bronze Member Username: GoosePost Number: 31 Registered: 01-2004 | Hawk, did you happen to listen to the Arros? From information lying around the web they seem interesting, and my "local" NAD and H/K dealer also sells them. I plan to listen to them myself once I finally get up there, but I was wondering if you had any comments, especially with regard to NAD and H/K. |
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New member Username: BeamerPost Number: 1 Registered: 02-2004 | I would be very cautious when purchasing a NAD receiver. I just purchased a T752 and right out of the box I have no sub output in all modes except for 7.1 Matrix and EARS. I sound tested NAD and it sounds great, when it works. I read multiple reviews and came to the conclusion that in the early stages the 752 had a lot of bugs and the newer makes took care of the problems. Well......They didnt. No second chance, the unit is getting replaced with a Rotel.. |
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Silver Member Username: HawkPost Number: 205 Registered: 12-2003 | Anon: Believe me it was a pleasure. I heard the Mite, along with several other Totem speakers and they were all very high quality. I seem to recall that the Mites are priced at $699/pair, which is about $200 more than a pair of the DreamCatchers, but they certainly have more depth and a better tonal balance. I think the thing that stood out for me about the Totems as a whole is their control--when the music stopped, they stopped. There was no overhang. Pretty impressive. Lower impedence means that the speakers present a lower load to the electronics. Now the receiver does not have an impedence, per se, they merely specify what impedence speakers work best with their receiver. A lower impedence speaker causes the electronics to work harder, run at a higher temperature, and push the receiver closer to its limits. Most receivers are not built to handle a low impedence (4 ohm) load. In past years, 4 ohm speakers were only for the high end, and it was believed that a buyer of such a speaker would be getting quality separates, not a receiver. For the Japanese based mass market brands, this is a question of cost (an amp that can handle 4 ohm loads cost more to build) and a question of reliability (a tighter operating envelope will last longer--30 years instead of 25). Thus, you will not generally see one of these brands building a unit that will handle 4 ohm loads--instead, their protection circuits kick in and they shut down. But it is also true that a lot of very fine speakers are now being made available in a lower price range that are true 4 ohm speakers, so the mass manufacturers are just now beginning to come to the conclusion that they may have to build products that can drive a DreamCatcher system, for instance. I know the new Denon 1804 is the first Denon in my memory that says it can handle some 4 ohm speakers (it is in the Owner's Manual). Nevertheless, those speakers really deserve quality electronics, not just anything that can handle most 4 ohm loads. I really dislike most of these mass market products where you have no idea what the parts are inside--instead, they buy their DACs and DSP from that week's low cost bidder. So when I talk about high quality electronics, it does not need to be high price (e.g., NAD 743 is available under $600)--just that it is built with a high quality power supply and output transistors that can generate enough current to allow the speakers to get to their optimum operating envelope and not audibly strain. |
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Silver Member Username: HawkPost Number: 206 Registered: 12-2003 | Goose: I did hear the Arros. They are really just Dreamcatchers in a taller body (about 30" tall), but the drivers are the same and the cabinet is just a tall version of the DreamCatcher--but you do get more bass extension since the cabinet has more volume. Interestingly, they also have a second hole on the back so that you can insert lead shot into the bottom of the speaker--Totem recommends 25 lbs. of lead shot, I was told. Now that will really couple those speakers to the floor! Definitely worth a listen. |