I was so impressed by this speaker that I had to ask Vince Bruzzese (Totem Founder and Speaker Designer) why not everybody makes speakers sounding like these (dumb question I know, but I was so blown away by the sound). He answered smiling as always: „They can try. Our Torrent Driver is like NASA technology. You can’t recreate it just cause you want to. You have to understand how to use it in a loudspeaker.“
"Every other speaker sounded like it was broken!" - Say no more! Midrange is the money register. I love my Totems - Winds and Signature Ones. Great review - tone is everything, for that's where the feeling is! Nice room too!
This is an amazing video! I think it's by far your best, and your old ones are already really great. The way you do the conversation is just, flawless.
Totem makes many great speakers... Clearly do not get attention from the regular press (which is likely Totem's own fault) yet clearly worth the attention of the actual audiophile consumer. This review fills a major gap in the audiophile review world, thanks for doing it!
Great review Jay! I’ve been stressing about tribes for years but nobody believed due to their size. It is not true that only big speakers can sound big!
Brought a pair of these home today and holy smokes they are hugely impressive speakers! They play as big and full as any typical floorstander. Even deeper than some I've heard or owned. Soundstage and imaging are big, clear, and solid. Superb separation. I think they might be even more detailed in the midrange than my Joseph Audio Perspectives. Great tonal balance, centered in the heart of the midrange where I like it. I am using them in a bedroom system where space is very limited. It was very easy to position them with just a little toe in. They are driven by a Boulder 866 integrated are not outclassed. It's a great match and amp and speaker both allow each other to shine. Very happy with the Totem Tribe Towers so far!
My Totems are being shipped. I will be pairing these speakers with am Outlaw Audio preamp/processor & a newish Parasound Halo A52+ 5 amp. I am hopeful that it will be a nice pairing.
I have been listening to music via hifi since the 1987 and I have had the Totem Arros supported by a good subwoofer since 1998 in my main 2 channel system. My upgrade to the Arros are the Tribe towers. Thanks Jay!
Nice video, I’m watching it in my home theatre which is equipped with Totem Tribe Three on walls. I was seriously impressed when I first heard them at my local dealer.
Wow ! Nothing else to say. They have to be just amazing! From this review . Having followed you from the beginning brother, this is real deal holyfield that was awesome Jay.,.❤️✌️
I own Double Impact speakers and I bought Totem Tribe Tower based on this review and I sold them in less than a month. I tried to listen to them hoping that I would get used to the sound but every time I switched back to the Tektons the difference was night and day. The Totems sound so colored, veiled and overemphasize the mid and if this is what people call musical, I'd stick with transparent speakers with good clarity. If you own Tekton speakers and you like how they sound, these Totems are not for you.
Excellent review, Jay! Really glad you finally got your hands on a set of Totems. I used to own a pair of Model 1's and absolutely loved them. Sadly, I had to sell my high end home system many years ago. The guy who bought my speakers sent them back to Totem and upgraded them to Signature series. I've had two occasions at CES trade shows in Toronto to meet and talk to Vince Bruzzese from Totem, as well as audition many models over the past several years. If I ever found myself in a position where I was in a better apartment/home, and wanted to again set up a great sounding 2 channel stereo rig; the first brand I'd be looking at for speakers is Totem.
I enjoy your reviews and respect your opinions. I remember clearly your review of the Kinki Studio EX M7 preamp and B7 monoblocks. You were equally enthusiastic about those amps, also saying they were your new amplifier reference point. Your review of those amps was brimming with positivity as it was with many other reviewers. So much so, that I bought them. They’re undoubtedly very good. But not to my taste. They are extremely staccato and hence, lack the acoustic mass that I prefer. I prefer a more legato reproduction, it just sounds more natural! My point, for your viewers, you are obviously an experienced reviewer and knowledgable chap, but you are giving an opinion, naturally biased toward your own preferences.
First solid pair of speakers were rainmakers, totem has a special place in my heart. Build quality was solid, but that was a longtime ago. Deff have their own sound tho.
Great and accurate review Jay. I have owned these for 2 years and love them. I auditioned them against the ATC SCM19 and Harbeth M30.1. The Totems smoked them both.
Enjoyed review, however I also would sure like to see your review of the Spatial M5 Sapphire spkrs @ $3,450. or better yet the M3 @ $4,950. & how they compare/contrast with Klipsch Cornwall IV & Tekton Lore References, Best Regards !!
The amazing sound was at CES perhaps 10 years ago. First was the Element bookshelf and the next year a floor stander. Following Vince made the smaller Tribe driver for on wall speakers to reduce the depth. Jay would like the discontinued Element bookshelf for a reference. The second generation on their website has a new Element floorstander. These are the only two woofer type drivers built in house from scratch. A labor on love, a driver that takes a whole day to build.
Wow, what a cool review. The choice of speakers is great and even makes me doubt whether I should switch from my Audio Physic Classic 30, which are excellent, to these Totem speakers. The design of the Totems is great and unique. The sound seems to be overwhelming. Great impressions, thank you!
Keep them. Totem is a stand out company. I had a set of Forest from 1999. Wish I still had them. Back then they used a modified Dyanudio driver and seas tweeter. The model one is among the best sounding Book shelve you can get.
Recently bought a used pair of Totem Dreamcatchers and totally understand what you mean by defying physics and the midrange tone. Had a pair of ProAcs before that and dare I say these are more musical. Would love to get my hands on a pair of these here in Australia. Great review.
This review reminds of how I felt about the PMC GB1i’s. Truly unbelievable the sound that comes out of such a slim tower with the transmission line tech. They do things that few speakers can do. Have to hear the Tribes now
I went with Totem Sky bookshelfs with A Sugden 21Se Class A Amplifier last month, very amazing and a great match for me room. Really impressed with Totem! Will get the tribe towers in the years to come. I am concerned with my room dynamics so keen to stick to Totem for ease of placement.
Great review, I'm the owner of PSB speakers and I know for a fact that Canadian Audio Companies really product some of the greatest audio stuff that is around. I would like to see someone review more of the products that come out of your country some of the reviewers To Me are full of Bull, but not you. I think you are a Young man with a Old Mans music ear. Keep up the great work and Review some PSB stuff NAD also.
Hi Jay, I have just started watching your videos and I really like your approach to the reviews and the way you analyze their character. Based on a few of your reviews I contatacted Audio Eden and arranged a trade with Robert. I gave up my loved B&W 801's for a pair of the towers. So glad I did too, they are amazing speakers with everything I like, great imaging accurate tone and tmbre, and tght , quick & deep bass. Keep up the great work Jay
Two cents: What you are referring to in Wilson and Totem bass is a bass hump from a resonant ported design. The bass authority you hear is simply the longer undamped resonance response which centres around a specific frequency a specific characteristic “tone”. This can become tiring because you lose some ability to depict bass timbre properly and a lot of material will sound similar with a characteristic pleasing “tone” in the bass. To get proper bass you need huge speakers so the aesthetic compromise is often worth it fir many domestic listeners.The 4” woofers look awesome and this is a great size for excellent lower mid sound - that is where most two ways fail and this may contribute to your observation of “tone”. The optimal size cone for mid range is probably 3”. This is physics. Good luck with your channel! Nice reviews!!!
I tried the Forests but ended up buying the Tribes. They are excellent! I bought them at Audio Eden in Aurora. Mike was great to deal with. These replaced a pair of Proac Response 3 speakers that weigh 120 lbs each with sand in them and are over 41 inches tall and the cabinet is huge....yet the Tribes put out more bass! :)
Hi Jay Another great review love your channel Looking for speakers now just added these to the list have listened to Spatial Open Baffle say sapphire or M3 Turbo
What frequency does it take to make a speaker harsh and bright ? It has to be 20 khz or below as that's the maximum human frequency range. My tweeter has a 38 khz break up, yet my speakers never sound harsh.
Hello there..thanks for the video...last year you did a review on the Elac VELA bookshelf speakers.. and you were impressed..how do these compare with the Elac's...
Would love to learn more about that rose streamer. Pls do a review and comparison against other streamers. Thx. Would love to buy it. Let’s us know where we can get one !
Reminds me a bit of my Sonus Faber Sonetto V. Light in weight, yet so tuneful & powerful in the bass. Lifelike mids... but the tweeter here is perfection. Same price point. I never have heard the Totum brand in any of the 3 stores I used to manage back in the day. Nice review Sir! 👌🎼✨
* Does anybody know if the Totem Tribe Towers will integrate well with the Model One Signature center channel speaker and Model One bookshelf speakers in a suround sound home setup? I have read several times online that every Totem speaker line is designed to sound differently from each other.
I've "seen" that you don't need big drivers to get low bass because my Elac FS507 goes all the way down to 26 Hz with their "tiny" 180 mm (7,1") drivers.
I sure hope these are as good as you say Jay. I have been struggling to hear these since your review. First I contacted Totem Canada to locate a dealer in my neck of the woods. Then gave me the US sale rep's number and he said he had a pair of Tribes in his garage and that he could send them up to a local shop 20 minutes away from my house! So, I contacted the shop, found out they are moving and just starting to remodel their new place, so call back mid-summer. Next, I called around the next big major city, which is a 2 hour drive south from me. I called 4 dealers, finally the last one has a pair! Mad an appointment to drive down and give them a listen the following Saturday, then they shop owners Mother suddenly passed away, so we cancelled that demo. After missing a few more demos due to me recovering from a second Coivid vaccine dose (BOY, was I sick) and my wife getting over an infection, we are now FINALLY going down to hear the Tribes, tomorrow at 11 AM. I sure hope there as good as you say Jay...
Enjoyed your review Jay. Ended up getting a pair of Totem Tribe Towers to go with my Bryston System. Any suggestions on audio stand/rack? I'm also in Canada. Cheers.
You are that dude from that other channel. I hated your videos before. Hearing you on the other channel made me a fan. I’m gonna subscribe. Warning: I troll hard lol
Guess I am late to the party (& the price was about $6500 last week) but I am looking to replace my current setup which is 25 years old. M&K wall mounted S-85 with Velodyne 8 active +10 passive sub. Just added an Audio Lab 6000 for power. Something for a small room that is simple & will be used mainly as a monitor for a Moog One Synthesizer, as well as music playback & listening. So, thanks for your insights.
Heard these today at a show with Prima Luna Amp and Dac. Took me a minute into the second song (which I was familiar with) to realize these were very special. The only speakers that ever impressed me as much were Reference 3a MM MkII. They reminded me of them, but with more extension. No wonder then that I learned that the Totems like the Reference use very advanced drivers with basically no crossover. I guess I will have to get a pair…
I heard them some years ago... It was like the speakers have nothing to do with the sound that sits like a hologram in the room... They are so transparent and yet musical.. I heard Angels singing... I love my larsen 4.2 speakers, they are great... but these are mind blowing ..... clear and free sounding like a crisp bell yet substantial like a chestful wooden instrument. I will get them someday
I have not heard the Tribe Towers before but your description match my experience with the Totem sound. A bit of a V curve, surprising bass weight for the size and a very natural pleasing midrange. Nice job Jay!
Yes - please. I was considering them too after the NRD reviews, but they are a little big for my space. The Totems are slim enough they could potentially replace a bookshelf speaker on a stand without too much trouble.
Hi Jay, I really appreciate your videos and comments on the various hifi material reviewed, thanks; I'm looking to buy a pair of Totem Tribe Tower; I would like to know your opinion on what is the best amplifier to drive the Totem Tribe Tower... Hegel H390, NAD M33, or another one you've tested? I appreciate the tonality, the soundstage, the transparency and the control without ever being aggressive in the treble zone. Thanks
Hi Jay, great review, thank you! One speaker you did not compare these to is the Alta Alec's. I am seriously looking to upgrade my speakers in the $5-$10K USD price range so would love your feedback.
I know you sometimes work with Soundstage and noticed that they published measurements last year. Objectively, they appear quite uneven and are so different than most other manufacturers. How do you factor in measurements when you listen to speakers?
Hi Jay, I really appreciate your work. I think I need to get on patroon, but I can’t figure out which level. Decisions! Anyway, I was quite intrigued by the Tribe Towers and wondered what amps you paired with them.
I don't think that you can compare the two, the Gershmans are detailed, yet smooth with an unbelievable tight bass extension, 3D imaging can be played at any volume without being bright or sound distorted and the Totems are very bright, detailed, and have good imaging but not enough bass extension for my taste. I think that both are very good but are for two totally different customers.
I will experiment with how far I pull out these speakers from the back wall. Can someone kindly give an estimate of how far I should move the speaker away from the back wall? In my listening space, the distance from the back wall to the front wall/ listening area is 16 feet. Thanks
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There's no such thing as defying physics buddy. Are these really 89db sensitive as they say the are (with the gobs of bass you seem to be hearing)?
Should be sponsored you put in alot of work appricate ya young blood ! 😆
What are the frequency response of these speakers ?
❌✅ Do they out preform Magnepan lrs with a 10” sealed subwoofer added❓ are which one sounds more true to life on vocals ❓
Did I win something from your channel!? If not, this your account may have been hacked.
Thanks Jay, I should try and review some Totems, it's been too long. Nice review!
Yes. That would be rad I am very intrigued...
Can you show some measurments of frequency response.
And the spectral decay
Some have said that they had a problem with resonance when owning the tribe towers. So itd be interesting to see what ur opinion is on that.
I wonder these vs Large Klipsch horns
One of the best speakers I have heared and it’s nr 1 on my wishlist
I was so impressed by this speaker that I had to ask Vince Bruzzese (Totem Founder and Speaker Designer) why not everybody makes speakers sounding like these (dumb question I know, but I was so blown away by the sound). He answered smiling as always: „They can try. Our Torrent Driver is like NASA technology. You can’t recreate it just cause you want to. You have to understand how to use it in a loudspeaker.“
test
"Every other speaker sounded like it was broken!" - Say no more! Midrange is the money register. I love my Totems - Winds and Signature Ones. Great review - tone is everything, for that's where the feeling is! Nice room too!
How do yours compare to the tribe towers?
Really cool looking speakers!
This is an amazing video! I think it's by far your best, and your old ones are already really great. The way you do the conversation is just, flawless.
I agree. This one & when Jay decides to upgrade from the Tribe to the Totem Metal.
It's great that you're reviewing a good few fairly unusual and interesting designs. Some of the other channels are turning into Whathifi
Totem makes many great speakers... Clearly do not get attention from the regular press (which is likely Totem's own fault) yet clearly worth the attention of the actual audiophile consumer. This review fills a major gap in the audiophile review world, thanks for doing it!
Great review Jay! I’ve been stressing about tribes for years but nobody believed due to their size. It is not true that only big speakers can sound big!
The best review you've ever done. Very exciting and encouraging. Good job. Keep listening.
Thanks for taking one for the team Jay!
Brought a pair of these home today and holy smokes they are hugely impressive speakers! They play as big and full as any typical floorstander. Even deeper than some I've heard or owned. Soundstage and imaging are big, clear, and solid. Superb separation. I think they might be even more detailed in the midrange than my Joseph Audio Perspectives. Great tonal balance, centered in the heart of the midrange where I like it. I am using them in a bedroom system where space is very limited. It was very easy to position them with just a little toe in. They are driven by a Boulder 866 integrated are not outclassed. It's a great match and amp and speaker both allow each other to shine. Very happy with the Totem Tribe Towers so far!
My Totems are being shipped.
I will be pairing these speakers with am Outlaw Audio preamp/processor
& a newish Parasound Halo A52+ 5 amp.
I am hopeful that it will be a nice pairing.
Thank you for reviewing this product. I am glad you finally did a review on this speaker. Great video.
Great review. You confivinced me to desire these speakers.
jay, im new to your channel but i follow many other channels, im a big fan of totem and the tribe towers are next on my list
I have been listening to music via hifi since the 1987 and I have had the Totem Arros supported by a good subwoofer since 1998 in my main 2 channel system. My upgrade to the Arros are the Tribe towers. Thanks Jay!
Nice video, I’m watching it in my home theatre which is equipped with Totem Tribe Three on walls. I was seriously impressed when I first heard them at my local dealer.
Great review Jay!! I think I just found my new towers!
I've heard a variety of Totems at shows and they always impress.
Being a huge fan of Totem and owning my own pair of Winds and Hawks I really appreciated this review. Thank you
Eric, which amp you pair them with? Which you think would be a good match to totems?
@@peterjarunek7949 depends on what speakers you have. I’m powering my Winds with a Bryston 4B sst 2 and my Hawk’s with a Anthem MCA 50.
Wow ! Nothing else to say. They have to be just amazing! From this review . Having followed you from the beginning brother, this is real deal holyfield that was awesome Jay.,.❤️✌️
How would you compare these to Tekton Double Impact SEs for a medium sized room, about 20'X30' driven with a Muzushare X7?
I own Double Impact speakers and I bought Totem Tribe Tower based on this review and I sold them in less than a month. I tried to listen to them hoping that I would get used to the sound but every time I switched back to the Tektons the difference was night and day. The Totems sound so colored, veiled and overemphasize the mid and if this is what people call musical, I'd stick with transparent speakers with good clarity. If you own Tekton speakers and you like how they sound, these Totems are not for you.
Excellent review, Jay! Really glad you finally got your hands on a set of Totems. I used to own a pair of Model 1's and absolutely loved them. Sadly, I had to sell my high end home system many years ago. The guy who bought my speakers sent them back to Totem and upgraded them to Signature series. I've had two occasions at CES trade shows in Toronto to meet and talk to Vince Bruzzese from Totem, as well as audition many models over the past several years. If I ever found myself in a position where I was in a better apartment/home, and wanted to again set up a great sounding 2 channel stereo rig; the first brand I'd be looking at for speakers is Totem.
Thanks for your review
Thanks for the video. I heard this speaker in Munich and it was one of the best at this show. Crazy speaker.
I enjoy your reviews and respect your opinions. I remember clearly your review of the Kinki Studio EX M7 preamp and B7 monoblocks. You were equally enthusiastic about those amps, also saying they were your new amplifier reference point.
Your review of those amps was brimming with positivity as it was with many other reviewers. So much so, that I bought them. They’re undoubtedly very good. But not to my taste. They are extremely staccato and hence, lack the acoustic mass that I prefer. I prefer a more legato reproduction, it just sounds more natural!
My point, for your viewers, you are obviously an experienced reviewer and knowledgable chap, but you are giving an opinion, naturally biased toward your own preferences.
First solid pair of speakers were rainmakers, totem has a special place in my heart. Build quality was solid, but that was a longtime ago. Deff have their own sound tho.
How do they compare to the ELAC Vela 407s that you reviewed?
Great and accurate review Jay. I have owned these for 2 years and love them. I auditioned them against the ATC SCM19 and Harbeth M30.1. The Totems smoked them both.
What type of tweeters are they...aluminum, carbon?
@@davidstein9129 Soft dome tweeter.
Totem vs. Double Impact. Which one would you keep?
Enjoyed review, however I also would sure like to see your review of the Spatial M5 Sapphire spkrs @ $3,450. or better yet the M3 @ $4,950. & how they compare/contrast
with Klipsch Cornwall IV & Tekton Lore References, Best Regards !!
Wassup Jay, Wassup Steve. Love watching you guys, Never stop posting!
Have you ever heard or reviewed any Omh Walsh speakers?
I own a pair and love love and love them. Will never let them go.
@@itsGnTO Well I guess I know what speakers I'm getting next. Haha... Thanks for the comment!
Funny, just today I was wondering where all the Totem reviews were on UA-cam.
I think you should review more Canadian products.
The amazing sound was at CES perhaps 10 years ago. First was the Element bookshelf and the next year a floor stander. Following Vince made the smaller Tribe driver for on wall speakers to reduce the depth. Jay would like the discontinued Element bookshelf for a reference. The second generation on their website has a new Element floorstander. These are the only two woofer type drivers built in house from scratch. A labor on love, a driver that takes a whole day to build.
This sounds kust like Vince himself talking. I love your Totem Tribe speakers. Thanks for everything you do.
Considering Jay use to sell $50,000 speakers this video says a lot!🤯🤔😇
Wow, what a cool review. The choice of speakers is great and even makes me doubt whether I should switch from my Audio Physic Classic 30, which are excellent, to these Totem speakers. The design of the Totems is great and unique. The sound seems to be overwhelming. Great impressions, thank you!
I went from Audio Physics Tempo Plus speakers to Totem Fire V2’s. Yesterday I placed my order for the Metal 2’s.
Keep them. Totem is a stand out company. I had a set of Forest from 1999. Wish I still had them. Back then they used a modified Dyanudio driver and seas tweeter.
The model one is among the best sounding Book shelve you can get.
Excellent review. Thank you. I wish I could hear them.
Recently bought a used pair of Totem Dreamcatchers and totally understand what you mean by defying physics and the midrange tone. Had a pair of ProAcs before that and dare I say these are more musical. Would love to get my hands on a pair of these here in Australia. Great review.
This review reminds of how I felt about the PMC GB1i’s. Truly unbelievable the sound that comes out of such a slim tower with the transmission line tech. They do things that few speakers can do. Have to hear the Tribes now
I went with Totem Sky bookshelfs with A Sugden 21Se Class A Amplifier last month, very amazing and a great match for me room. Really impressed with Totem! Will get the tribe towers in the years to come. I am concerned with my room dynamics so keen to stick to Totem for ease of placement.
Great Review, I've always wanted some Totem Bookshelves.
Have you checked on golden ear triton 5 towers,they got down to 26hz and are priced very well.
Shame on Totem for not supplying you a review pair! :(
Did they not ??!! :-)
@@edwardbalboa5528 He bought his own
Great review, I'm the owner of PSB speakers and I know for a fact that Canadian Audio Companies really product some of the greatest audio stuff that is around. I would like to see someone review more of the products that come out of your country some of the reviewers To Me are full of Bull, but not you. I think you are a Young man with a Old Mans music ear. Keep up the great work and Review some PSB stuff NAD also.
I am big fan of Good Ol' PSB speakers too. They give the consumer a lot of bang for their buck.
Hi Jay, I have just started watching your videos and I really like your approach to the reviews and the way you analyze their character.
Based on a few of your reviews I contatacted Audio Eden and arranged a trade with Robert. I gave up my loved B&W 801's for a pair of the towers.
So glad I did too, they are amazing speakers with everything I like, great imaging accurate tone and tmbre, and tght , quick & deep bass.
Keep up the great work Jay
Wow - big call Jay in regards to tonality. But thats awesome. still like you have indicated i cant see how these speaker defy physics
Two cents: What you are referring to in Wilson and Totem bass is a bass hump from a resonant ported design. The bass authority you hear is simply the longer undamped resonance response which centres around a specific frequency a specific characteristic “tone”. This can become tiring because you lose some ability to depict bass timbre properly and a lot of material will sound similar with a characteristic pleasing “tone” in the bass. To get proper bass you need huge speakers so the aesthetic compromise is often worth it fir many domestic listeners.The 4” woofers look awesome and this is a great size for excellent lower mid sound - that is where most two ways fail and this may contribute to your observation of “tone”. The optimal size cone for mid range is probably 3”. This is physics. Good luck with your channel! Nice reviews!!!
How are they vs similarly priced tekton models?
A very good question
Other than price, in your opinion, how do they compare with Alta Audio Alec's?
I tried the Forests but ended up buying the Tribes. They are excellent! I bought them at Audio Eden in Aurora. Mike was great to deal with. These replaced a pair of Proac Response 3 speakers that weigh 120 lbs each with sand in them and are over 41 inches tall and the cabinet is huge....yet the Tribes put out more bass! :)
That is my go to store as well.
Mike and Robert are fantastic to deal with.
Excellent knowledge and excellent products.
Hi Jay
Another great review love your channel
Looking for speakers now just added these to the list have listened to Spatial Open Baffle say sapphire or M3 Turbo
What frequency does it take to make a speaker harsh and bright ? It has to be 20 khz or below as that's the maximum human frequency range. My tweeter has a 38 khz break up, yet my speakers never sound harsh.
I'd like to know if you have walked us through your system so we know the path the sound takes before it hits the speakers. Please.
Jay, really liked your review and the demo track at1:05. Can you tell me the track name album and artist please?
Thanks,
Greg
Fantastic, this is hard to believe! Love that piano weight! 👏👏👏👏
How would you compare them to the Forest Signature?
Two thumbs up for a great Canadian company👍👍 and a great product from a proud BC boy!
Nice work Jay.
Can't say I really fancy the look of these but pulling the trigger on a pair some day, seems more than likely inevitable. 😁
I wonder how this would sound playing "" Flight of the cosmic hippo"" by Bella Fleck ?
Hello there..thanks for the video...last year you did a review on the Elac VELA bookshelf speakers.. and you were impressed..how do these compare with the Elac's...
Would love to learn more about that rose streamer. Pls do a review and comparison against other streamers. Thx. Would love to buy it. Let’s us know where we can get one !
Im interested in that also! hope jay does a vid on that ,
Reminds me a bit of my Sonus Faber Sonetto V.
Light in weight, yet so tuneful & powerful in the bass. Lifelike mids... but the tweeter here is perfection.
Same price point. I never have heard the Totum brand in any of the 3 stores I used to manage back in the day. Nice review Sir! 👌🎼✨
* Does anybody know if the Totem Tribe Towers will integrate well with the
Model One Signature center channel speaker and Model One bookshelf speakers in a suround sound home setup?
I have read several times online that every Totem speaker line is designed to sound differently from each other.
I've "seen" that you don't need big drivers to get low bass because my Elac FS507 goes all the way down to 26 Hz with their "tiny" 180 mm (7,1") drivers.
I sure hope these are as good as you say Jay.
I have been struggling to hear these since your review. First I contacted Totem Canada to locate a dealer in my neck of the woods. Then gave me the US sale rep's number and he said he had a pair of Tribes in his garage and that he could send them up to a local shop 20 minutes away from my house! So, I contacted the shop, found out they are moving and just starting to remodel their new place, so call back mid-summer.
Next, I called around the next big major city, which is a 2 hour drive south from me. I called 4 dealers, finally the last one has a pair! Mad an appointment to drive down and give them a listen the following Saturday, then they shop owners Mother suddenly passed away, so we cancelled that demo.
After missing a few more demos due to me recovering from a second Coivid vaccine dose (BOY, was I sick) and my wife getting over an infection, we are now FINALLY going down to hear the Tribes, tomorrow at 11 AM.
I sure hope there as good as you say Jay...
Enjoyed your review Jay. Ended up getting a pair of Totem Tribe Towers to go with my Bryston System. Any suggestions on audio stand/rack? I'm also in Canada. Cheers.
how would you rate these against something like the Tekton Double Impact good sir?
You are that dude from that other channel. I hated your videos before. Hearing you on the other channel made me a fan. I’m gonna subscribe. Warning: I troll hard lol
I would love to purchase these sound wise, but unfortunately don’t think they look very good.
great review!
Great video Jay. Can I ask what size your room is? Thanks
Wow, that’s amazing. I admit I prejudged em when I saw their size
no shame there. I was the same way
I heard before .this is the third time you found the best speaker .
Guess I am late to the party (& the price was about $6500 last week) but I am looking to replace my current setup which is 25 years old. M&K wall mounted S-85 with Velodyne 8 active +10 passive sub. Just added an Audio Lab 6000 for power. Something for a small room that is simple & will be used mainly as a monitor for a Moog One Synthesizer, as well as music playback & listening. So, thanks for your insights.
Heard these today at a show with Prima Luna Amp and Dac. Took me a minute into the second song (which I was familiar with) to realize these were very special. The only speakers that ever impressed me as much were Reference 3a MM MkII. They reminded me of them, but with more extension. No wonder then that I learned that the Totems like the Reference use very advanced drivers with basically no crossover. I guess I will have to get a pair…
What kind of PrimaLuna amp did you listen to the Totem Tribe speakers on?
I heard them some years ago... It was like the speakers have nothing to do with the sound that sits like a hologram in the room... They are so transparent and yet musical.. I heard Angels singing... I love my larsen 4.2 speakers, they are great... but these are mind blowing ..... clear and free sounding like a crisp bell yet substantial like a chestful wooden instrument. I will get them someday
Would love to hear these based on your review. Any chance you are able to record a sound demo?
I have not heard the Tribe Towers before but your description match my experience with the Totem sound. A bit of a V curve, surprising bass weight for the size and a very natural pleasing midrange. Nice job Jay!
whats your opinion on the rose dac/streamer?
Damn man, I would love for you to get the spatial audio and compare them with them, kinda same price
yeah..bring on the m3 sapphire
Good idea
Yes - please. I was considering them too after the NRD reviews, but they are a little big for my space. The Totems are slim enough they could potentially replace a bookshelf speaker on a stand without too much trouble.
awesome review, i don't like how these Totems look though
This crossover less design was used on the much revered Epos ES 14 and Epos ES 22.
Ooooh ... what about the Alta Audio speakers?
Price?
Hi Jay,
I really appreciate your videos and comments on the various hifi material reviewed, thanks;
I'm looking to buy a pair of Totem Tribe Tower;
I would like to know your opinion on what is the best amplifier to drive the Totem Tribe Tower...
Hegel H390, NAD M33, or another one you've tested?
I appreciate the tonality, the soundstage, the transparency and the control without ever being aggressive in the treble zone.
Thanks
Hi Jay, great review, thank you! One speaker you did not compare these to is the Alta Alec's. I am seriously looking to upgrade my speakers in the $5-$10K USD price range so would love your feedback.
I too am very interested to here your take on these two speakers.
Me too！
me toooooo...
These are overpriced. Correct price is 2k for the pair.
Hey Jay, can you please comment on the synergy between Tribe Towers and Hegel?
What's wrong with the dislikers ? - Anyhow, thanks Jay for the input with this review !
How do they sound with the NAD C298? Is AB or tubes better sounding than class D Purifi ?
I know you sometimes work with Soundstage and noticed that they published measurements last year. Objectively, they appear quite uneven and are so different than most other manufacturers. How do you factor in measurements when you listen to speakers?
I’d love to get a comparison between these Totems and the Elac Vela FS 407. They are both around 5k.
What is the Rose player?
Hi Jay, I really appreciate your work. I think I need to get on patroon, but I can’t figure out which level. Decisions! Anyway, I was quite intrigued by the Tribe Towers and wondered what amps you paired with them.
How do they compare to Gershman Grand Avant Garde? (given the Gershmans are about three times the price)
Check recent video
I don't think that you can compare the two, the Gershmans are detailed, yet smooth with an unbelievable tight bass extension, 3D imaging can be played at any volume without being bright or sound distorted and the Totems are very bright, detailed, and have good imaging but not enough bass extension for my taste. I think that both are very good but are for two totally different customers.
What type of tweeters are they...aluminum, carbon?
Any means of a stretch? Hunh?
I will experiment with how far I pull out these speakers from the back wall.
Can someone kindly give an estimate of how far I should move the speaker away from the back wall?
In my listening space, the distance from the back wall to the front wall/ listening area is 16 feet.
Thanks
Is that Hifi Rose streamer? Beautiful