Comparing Goldenear Aon 2 and Totem Rainmakers


I just received a pair of Totem Rainmakers from an Audiogon member. I've spent the last few hours comparing them to my current Goldenear Aon 2. My initial impression -- and keep in mind this only a few hours of listening and the Aon's have a bit better placement -- is that I'd like to pull the AMT tweeter out of the Aon and put it in the Rainmaker. 

I'd be interested to hear thoughts from others who have listened to either (or both speakers). 

I'm listening to mostly well-recorded acoustic (e.g. Grisman Acoustic Disc), vocals, jazz and some Dire Straits and Pink Floyd. 

So far I'm enjoying both speakers and having trouble saying I clearly prefer one over the other. The Rainmaker seems a little more lively -- sharper on the high end and punchier on the low end. But so far I'd say they are much more similar than different. The high end of the Rainmaker seems livelier on some tracks, but maybe a touch harsh at times. The Aon AMT tweeter is just smooth and clean. The mid-low and low of the Rainmaker seems generally punchier and tighter, though I did notice one track with some low guitar notes where they Aon sounded woody and natural and the sounds were much more recessed on the Rainmaker. The Aon seems to dig a little deeper into the low notes, but seems not as clean doing so. With the louder and more complex Pink Floyd tracks I'm generally preferring the Rainmakers. 

Certainly, to my eye as hobby woodworker and someone who loves wood, the Rainmaker is a beautiful little speaker. I read one review that said the fit and finish was mediocre on close inspection and, perhaps compared to a $3000 pair of speakers it may be, but I think overall they did a phenomenal job (then again, I'm not a big fan of high gloss finishes). I would have happily paid more for the Goldenears for a nicer container, though the two side-mounted passive radiators make that challenging. 

I love music, but I don't think I have incredible hearing (that could save me a lot of money though!), yet I'm just a little surprised how much I would call these speakers different with pluses and minuses in either case given about a 50% price difference in the list price of the two speakers. 

Anyway, I'd be curious to hear others' impressions of either speaker. 
bbslo
The Sky is a great speaker for the price point so I expect the tower version to be even better. It has a really wide dispersion compared to the other Totem models which makes it sound bigger than similar sized speakers. It is fairly easy to drive as well. I had no issues pairing it with a MOON 220i, ACE and Arcam A29 playing at loud levels. The new Signature One should be pretty awesome but I haven’t had a chance to hear it.

The Hawk is an interesting product as it can be disappointing or spectacular depending on the source and amp being used. Paired with the right gear I like it more than the Forest and Forest Signature (the Signature might be the worst value in Totem history.) The custom Revelator is really something special. Two amps that paired perfectly with the Hawks were the Devialet D-Premier and Wells Audio Majestic. IMO the downside of the Hawk is what it can cost to get them performing at a high level. I did have some luck with a Shanling A300 which can be purchased at a pretty low price on the used market. Your NAD would do the trick but if you listen at reasonable levels even an entry level MOON will deliver the goods. I can’t stress enough how important it is to give these speakers room.
I appreciate Totem's approach to speaker design, it seems like Vince Bruzzese is a fanatic for details.  I do like the Rainmaker and its somewhat U shaped frequency response, I suppose that's why I'm considering one of their Towers.  Thanks for your comments, I'll wait for the Sky Tower's release, but it might come down to price difference between those and perhaps a used pair of Hawks.

James, could you elaborate on the Forest Signature being a bad value. I have the Forest and have been considering a used pair of Forest Signatures. Thanks.
James, could you elaborate on the Forest Signature being a bad value. I have the Forest and have been considering a used pair of Forest Signatures. Thanks.