Review: Totem Acoustics Model 1 Monitor


Category: Speakers

Totem Model One biwires.

In the beginning, there was the book by Laura Dearborn. Then, extensive reading of TAS and Stereophile. Then came the purchase of Spica TC-50’s. These were great speakers, replacing Celestion Ditton 100’s (which I still use in the bedroom with a Marantz thinline receiver). Small group jazz and chamber music sounded wonderful. In those early days, the rest of my system was NAD separates (with monitor series preamp), to which a rega Planar 3 was added at some point. My early CD player, an Nakamichi OMS-1, was awful. Just unlistenable (at home), and I made the mistake of buying from a local dealer who held a moving sale with no returns, and who played it through some highly euphonic speakers in the shop.

But, what happened to my life? Was I just getting old? I found I didn’t like rock and roll any more. At home.

Time went by. I added a Genesis servo 10 subwoofer. This helped a lot, but integration with the Spicas was not perfect (they were run full range). I lusted after the Kinergetics SW-100 (or was it 200) stereo subs with amp, based on what I had read. When I went to a bar or a club, I seemed to like that Rock stuff still, but never at home. The thrill was gone. So I enjoyed my jazz and chamber music, but felt a growing black hole in my soul.

Hence, the upgrade chain took on a life of its own. I tried a new Dyanaco stereo 70, which sounded great but arc-ed and burnt up while listening to a Cardinals game. Local dealer gave me my money back (score one for the Speaker and Stereo Store, Kirkwood MO). Then I found a used Acurus A250 at Flip’s Stereo, and that is still in my system. The Spicas developed more dynamism (they certainly were not rated for 350 watts/channel into 4 ohms, but they never sounded anything but better than before). Music was good, unless I wanted to hear the Stones, roots rock, Led Zep, Tull. Maybe my tastes were maturing, but, if so, how come I liked playing Rock and blues on my guitar, and how come I couldn’t stand listening to them on my stereo. Even with the subwoofer tweaked painfully for hours with test tones and music. Actually, primitive measurements showed a great suckout around 90 Hz or so (I can’t remember exactly), no matter what I tried with the sub crossover; room ergonomics played some role in speaker placement and probably in creating the suckout.

Then came the Rega Planet. I like this CD player. A lot. Then the Golden Tube SEP-1 preamp. This sounded good, and seemed a textbook-perfect foil for my transistor amp. Hmm. The good stuff kept sounding better, but I had really outgrown Rock? There goes that foot twitching when I walk into the local music bar (Blueberry Hill; Chuck Berry’s signed guitar, great jukebox, etc.) What is my foot thinking, I ask myself? The answer, of course, was “nothing”: my foot was FEELING!

Plus, I kept buying rock that I remembered liking, and finding out I hated it when I put in on the stereo. So I bought the Totems. Maybe 3 years ago. Just another toy upgrade for my ego, you ask (especially perhaps you significant others)? Well, I had heard them at a local dealer who unfortunately went out of business, and had been impressed. And I needed a small speaker size because my rooms are small (if Totems on 24 inch Target HJ stands are small, which they seem to be). Yada Yada, the excuses are asy to come by.

So? The Totems are magical. They rock. I rock. The jazz still cooks, the strings still emote in chamber music, orchestral works sound great. Blues is the best. Much of this after a long hiatis with just not enough seamless low end (and laking a bit at the high end, although I have no proof I can hear it).

But, is life simple? Well, of course the preamp died, the company was out of business, and 6 months of searching for schematics brought nothing. Nothing the local dealer (Flip’s) could do, although they tried hard. So I bought a used Audio Research SP-9 hybrid preamp, and one day realized that I don’t even read stereo mag’s anymore. I sent all the back issues to recycling (I used to love reading them all (Fi, the Listener, Sensible Sound, etc., even the Audio Critic!), but they also gave me a headache and a heck of a streak of conspicuous consumption, which is almost as bad as TB). I will, however, never forget monkey-picked tea (thank you, Sam Tellig; it was you, wasn’t it, Sam, or was it J-10? They are all fading into a pleasant but distant memory).

I don’t care anymore about the latest speaker design (although I applaud the pioneers and those who keep them in business). I do routinely find that visitors (including a number of professional musicians) are often sure that I have live music in the house. “No honey, that’s not me, that’s Graham Parsons, but thanks for the compliment."

I have reached Nirvana, the end of the (upgrade) trail. I am in 2-channel heaven. The bass extension of the monitors (still run full range) allows for easy integration with the sub, I’m not asking the sub to extend sigificant volume up to 45-50 Hz, and everybody is happier. My wife loves the system. We listen to flamenco guitar at dinner with the kids, or Edgar Meyer, or SRV or Lonnie Brooks or Lonnie Mack or the Byrds or Neil Young or Horace Silver or Coltrane or the Stones or Wynton (OK, he is very right wing. I love Std time volume 3, the resolution of Romance"), or Charlie Haden/Quartet West. The ball games still come over the airwaves when appropriate; have burnt up any equipment lately. The speakers are probably “too close” to the back wall, but I’m finished analyzing it. Done. Kaput. This system handles my whole range of musical tastes, and even regenerated my taste for rock. This is a good thing, you ask? heck yes. My 9-year old plays guitar, and loves blues, but also loves Sunshine of Your Love, and we play it together: that is heaven on earth. I had added an HK HDCD changer for laziness, and a JVC dubbing deck (to keep my venerable Yamaha KX500 company). They get used now and then.

OK, so I have a small room (10 by 12), but it does open up to two similarly sized rooms, and the whole ground floor fills with music. If you have a bigger room, you may need more air moving. I really can’t say for sure. I can say that this system cured my of the upgrade bug (notoriously resistant to attempted cures) and left me with no self-doubt. I trust it, I love it, I don’t want change a thing. I don’t want to change a thing. I just say no when walking by Stereophile or TAS, etc. at the news stand (subscriptions were long since cancelled). I don’t care about multichannel (I have my Denon receiver/TV/surround system for that, and remember, my room is small).

Bottom line: whatever you musical tastes, a Totem Model 1 could make you find a new hobby (I took up golf) and bring music, sweet music everywhere. There will be people swaying, I guarantee it.

Associated gear
Genesis Servo 10 subwoofer, Acurus A250, Rega Planet and Planar 3, NAD tuner, ARC sp-9 hybrid preamp, HK HDCD changer, Adcom ACE-515, Target HJ24 speaker stands (sand-filled).

Similar products
Spica TC-50, TC-60, NHT (most models; I use super zeros and super ones in my home theater setup), PSB alpha, B&W 805 and 804, Thiel 1.5, 2.2, Vandersteen 2Ce, I'm starting to forget the others.
bashkin001
What I really liked about your review was the way you described your listening evolution, your problems, and your solutions. Number 1 was the music. It wasn't about gear. But gear was required to get you where you wanted to go. Totem makes a good speaker, and you have found the match you like. When you can feel like you are in Nirvana with your system, it is a very good feeling. Enjoy!
Nice review. Unusual approach. I relate to the problem enjoying rock on home audiophile systems. I'd be curious to hear your reaction to the Thiel 1.6 though.
Art
i also enjoyed reading your review. I used to be a drummer playing Cream, Jimi Hendrix, etc... material in the 70's and have since switched over to Jazz, Blues, and New Age. I have a small room (13 x13 x 9) that I use for my 2 channel music system. I used to have the NHT 2.9's and the KEF Reference 2 speakers but since have gone the Totem Model 1 (bi-wire) route. The quality of sound you get from this small mini-monitor is amazing. I am just starting to look into a musical type subwoofer to go along with the Model 1's. I have heard that subs are hard to match to these speakers because the model 1's are so fast that you also want to get a fast subwoofer, so i am limiting my choices to 10" or less in woofer size (Totem, REL, etc..). Since I like my Model 1's so much, I just purchased a pair of Totem Arro's for my den. Very nice little floorstanding speaker.
As for the Thiel 1.6, they were a little too bright for me and not as smooth as the Totem's. My dealer has the Thiel, Joseph, and Totem speaker lines. I liked the Thiels the least. I also liked the Joseph speakers I listened to but the Totems had a smoother sound to me.
Art and Tw1, thanks for the kind words. Sorry about the typos.

Art: I have heard Thiel's in shops, including the 1.5 and 2.2. I never heard a Thiel I didn't like. In fact, when I bought the (demo) Totems through an Audiogon dealer, I was simulaneously searching for used Thiel 1.5's; I just couldn't find any that I could afford/justify, and ended up extremely happy with my choice of Totems. I would recommend Thiel's in a heartbeat.
I assume this review is for the model 1, not the signature version? Has anyone compared the signature to the original (besides the review update in Stereophile)? If so, please enlighten us. Thanks.
Peter S
See the last issue of UHF magazine for a compelling review of the Model 1 Signature.
Congratulations Baskin001, you sound happier than many who post on the Agon. Keep on rocking. I'll be thinking of ya next time I put on Graham Parsons. Fun is what it's all about. And it sure sounds like your haveing tons of it.
I think you will be even happier with a source upgrade (HK cd changer). "...sounds only as good as the weakest link..." You know the British approach of importance of the source. I am trying to track down sherwood newcaslte cd 680 or 980 - great reviews at audioreview.com Does anyone know where I can get one?
Meanwhile, I love my burr browns in Denon 370 - economical. It has a nice soft sound, but it's not liquid enough for me, and the soundstage is medium.
The source first approach makes sense. I think you are in for a pleasant surprise with a cd upgrade - Single players tend to sound better.
Dear Gonglee3: You are correct, of course. But please note that the HK CD change is my source of last resort (but greatest convenience); it also is now upsampled to 96 kHz, though maybe for no great reason. The single CD Rega Planet (older model) sounds very nice to me (and visitors have been stopped in their tracks by the imaging of the Rega/Totem combo). I should use the Planar turntable more, and have done so lately. Some of those 70's/early 80's CD's have really bad sound- harsh and often oddly compressed dynamic range (I realize that this isn't news to most on this site): the Dylan "Christian trilogy" has one, Saved, that is particularly bad, and the original LP is far superior (I had to go find a copy after I couldn't get any volume off of the CD).

I don't plan on a source upgrade until a universal DVD-A/SACD player comes along that sounds good and has bass management that both the reviewer and I like and can understand. It will only get two-channel use from me in the foreseeable future. My far-inferior-but-acceptable (FIBA, a new acronym is born?) multi-channel rig is in another room, with the TV (a problem when these new players need a screen to show set up menus).

Thanks to all for the nice feedback.
Its encouraging to see so many people pleased with Totem. After hearing a pair of the Model ones in 1997 with the Bryston BR60 I fell in love. I have drug myself to CES Las Vegas and clamored through scores of speakers. For organic smoothness and outright communication of music, they leave products at three times their price lifeless. The bottom line is since 1998 I have had a pair I play 8 hours a day 5 days a week to my 8 person staff in my Architectural studio. In that time no one has left the firm.
Perhaps I owe much of my creativity and motivation to their faithfull replay from Mozart to Van Morrison. The next time you have a project that keeps you up in the wee hours of the night, consider these companions. They are alive as it gets.
since my original post, i have traded and sold all of my different pairs of totem speakers and are currently using all totem mani 2's. if you like the model 1's (which i did), you will love the mani 2's. the mani's are more of everything.
sounds like me after i bought the newest meadowlark kestrals. the search for stereo nirvana is the 'conflict' itself. when the search is abandoned, the 'searcher' dissappears consequently. money spent has never been established as the 'answer' to anything as far as i can hear, including enjoyable listening experiences. something often overlooked in the 'for profit' stereo world!
I think Totem produces one of the finest lines of speakers on the market today, and have always been impressed with the Model One. This is a great example of thoughtful design, with nothing added on that has no real purpose. Especially admire the construction of this great speaker. The reviews confirm its overall integrity. I know the Model One utilizes a Dynaudio mid/bass driver, but what is the source of the tweeter?
The Totem Model 1 is a great speaker, I owned a pair for about 5 years, it does so much well but you must couple them with good stands. During that time I also purchased a pair of ProAc 1SCs which bested the Totem 1s in a head to head competition. Using the same stands and equipement the ProAcs simply sounded better. Fuller, much better bottom end and acoustic instrucments sounded very real. Both are good but IMHPO the ProAcs are a bit better and have since sold the Totems in favor of the ProAcs.
Thejapelvis:

the tweeter on Tom Model 1's are SEAS, a norwegian company if I understand correctly