i have had a pair of arros since 1998. i have not listened to the others, but i can tell you that my arros connected to a good 200 per ch amp and denon cd player with variable volume. straight in without a preamp, is one of the most pleasing sounds i have ever heard, even having an elaborate linn home theater sound system at home. the imaging and crispness is just unlike i hear with anything else. i would never get rid of them. even if i spent more, got a good but different sounde, i would always want to listen to this little system.
Totem Arro vs. Rainmaker
I would like to gather some opinions on these two speakers. When I listened to them, I liked the Arro better. It seemed a lot cleaner/clearer but was lacking bottom end. The bass on the Rainmaker on the other hand seemed boosted and not very flat. The highs and mids on the Rainmaker also seemed ever so slightly fuzzier.
I'm asking for more opinions because the Rainmaker is available on the used market for much less and because it's a bookshelf. Speaking of bookshelf, how does it perform as a bookshelf speaker and not on stands. I have an open bookshelf (no back, no sides, just frame) and would prefer to be able to use bookshelf speakers on a shelf.
The other thing is, will the Rainmaker or any other monitor tolerate being placed on its side. The current Missions I am using are laid sideways on my shelf because they are a little too tall to fit standing. The manual says this placement is okay and I was wondering if this is specific to these speakers.
Outside of that, I listen to pretty much everything. Mostly its vocal jazz, classical, acoustic guitar. However, I do listen to rock and I realize the Arro's might not do so well with that. My rig is currently a Sony 9000ES and a Jolida 502B.
I'm asking for more opinions because the Rainmaker is available on the used market for much less and because it's a bookshelf. Speaking of bookshelf, how does it perform as a bookshelf speaker and not on stands. I have an open bookshelf (no back, no sides, just frame) and would prefer to be able to use bookshelf speakers on a shelf.
The other thing is, will the Rainmaker or any other monitor tolerate being placed on its side. The current Missions I am using are laid sideways on my shelf because they are a little too tall to fit standing. The manual says this placement is okay and I was wondering if this is specific to these speakers.
Outside of that, I listen to pretty much everything. Mostly its vocal jazz, classical, acoustic guitar. However, I do listen to rock and I realize the Arro's might not do so well with that. My rig is currently a Sony 9000ES and a Jolida 502B.