Totem Arro vs Silverline Prelude vs Salk Songtower

I bought some used Preludes a year or so ago...they are amazing with a small REL sub, good cables, etc...nothing quite like 'em really.

Preludes are around $1500 now so the field has widened a bit. I think the small baffle profile is a big part of what makes 'em work. Also, I've heard some new Epos stuff in that price range that is sweet sounding.

I've been accused of "overselling" the Preludes as better than they are, but having upgraded some things around them lately (power supplies for my DAC and phono preamp, digital cable, speaker wires, vibrapods and butcher block stands that raise 'em a few inches, dusting, obscure pagan ceremonies), I can say with certainty that they ARE better than they are.

Sandman...I'm using the Preludes with a REL Q150e sub and it's a very nice match, along with a recently added tube power amp. Although I've never felt the treble of the Preludes to be strident (with my pile of gear anyway), the tube amp (new version of a factory upgraded Jolida 502P) does sweeten the highs somewhat. I almost got rid of the Preludes (out of boredom really...and a lame desire for a fancy wood veneer) for a beautiful pair of Thiel 1.6s, but I thought the Preludes sounded SO much better all around that damn, I'm keeping 'em!

I think the Alon Boxers are the only speaker named after a type of underwear.

Sandman...I read your entire reply before I realized you were responding to me, so you get this story: I discovered the Preludes when a friend bought a pair (and a REL sub), I liked them and needed to replace some beautiful Vienna Bachs that had muddy midrange issues, and found a used pair (of Preludes) for $400 (weirdly, they had an unconnected woofer, which the dudes who sold 'em to me gladly paid $60 for me to get repaired...then they were fine). My friend was pissed at my good fortune. To make him more pissed, I bought my REL used for $200...needed a grill cloth (!) but otherwise perfect. The end.

Another note...my initial non-working woofer prompted me to call Silverline and talk to Alan Yun...THAT was cool and he told me, among other things, to not bi-wire them, don't lose the jumpers, and he'd sell me another woofer no problemo...weirdly it seemed the offending woofer had no sign of EVER being hooked up (properly anyway), and man...these speakers do NOT like using one woofer.