Totem Model 1 Vs. Hawk

Very interesting Baroque_Lover. Keep the impressions coming...thanks, - walkman

Hi upstateaudio. So, what exactly is "a lot of current" to drive the Hawks? I contacted Totem to inquire about my 70 wpc I-5's ability to drive the Hawks and they basically said they are ideally suited to drive the Hawks. I then went to a dealer and heard the I-5 drive the Hawks and with the volume at 30 (of 50 max) on the I-5, it was quite loud, with no strain or clipping or exessive heat coming from the I-5 (I touched). The dealers said the two were a great match (a "marriage"). Perhaps 70 wpc is sufficient, or is this "need of current" something that is potentially yet another individual perception thing (to one person's ears the smaller powered amp on the hawks does not allow them to sing as well as another person's ears?). I dunno, just asking, but I am also curious as I am considering the Hawks for my I-5.

- walkman

I'm still a little perplexed by this kinda statement:

"The Hawk is inefficient so you will need an amplifier that sports high amperage and a watt minumum of around 60 per channel. The Sim I-5 is an excellent 'budget' piece of equipment for the Hawk and can match well. Still, you are only getting a faint idea of what this speaker is capable of."

How can an an amp be an "excellent" choice for the Hawks, and yet only "faintly" give an idea of their potential? They either are not an excellent (budget...? at $3k new for a $3k new speaker?) match or they do a better than faint job of revealing the Hawks. I get confused at such strong descriptors.

It's interesting how you get these different points of views about the same products (I-5 & Hawks).

- walkman

Thanks so much for the detailed explanation, Rumadian. I think I get it now...appreciated. - walkman