Integrated amp for Totem Sttaff

Just for some input on an integrated. I like Creeks top two offerings, also not really an integrated but for about integrated prices you can get the fabulous Parasound P3 and A23 combo which I've driven the Sttafs with personally so I can attest, it sounded great.

Hieule5: The Mite's are the only model from Totem that I am not intimately familiar with, and it seems like most of your "overpriced" gripe is based around this one model so I really can't comment on that. Totem says that it's been one of it's long standing best sellers, so maybe it's just supply and demand who knows. My "sell Out" comment was just about companies that use different sizes of all the exact same driver because of the cost savings. One driver can't possibly be best in all applications. (One reason for Totems additional cost since they choose the best driver for the job) My point about the "looks" of the speakers was exactly what you are saying, you listen with your ears, but people judge the Totems before they ever listen because of their looks and never get a chance to HEAR. The first time I saw the Arro's I laughed. The first time I heard them I was amazed. A lot of people post about speakers that they have never heard in comparison to one that they like. But I suspect that they are judging on the Looks of the speaker that they have not heard and making conclusions based on that.
It's a bit odd that you say that the Rainmaker and Arro outsell every other model, because I used to sell Totem speakers, and I never sold a Rainmaker even though we had them for demo. The Sttaf, and Hawk far outsold any other model. I would say in our store saleswise they went Hawk, Sttaf, then Arro or Forrest.

Mr Audiobroke:-))

There must be a reason you no longer sell Totem sir:-))

Maybe you could tell them to come up with new models that outperform the Usher S520 and Dynaudio Focus 140 soon.

Kind regards

Hieule 5,

IMHO, the NAD separates and C325/C355/C372 integrated amps are very nice, but I would not put them in the same league in terms of resolution, airiness or PRAT with the Naim, Simaudio or Creek amps mentioned above, especially to drive the Totem Staff. NAD's higher end M3 is another story - but new those are nearly twice the $1500 budget discussed here.

I have recommended the the C355/C352 and C372 models to many people on here and in "real life". The idea that you can pick up a 150 wpc integrated that has a fairly natural, neutral and smooth sound with a damping factor of >150 for under $1K new is a HiFi bargain if ever there was one.

But I like listening to the other amps better, especially the Naim Nait 5i, and I think they are worth the extra $500 if you have it in your pocket and are ready to spend it.

And as for a CD player - while the Rega Apollo is a very good player for <$1K - to go with the Staff and a Naim/Simaudio/Creek or a $1500 tube integrated, I would wait and spring for a player of equal quality - Cambridge 840C, NAD M5, Simaudio Moon CD-1, Roksan - Kandy KC-1 MKIII and Naim CD5i (a great match for, guess what? the Naim Nait 5i integrated amp). The Staffs's are great speakers, and would not be embarrassed by electronics costing twice what I have recommended here. They, and you, deserve the best you can give them...

Mr. Knownothing:-))

Agreed with you on the Naim integrated. Sim and Naim are simply above NAD level period. Creek is also good.

I am a cheap guy:-)) and had good experience with NAD C352 so that was the reason I recommended NAD. I do have the C162/C270 combo and another integrated C372 at home currently. If I have the money, I would definitely step up to Sim or Naim or Classe.

Sim new entry level integrated, I forgot whether that was I1 or I3, and Naim Nait are probably the best two integrated candidates at the $1.5K mark.

Regarding CD player, Cambridge Audio sounds very good for the money but I am also told that they have lots of QC problems. But those QC problem may only exist with the entry level C640 and C740, I guess????

Kind regards

Hieule5- I no longer sell Totem because I no longer sell anything. I have a different job. But fyi, I used to sell Usher too and I wouldn't even compare better Totems to the S520's, although Usher makes great speakers too as well as Dynaudio. I've compared the Totem Sttafs directly to the high end Be-718's and it was an even tradeoff. Better midrange and imaging, vs. more dynamics and gobs of detail. The Usher Tiny Dancers are a great speaker though as well, and will provide more output if you like it loud. One of the major cost differences in a "Budget level" speaker is weather the company uses real wood veneers, or if it's lacqered or vinyl wrapped. Dynaudio makes great speakers too, but if you want to talk about expensive, they've got a small bookshelf that costs $7,000 a pair! Some people and I suspect that you are one of these people, will say that they are way too expensive for what they offer, others will say that it's the best monitor bookshelf available, the price be damned. All depends what paradigm you come from.

Anyway, the original poster was looking for Integrated suggestions for the Sttafs that he's wisely chosen, not someone to tell him that his choice is overpriced and doesn't perform as well as "such 'n such" cheap speaker. Maybe you should should start your own thread, where you discuss what people who don't like audio enough to devote much of their expendable income to it, buy!

Suggestion to you: an Ipod and headphones