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Anyone spent time with the Totem Wind?

I demoed the Totem Wind today with a Carry tube amp and Vinyl (also used a logitech server with flac files). It was in a house and not a show room. The room was about 12x20x8 and the speakers were on the short wall about 3 feet out, 6 feed apart with no toe in.

They sounded pretty good but I was not wowed by them... and I wanted to be. The speakers did not seem to have any real faults. The highs, mids, and bass integrated well. They seemed tonally balanced. The sound stage was very wide with a large sweet spot. All in all pretty good speakers. But I just wanted more I guess.

I just want to hear other people thought's on the Totem Winds. If anyone has long term ownership I would love to hear what you think. Also if anyone has compared the directly to Thiel 3.7 or Wilson Sophia (or other good speakers) I would like to hear what you thought.

Also what are your thoughts on the speakers abilities to extract details in the bass(texture), mids, and highs?
james63
jeffkad
211 posts
 
Heard them at Stereo Exchange in NYC. Did not spend a lot of time with them, but was not "wowed" either. They sounded exceptionally clean, with a black black background, but unexciting. My friend said they sounded like they were in an 'anechoic' chamber, which he meant sterile sounding without air or "aliveness". We next heard B&W 803D and 802D, and they both sounded better to each of us. Hope that helps (please no flame from the B&W haters, thankyou)
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
hey sounded exceptionally clean, with a black black background, but unexciting. My friend said they sounded like they were in an 'anechoic' chamber, which he meant sterile sounding without air or "aliveness".
That's a pretty apt description of a speaker that's not broken in yet. Winds require 250 hours of breaking in. If a store sets them up and just plays them for auditions, it could take half a year before they're broken in. I'm not saying that's what that shop did, nor am I a diehard Totem fan, but the speakers do have some pretty specific requirements that don't happen all that naturally, and when you consider how detailed and lush their other offerings are, I think there are other factors at work here.
jeffkad
211 posts
 
Johnny, that's a very good point. I have no other frame of reference for Totem as I haven't heard their other products, so I wouldn't know what to expect. It is definitely possible they were not broken in yet. However, I can only report what I heard.
james63 OP
534 posts
 
Johnnyb53,

Your thoughts on the room set up mirror my own. I have an ok understanding of how the room was going to effect the sound. I also listen pretty quiet (70-75dB) compared to most people on this site. I feel my lower listening volume tends to minimize some of the room affects.

I would have liked to have the speakers a little wider apart and towed is a good bit but it was a very casual audition and I did not want to offend the dealer. The pair I was demoing had already been sold but not picked up...

But I had no handle on the equipment being used. Unfortunately I do not think the Winds are a normal stock item for that dealer (mostly lower end totems etc,) which explain the so so set up. I do have another dealer around though. If they have the Winds I will try and hear them with a more powerful solid-state amp next time.

Thanks for all the input, and I would still like to hear from anyone who has owned the Winds.
maverick_spd
67 posts
 
I presently own a pair of totem winds with the new generation cross-over and absolutely love them. As reported above they do need power. Mine are presently powered by a bryston 4b sst square and sound beautiful. Although if i did have the money to spend more on a amp i would go with the 501's from Mcintosh. By far the best sound i have heard from them, smooth and beautiful bass. If you have any questions feel free to contact me.
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