Driving Totem Acoustic Winds with Peachtree Grand Inegrated X-1(Class D) Amp ?

The Dynaudio’s are great speakers and there are certainly many fine choices available these days, but I have owned $30k speakers and many high end brands that just don’t have the same addictive quality of Totem!  Something about them just sounds so right and “alive” like real musicians playing.  The crossovers are large scale and hand wired with customized drivers and unique cabinetry which is amazing, yet at the end of the day all I know is that they compell me to listen to all of my music for as long as possible!!

Thanks for the recommendation Dave.  In my situation, I try to find a deal on a pair of used speakers in very good to excellent condition so I can turn them around without a big loss if things don't work out. I was watching a nice set of Winds at an asking price of $3500.  Of course I have to consider shipping costs as well.  I'll look around and see if I can find some gently used Forests for sale.  What is the difference between the Forest and the Forest Signature?  How would the Forest compare to the Dynaudio Contour 3.0 or Revel Performa F-35  (two well respected units that I have found at a very reasonable price).

Larstusor, I would consider the Totem Forest.  Placement is more flexible and is true high end performance!  I could get a pair near me for about $3800...nothing can touch their performance near that price.

No, it would be very difficult and time consuming for me to demo any speaker/amp combinations as I live way out in the boonies.  It would take me a full day to get to one or two shops that would have some of the gear I'd be interested in; and another full day to go off in another direction, to a different city that might have something different to demo.  No way to compare different options in a relatively short time and space so as to be able to really compare one against another in a meaningful way.  This is one of the downsides in living in a lovely but somewhat remote area where most electronics are sold in the Wal Mart store over in the next county.  So, I have to look for really good deals on equipment that I have read about in on-line reviews and forum threads hoping either that it works out well or I can put them back on the market at a reasonable price so someone else can give them a try. So far this has worked out ok for me and I have incrementally improved the quality of my two channel system; but, as I start to get to the next level, so to speak, the synergy between the components becomes more critical and the gamble more expensive.

lars,

Speaker and amplifier matching is one of the more difficult parts of our hobbie. Especially if you don't have access to the speakers you want to demo. Will you be able to demo to the Dynaudios with your amp?

N

Hi Nutty,
I've been discouraged by some of what I've read and heard. My amp may not be "good enough" to get the benefit of the Winds over less costlier speakers; and my room configuration may not be such to allow them adequate distance from the back wall.  I'm reviewing my options which include a pair of Dynaudio Contour 3.0 towers in excellent condition, at a much lower cost.

Hey lars,

Any update on the Totem Winds?

N

The Winds really gobble power and need great Class A amplification to sound there best!  They will play and sound good with other stuff, but the limitations elsewhere will be be heard.

So, info@totem has replied. They say that there should be no issues with my amplification for the Winds; and that it would be best to have them placed at least 18" from the back wall.   Dave Serota says upgrade the quality of my amplification and get better speakers (lol).

lars, 

A thread that may interest you. Some insight regarding the Totem house sound. A former Totem Wind owner, dave_b is in copy. 

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/totem-acoustic-forest-signatures

N

Hey lars,

As I stated earlier, it took Totem several days to return my email. You can call them as well. They do enjoy speaking with customers and will answer any questions regarding their products.

I apologize for the typo on the phone number but I’m glad you got to speak with David. I agree with you, he is very knowledgeable and isn’t going to lure anyone into a sale that isn’t mutually beneficial for both parties. Better not force a sale and have an unhappy customer,IMO. David gives you his honest opinion upfront. If he doesn’t feel the gear is compatible, he will tell you. I see no fault in that.

Let me know what Totem has to say. I am sincerely interested in their response.

N

Wrote to Totem but haven't heard back yet. Called David Serota (at his correct phone number 215-725-4080); he is a very knowledgeable guy, willing to give advice, but his line of products are quite a step above my budget and he's not a big fan of mid-fi integrateds like my P'tree Grand.  It's not that the Winds won't be compatible but rather that the amp may not be good enough to get the most out of the speakers. He also thinks that the Wind Designs, at a much higher price point, are much better speakers but would need a much higher price point amp to complement them.  All in all, according to Serota, its about how much you're willing to spend to get a truly measurable upgrade.

Lars,

From my recollection, it took Totem a couple of days to respond to my messages. 

David Serota will answer his calls, emails and return messages fairly quickly. Usually the same day. 

Good luck and keep us posted! ghosthouse and I are always interested in the Totem brand and what makes them perform well. 

N

Thanks N.  I've just sent an email off to Totem and will probably call David Lewis as well.

Lars,

Not sure if I can help but I’ll try. I have demod the Totem Arro, Hawk, Forest and ultimately ended up with a pair of Cherry Forest Signatures. Totem appears to have a speaker for every occasion and system. I’m using a Class A/B Levinson and an Anthem 225/310 watt Integrated on occasion. The speakers sound amazing. I am very satisfied with my speakers. House sound? Very natural timbre. And they will convey any upstream anomolys. I can tell you that all the Totems like power and current. Here is a link of the 8 ohm Signatures being demod with a 600 watt Boulder amp.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/totem%E2%80%99s-forest-signature-and-element-metal

I apologize upfront, I do not have any experience with your specific amplifier. I’ve heard the Hawks and Arros with a Primaluna Premier amplifier and the tubes sounded great. The Winds are a much larger speaker with a 4 ohm load so I would seek professional advice on the pairing.

My advise would be to call David Serota of David Lewis Audio. He is one of the premier dealers on the East Coast. He will give you an very honest assessment. 215-725-4048

In addition, I echo ghosthouse’s advise. Maybe give Totem a call or drop them an email.

info@totemacoustic.com

N

No problem, Lars.  The Winds are an impressive design.  I do note the nominal 4 ohm impedance (does it dip lower?).  The Forests only drop to 6 and are 8 ohm nominal.  I also recall from a Totem You Tube video on the (Forest Signatures?) that Vince B. designs so his speakers work with a wide range of amps.  Might be worth calling Totem directly (or a dealer carrying Totem) and getting some advice.  One of the Forest Signature owners on A'gon, @nutty, has spoken highly of David Lewis Audio - a Totem dealer.  Seems like David gives objective advice, even to the point of recommending gear he doesn't sell.   

GH,  I did not mean to diminish your response.  I appreciate any relevant information and thank you for trying to help me out.

Hmm...I thought positive experience with Totem and high watt Class D amplification might be of some use.  I can't speak to what Peachtree's house sound is.  I can say I've run the Forests with 6 different amps (3 tube-based) over the 11+ years I've had them.  They never sounded bad with any of those but definitely sounded better with some...the Forest/Taranis being one of the most enjoyable pairings.    Maybe someone with actual Peachtree/Totem experience will reply.  

I guess what I'm questioning is whether the Totem "house sound" is simpatico with the Peachtree Audio amp "house sound".  Clearly, with 440 watts at 8 ohms, the Grand Integrated has the oomph to drive almost anything, but it may not mate well with Totem speakers.  I'm hoping for some experienced feedback from the forum members.

FWIW - 
I listen to a pair of Totem Forests driven by a Taranis Class D amp.  I greatly enjoy the music produced.  I am using a tube preamp with the Taranis and all balanced connections from DAC to pre to Taranis.  Haven't compared specs of the Acoustic Winds to the Forests, however.  Hoping the Totem "house sound" applies and makes these comments relevant.