Shrink Totem 1's?

If you cut the back the speakers will not have binding posts anymore and you will not be able to connect them.

no worry just solder speaker wire directly which will sound better.

https://cdn.imgpile.com/f/WaQ8yXc_xl.jpg

The front of listening area almost done.

Cutting out the wall to accommodate the speakers cannot be done it's exterior wall and it's 2 degrees outside currently.  I wish I could do it though.

Great answers!! If you do cut them down, don’t worry about those two brass colored round things sticking out the back or the other funny looking electronic things connected to them probably just on the other side of them, they’re not really that important. 

@thecarpathian very true! my bad

@grislybutter ,

Think you meant your last post to go in another thread. Probably a less silly one.

also  @yogiboy I meant no hard-balling about 2 or 3 ways, I don't know much about speaker design.

I had Totem Model One Signatures, Center, and the standard Model Ones for rear channel with alloy tweeters vs soft domes, and used them for a decade.  They are not good for this. They are designed for 2ch audio, inefficient, and dont radiate as well as purpose built units for this.   There are other options better suited for rears.   

Get a pair of wall or ceiling mounts from Amazon. Shouldn't cost more than about $20 each. Get classy and run the cables into the wall/ceiling and out to your amp. Get a set of fiberglass wiring 'Fish Sticks' from harbor Freight for about $12 or rig your own. Easy.

Oh wow thanks for the great responses. I'm totally rethinking this project. 

The JBL Classic l52 fit the space opting for the orange covers. Just can't see myself removing the covers while listening to them. These seem a little over priced but could work, any opinions on them? A few pairs on the net now for sale already broken in. If I go this route I'd want fronts to match..

My mighty Totems might end up in the basement listening room untouched.

Decisions decisions..

Listen, anyone who’s gonna ruin perfectly good speakers by going through the trouble of sawing them in half, and  somehow re-attaching the back and connectors instead of simply getting a bigger shelf is a trailblazer, a pioneer! @skolbrother , way to think outside the box, or the half box, or whatever. 

@thecarpathian @audphile1 given that we still don't know what it is (what is on picture #1) we don't know if it can look better

@grislybutter , either one. It can only improve the looks of that crazy thing.

I just bought a cybertruck and it’s longer than my garage. Hood or trunk?

@skolbrother I recommend cutting the front of the speakers off. If you cut the back the speakers will not have binding posts anymore and you will not be able to connect them.

@devinplombier , 😆

Cut the speakers like you said, but instead of discarding the rear sections just use them to extend your shelves. That way your speakers fit without needing to be cut.

Don’t know why you guys are jumping all over him. He’s established they’re old, beat up and expendable. I say go for it! The odds of a positive outcome are the same as zero, but if this in fact a legitimate thread, I personally look forward to reading the inevitable outcome. Like a slow motion train wreck, except no one gets hurt. 

@highendhound , if you're serious, that's more ridiculous than what he's gonna do.

Here is a solution.....Hollow out 4" of the wall to make room for the speaker.  Tim Allen will come to help.

Could you possibly cut out the material in the shelf and/or wall so that the existing speaker enclosure could fit inside the cavity that results from said modification? This way, the strategic design of the speaker enclosure could perform its job as originally intended and you may be able to achieve an acceptable fit. there will likely be 3.5” of space between the inside dimension of the wall and at least 1/2” or more of wall thickness, which would give you the 4” that you are looking for. That’s what I would do.

Are you out of mind?  Sorry to use that wording but chopping 4" in depth will turn the 9" sealed box to a semi-open baffled speaker, completely ruin the structure, design and sound of the speaker.  Consider donating them to a caring / loving home / owner please.  I will be more than happy to take care of them.

Solomon would suggest otherwise ...

Instead of taking 4" off the speaker cabinets, just add 4" to the shelves they will sit on.

No pictures…it didn’t happen.   Show us the picture of the cut down speaker.  

This has to be an early April Fool's post.

If not, I'm just SMFH.

jb71 +1

The bass response will end up totally screwed up with loss of extension and probably boomier mid bass. The volume of a box is not random.; It's an integral part of the bass system. Don't do it!

Can you listen to them before and after?  Please let us know if they sound better after your cut.

Pic #2, upper right is the shelf for right rear speaker .

Please don/t do it, sell them and buy something that fits the shelf.

Repair or replace that tweeter and sell them. Then buy something that works as is. Those are great, very well made speakers, with nicely braced and crafted cabinets. As a lover of "vintage" Totem products, I am appalled that you want to chop down the cabinets. 

https://cdn.imgpile.com/f/ZtBSwa1_xl.jpg

https://cdn.imgpile.com/f/kTJJORH_xl.jpg

Pics of one of my Totems

Come on you guys, these are old speakers I have owned them for about 20 years.

I will supply pics as I go.

Why not cut your amp in half while you're at it. Save space and use less energy.

That sounds stupid! Did the OP think of this while drunk? Sell the Totems to someone who will appreciate them. Buy some other speakers that will fit on the shelf.

 Joined 12/24. This is first post.

Don't fed the troll.

skolbrother #1, I nominate you into the AHOF (Audiogon Hall Of Fame).  This is truly an original post.  If you can, please provide before/after pictures.  And I would suggest not drinking too much before starting.