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Small living room speaker options.. Totem Arro?

Hi,

I've recently moved into a small condo and feel like my LSi9s are just not working so well in this small living room (11x14). These speakers need to be a bit away from the wall and are fairly large in stature. I am also doing much more low volume listening now and feel like the LSi9 works better when at mid volume, otherwise it's kind of a sleepy speaker that isn't very detailed, especially missing much of the mid section when listening at very low volumes.

So what I want is a small form factor speaker that has clear and live presentation at low volume. From everything I read it seems that the Totem ARRO is a very good contender for this job, especially since it's small and loves to be close to the wall, which is where I'd have it for aesthetic purposes. 

My gear consists of a Classe SSP AMP2 (Class D), which is a 200w amp, so I think I should have no shortage of power. My pre is an Outlaw 975 which will probably get upgraded over the next year or two, but for now this is what I'm working with.

Would love to hear any thoughts on the Arro in this setup and any other options I might look into at this price point and size. Again, keeping in mind low listening volume requirement and lively/punchy presentation, although I'm not a fan of "bright"  speakers. 

Should I consider the Totem Staff? I would probably like it's tonality better, because it's closer to my LSi9 in the sense that it's a more laid back speaker. But I am not sure if it will work as well as the arro in low listening volume and it is also a larger speaker in terms of dimensions that also probably would not work quite as well backed up against the wall.

Any and all thoughts much appreciated! 
lietuvis91
213runnin
914 posts
 
Well nothing means nothing, in that case.  I do believe you were indulging yourself in hyperbole with the 5K statement.  Its a free forum, and talk is cheap, but Totem markets their looks in a big way and it's a big part of any of their price tags.  

Still if you're happy, that's what really matters at the end of the day.  In the last year I've auditioned 9 pairs of speakers in my system, including some Totem.  They just did not compete with the better options I listened to.  YMMV.
schubert
7,386 posts
 
It sure will .
nitewulf
425 posts
 
To be fair, the Model 1 Signatures are the first really good speakers I heard that completely blew me away.  Now you gotta wonder, there are plenty of overpriced 2 way monitors that are 5K ish.  Totem Model 1 Sigs were very, very good speakers indeed.  Their current stuff, I'm not so sure about as I heard almost no one was impressed with the Element series, and even the tiny floorstander model is like 9K.  I was very interested in it, but after hearing some lukewarm opinions, I didn't bother to find out.  The Sky are the most similar to Model 1 Sigs they make now, and they are very fairly priced at under 2K, and sounded quite wonderful when I heard them.
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Well, as I told Mr. Silly they are good enough to sound like live acoustic music in my system . Everything counts in a system , everything .
When you shop with your ego money will always be the main factor. I listen to my Rega RS-I ’s the most because the Sig 1’s are better than most classical recordings .
In their defense, Americans are raised in a culture when money is the be-all and end-all and many don’t even realize what is running their show . Or ever will . Another factor is most have never heard enough live acoustical serious music to know how it sounds in the first place .
mdelrossi1
79 posts
 
What is your budget?
I’ve had the Arros and the Rainmakers.
If you don’t mind used, I would look for a pair of Focal 1008be2 ( there’s a pair on another site) blows the Totem away. I got mine for just under 3k, and I’m constantly amazed by them.

If you can’t stretch the budget look at the new Aria line of Focal.

I found the Rainmakers really good but they were a bit tipped up and bright at times. They have a v shaped response. Excellent soundstage and imaging but nothing like the Focals.

The Arros always sounded a bit recessed in the mids, kind of hollow.
But again excellent soundstage and imaging.

I’ve run both with solid state and tubes.

I replaced the Arros with a pair of Focal 714. More even across the frequency range, and a front port so you can place them closer to the wall.

best of luck.
mdr
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