Totem Arro vs Silverline Prelude vs Salk Songtower

Preludes are around $1500 now so the field has widened a bit. I think the small baffle profile is a big part of what makes 'em work. Also, I've heard some new Epos stuff in that price range that is sweet sounding.

I also auditioned the Minuets at RMAF, in the same room with the same music, and I did not like them at all, IMHO they could not compare to the Preludes, but YMMV...

I've been accused of "overselling" the Preludes as better than they are, but having upgraded some things around them lately (power supplies for my DAC and phono preamp, digital cable, speaker wires, vibrapods and butcher block stands that raise 'em a few inches, dusting, obscure pagan ceremonies), I can say with certainty that they ARE better than they are.

I love my Preludes.

I had them in a ~10 X 20' room, along the long wall, less than foot from the wall.

I recently moved and they are now in a VERY big room, cathedral ceilings. And they hold up fairly well; the extra room for them to breath, able to pull further from the wall, etc, really 'breathed' some extra life into them.

They are now more sensitive to quality of recording it seems.

Most would say they arent up to the task of a room that big, but I am going to try a sub with them before I try a larger speaker, there is just something about the sound of these I am loathe to give up.

Depending on the recording, I sometimes find them a bit strident on the top, but am going to try also roll the tube in my Peachtree Nova, and am upping the amplification a bit with Red Dragon M200 monoblocks.

Not to be a naysayer because I do like the Arros; HOWEVER.... did you actually audition the Totem Arros with the Peachtree Nova amp, or did you hear them hooked up to other kit?

Why do I ask?

There is a plethora of posts on Audiogon about Totem speakers: they can be wonderful with one key point to consider: Totems love lotsa high current and lotsa watts to make them perform to their capabilities.

In support of the same from direct personal experience, I've had the Arros and also the Forests both at the same time before I sold them both in the last year+: I drove the Arros with a 100 watts X 2 hi-current integrated amp: I drove the Forests with a like bi-amped system (100 watts X 2 X 2) to get them to perform to their capabilities. Totem usually uses Sim Audio, Plinius and like hi-current/high-watt amps to showcase their kit at the expos.

If you have not actually audtioned the ARROS with your selected Peachtree amp, I would caution you to first test-drive them with that particular amp, to eliminate any potential disappointment.

Good luck.