Totem Home theatre

I helped a friend set up a 2-channel/HT system using a Rotel 1056, two Arro's, and Dreamcatcher center and surrounds. A subwoofer is definitely required for HT through this system, IMHO, and he found a great deal on a Velodyne SPL-1000. I think that this system sounds incredibly good in 2-channel (it bests many systems I have heard costing much more), and it is very good at HT, though admittedly not designed for the super high volume experience. I think that this is a great little system, and it certainly has a high WAF!

You're DEFINITELY going to run them as "small" on your prepro! You'll also get the best dynamic ability from them by using them in a smaller space, yes. Also, improvements in "solidity" wsill be had when you sit closer to the speakers, proximally, than you do to the room boundaries! (basically a small room setting, or close seat situation, or a room that is acoustically very well treated for first order reflections.)_ Also, you'll need to make sure each speaker couples well at the crossover from the seating possitions (basically at 80hz reigion, and associated).
If you miss any of this, you'll end up with lack luster results! Of course, each speaker should really have relatively flat/even freuquency response as well. (a good starting point in a small rectangular(closed in) room, is placing your seats(if you have 2) at the 1/3 positions, and placing the speakers at the 1/6 posstions in the front. Then rears depend on dipole or dirrect, etc.(1/6 for dirrect, 1/3 for dipoles for 5.1). Placing center channel slightly off center of room. Good luck, hope it helps...
Can you get great results from these speakers?...sure. You need to follow what I said about the setup. I speak from 20 years experience and 6 audio stores experience...not to mention hundreds of system setups.
Hope this helps

i would have to agree that the arros are for smaller rooms. they are a fantastic speaker. i used to own a pair for my den. the arros can be placed along the back wall or in a corner and they sound very nice in this setup and this will give you more bottom end. The best thing you should do is bring home a pair and try them out in your room at your desired listening levels to see if they do what you want. I own/have owned several pairs of totems and for home theater, i would go with the hawk or forest if you want floorstanding speakers or the model 1's or mani's for monitors, they will handle more power. I currently use totem mani 2's for all of my systems.