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Totem Forest Signature -or- Spendor D7

I have my list narrowed to these two speakers, but I'm feeling conflicted. Which way do I go?? And fyi, I'm not interested in any others right now, only choice is between the two listed above please.

I know these questions will be asked so I'll answer them right now.
Room size- 11x22x7.6 feet. Highly treated with absorption and diffusion. Even the ceiling has both.
Source- Clearaudio Concept TT, MC cart
Phono pre- Jolida JD9 II, modded
Pre amp- Decware CSP3 with factory upgrades
Power amp- Moon W5
Power cables- Acoustic Zen Gargantua II's
Interconnects- Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II
Speaker cables- Acoustic Zen Hologram II Bi-wire (I know the D7's are single input)
Subs- pair of REL T5s
Power isolation- BPT 3.5 Signature
Musical taste, 70s-80s rock, Adult contemporary, some alternative stuff, a little jazz. Not into classical or blues very much. Usually lots of instruments playing at the same time. It can get congested, so need a speaker that can deliver individual instruments in a busy environment.
Another fyi, I will be changing all cabling to Acoustic Zen Absolute as I feel this system will benefit from as much silver cabling as I can give it without be harsh on the top end.

So, "Totem Forest Signatures" or "Spendor D7s"??
128x128shawnlh
akg_ca
2,231 posts
 
SIMAUDIO and TOTEM are both in Montreal and used to "voice"each other's products

they are frequently paired up\ togerher at the audio paloozas

the point: with a MOON power amp, and a possible swap to a SIMAUDIO preamp to complete the synergy plan ...... IMO then consider the TOTEM FORESTS (I had them in a prior system along with ARROs in a B system and I know their strengths and warts very well)

SPENDORs are great but work best with British electronics for like reasons . They have been recently paired up with EXPOSURE electronics and VDH cables at recent audio shows ( Stereophile has a review on the pairing at a show )

PS Totems can be fussy on cables (ICs and speaker).....speaker cables (prefeerred) are silver coated copper fare such as their own TRESS (internally wired ) or CHORD ODyssey or better.
audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,776 posts
 
The whole post is silly, how can you ask any other person to choose speakers for your ears, and why would you not be open to any other speakers?

You need to listen for yourself with you components if you can not get to a dealer then you need to either travel to a city where you can listen to them or arrange an audition by having the speakers sent to you.

On paper the spendors are very hot with some great reviews.

I have not heard them so I can not comment on them in the past I never loved Spendors or found the often praised magic in Harbeths.

I have liked Totems but forrest are an older design and not as good as their element series.
jpg1975
18 posts
 
I have heard them both and prefer the Spendor.
shawnlh's avatar
shawnlh OP
37 posts
 
I have friends that have both sets. One bud has the Spendor D7's on a Unison 50, the other has the Forests on a W5 with matching pre. The problem is I really enjoyed both systems very much. Hence the desire to start this thread. And this is also why I have chosen to narrow my purchase options to one or the other. Because I have auditioned both models in a home environment, and I liked both. With the Forest Sig out now, it may sound sweeter than the original, I'd assume anyway.
I think I have answered all questions.
One word that struck me in one of the posts was "synergy". But I'm not changing pre amps, the Decware stays.
bojack
647 posts
 
"SPENDORs are great but work best with British electronics for like reasons."

No, no, no…Spendors work "best" with whatever you think sounds best. This statement is the equivalent of saying that German cars drive best with German tires or German fuel. Nope.
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