I hit liquid!

SolidSqual

I've owned my Lsi15s and Totems Rainmakers for some time now. They are completely broken in, but I heard them for the first time today.

Last time I had a discussion on this forum was weeks ago in regards to a pair of Totem Hawks to be demoed at Archive Audio in Dublin,OH. After that I dropped off the planet w/o following up with a review of the dealer and speakers as promised.

I apologize. But to my defense, I'm in the process of moving to Indiana for Law School while at the same time training a replacement at my former career position.

At any rate, Archive Audio was an amazing experience that everyone should check out if they have the chance. In regards to the Hawks. Honestly, they sounded amazing, but not so much so that I feel the need to replace my Rainmakers or Lsi15s. I suspect this may be symptomatic of the Cambridge Audio integrated amp to which they were connected, but nonetheless, I want more. I want to move up higher the speaker ladder.

Or so I thought . . .

After pondering the fact that the Totems sounded kinda disappointing on the Cambridge System, I decided this may be the greatest weakness in my own system.

Please note . . .

My former system:

Lsi15s / Totem Rainmakers
Oppo 981HD
Rogue Audio Metis
NADC272
Signal Interconnects

A few weeks after auditioning the Hawks, I purchased a PS Audio Digital Link III D/A Converter at the suggestion of many of you here. My whole system seemed to tighten up. The bass turned into bass and not boom. The soundstage opened up and the whole presentation became pleasingly warmer.

TODAY I added a PS Audio Trio A-100! Holy Crap! This amp rocks.

New System:

Lsi15s / Totem Rainmakers
PS Audio DLIII
Oppo 981HD
Rogue Audio Metis
PS Audio Trio A-100

The trio has more power, a 50K impedance (NAD had a low 20 which was likely hard for the preamp to drive), and better technology. Zero treble roll-off! With this new setup, I now completely understand that liquid is not a generic term for audiophiles to boast the qualities of their system, but actually a tangible experience attainable with the right equipment. God my system sounds good. No need for new speakers. The LSi15s are power hungry monsters! I never new the could sound so good. I'm not going to say I hit Nirvana, but I'm definitely out of purgatory and one step closer to heaven! I love this hobby. I love this hobby. I've bloody gone mad! Someone come over and listen to this with me!

engtaz

Congrats on enlightenment.

snow

LOL. Good for you. I have been there several times where I have thought time for new speakers, and then bought a different amp or source and my speakers came to life. You can make a crappy speaker bearable to listen to if you have quality components, but if you have crappy components the best speaker in the world will sound like crap.

If you were not 4 thousand miles away I would love to come over and revel in your euphoria.:)

REGARDS SNOW

reeltrouble1

excellent, another cherry just popped....

enjoy your on your way.

RT1

Music Joe

Now just pump tons of music through it, enjoy it, languish in it , whatever you do...do not listen to the small still voice of obsession.

SolidSqual

Excellent advice Music Joe, gotta keep that voice in check, but have to remember w/o that voice I would not be where I am today.

Music Joe

BTW are you using the USB on that LinkIII? If so would you post on the USB performance? Mainly I was curious if it's smooth w/o stops and starts, just informal impressions.

SolidSqual

The USB works very well. I have not listened enough between the coax and the usb to make an extensive review, but as of now each source sounds strikingly similar. If anything, I sense the USB method may be slightly laid back. I use the CD player more often out of principle, but its definitely great to make playlists at will on my PC. As far as stopping and starting, none whatsoever. Operates just like the Coax. I bought a 15 foot Kimber USB Kable, but I can't tell the difference between that and the stock cable. The only complaint I have with the DLIII is that it is sensitive to static shock. Once the unit produced no sound whatsoever, another time the sound produced was full of static. Each time I unplugged the unit to release the charge and plugged in back in. The glorious sound returned immediately. Now, I ground myself each time if I have to touch the unit. Please note PS Audio is aware of this issue and offered me the solution I discussed. Also know, this happens very rarely.

Thanks

Mike

Gaara

Gotta love icepower, I had a similar experience a while back with the Trio. Its amazing what these tiny amps can do.

Music Joe

Thanks Mike

I like the idea of some well matched components if and when I make a next move. The drives are full, the laptops arrived and I'm itching to get the PC server ball rolling more seriously by dumping the soundcard toslink method.
I keep hearing great things about Icepower. It's difficult keeping the room cool in summer with what I'm running.

SolidSqual

Matched components are extremely important. Too bad one doesn't understand this until after the mistake has been made.

SolidSqual

Get a good line conditioner like one PS Audio makes to help assist with some of the noise inherent with a PC server connected to the rest of the system.

Early B.

Fantastic!!!

Sit back and enjoy.

KG Audio

PICS!!!

Also, how do the Rainmakers sound in the new set-up. I love the looks of those plus what I have read, they seem to be a great deal for under $1K...have never heard them though.

BTW, congrats on the warm and fuzzies!!!

KG

Music Joe

Oh in case I didn't mention it, here's a pint to ye' ...congrats on nirvana.

Yashu

It is interesting that you talked about the NAD being tough on preamps... I have a NAD integrated, and a system that is not nearly as refined as yours, but the NAD comment caught my attention.

I have been experimenting with configurations on my NAD integrated and it seems that the thing needs, I don't know the technical terms for it all, but more voltage I guess, from the source, to sound it's best. Once I added a tubed output buffer to my DAC, just that tiny bit of help (the Yaqin has 3db of gain) going into the NAD integrated, made such a huge difference.

Now, I think you made the right choice, because as good as NAD is, you obviously need something more refined. PS Audio, I have not heard their amps, but they make great power conditioning stuff, I know that first hand, so I would imagine their amps having a great deal of power.

Congrats on finding synergistic combinations... And using USB DAC with such a good system, I'll bet it sounds awsome.

SolidSqual

The Rainmakers sound excellent. They are an exceptional speaker. If I didn't already own these speakers, I would probably have purchased the Hawks. IMO the Rainmakers have an exceedingly detailed sound that easily competes with the Hawks. They don't go quite as low, but they always leave you guessing as to where the sub may be. The biggest difference I've noticed with the Rainmakers is their increased soundstage. It was quite narrow before while connected to the NAD.

KG Audio

SolidSqual wrote: »

The Rainmakers sound excellent. They are an exceptional speaker. If I didn't already own these speakers, I would probably have purchased the Hawks. IMO the Rainmakers have an exceedingly detailed sound that easily competes with the Hawks. They don't go quite as low, but they always leave you guessing as to where the sub may be. The biggest difference I've noticed with the Rainmakers is their increased soundstage. It was quite narrow before while connected to the NAD.

Thanks for the response!!!

I know you have the LSi 15's but have you had the 9's before. If so, have you compared them to the Rainmakers? I'd be curious how the two compare.

Also, since you seem to have some experience with Totems...do certain brands pair better with them than others?

KG

SolidSqual

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=72663

Here's some pics of my system.

I've heard the 9s. IMO the Totems have more detail and low end, but the 9s have a wider soundstage.

Totem recommends Arcam Integrated amps as a good pair for some of their smaller speakers and anything made by Plinius for everything else. IMO the Arcam Int. Amps are a little weak and sterile. Plinius is amazing, but too expensive for me at the moment. Red Wine Audio is another AMAZING name to pair with Totem.

Krell is too harsh when paired with Totems. The same can be said for some Muscial Fidelity equipment. The new McIntosh integrated amp blows away pretty much everything I have named. If you got the money McIntosh is the biggest bang for the buck.

SolidSqual

Regarding the 9s vs Rainmaker. There's no real winner. Sometime I like to listen to the rainmakers for the intense details that sucks you right in. Other times I like my 15s because of the wide soundstage and immersion. If I were you, I would buy both to suit any mood.

KG Audio

Sweet system!!! :eek:

Those Totems and 15's look awesome. I love the color on the Rainmakers...is that their version of Cherry?

Are those Totem beaks on the 15's?

KG

SolidSqual

Mahogany Totems

Yup, two beaks on either 15. I move them to the rainmakers when I listen to those. Two is the way to go.

KG Audio

SolidSqual wrote: »

Totem recommends Arcam Integrated amps as a good pair for some of their smaller speakers and anything made by Plinius for everything else. IMO the Arcam Int. Amps are a little weak and sterile. Plinius is amazing, but too expensive for me at the moment. Red Wine Audio is another AMAZING name to pair with Totem.

Krell is too harsh when paired with Totems. The same can be said for some Muscial Fidelity equipment. The new McIntosh integrated amp blows away pretty much everything I have named. If you got the money McIntosh is the biggest bang for the buck.

What about the usual suspects recommended on this site? Sunfire, Rotel, Parasound, etc? Any experience with any of these on the Totems?

KG

SolidSqual

I owned a Parasound A23 before the NAD, but never with the Totems. I will say they sound best with a nice warm amp and preamp. This seems to best meld with the extreme detail of the Totems.

snow

SolidSqual wrote: »

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=72663

Here's some pics of my system.

Very nice looking speakers those totems Excuse my ignorance but what exactly is a beak and what does it do?

REGARDS SNOW

SolidSqual

http://www.hifi.com.sg/products/accessory/totem/beak.htm

This should explain the beaks.

RuSsMaN

Atta boy.

SolidSqual

Thank you, sir.

KG Audio

BTW, what does a pair of those beaks retail for?

Do they come with the Totems or are they extra?

KG

SolidSqual

A pair comes with the higher end Totems like the hawks or forests. I bought mine used on audiogon. Great investment. I think they are about $100 a pair. I got four for $75 used.

snow

Wow that has to be an all time record for a speedy response Thanks for the info. This next question may seem silly to you..... but will these beaks work on the SDA SRS models? They have 4 tweeters at different levels as you know.

REGARDS SNOW