Goodbye Tyler Acoustics, hello Totem

lanion
lanion Posts: 843
edited December 2007 in Speakers
Just sold my Linbrook Signature 2 piece due to unfortunate employment circumstances and unacceptable WAF of the bass module. However, tomorrow I go off to see how well the Totem Forest and the Totem Hawk play with my Outlaw Audio RR2150.

(The Tylers did not play well with the RR2150.... a fact I realized when I connected my Outlaw 7900 instead. 150lbs speakers need serious power)
My Iron Man training/charity blog.

HT:
32" Sharp LCD. H/K dpr 1001 to Outlaw Audio 7900 to Polk LSi + Paradigm Studio center. Hsu DualDrive ULS-15. PS3/Wii. Outlaw 7900.
Post edited by lanion on
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  • markmarc
    markmarc Posts: 2,309
    edited December 2007
    The Totem's should do much better in combo with the Outlaw. Totem seems to make easy 4 Ohm loads. What size room will they be in?
    Review Site_ (((AudioPursuit)))
    Founder/Publisher Affordable$$Audio 2006-13.
    Former Staff Member TONEAudio
    2 Ch. System
    Amplifiers: Parasound Halo P6 pre, Vista Audio i34, Peachtree amp500, Adcom GFP-565 GFA-535ii, 545ii, 555ii
    Digital: SimAudio HAD230 DAC, iMac 20in/Amarra,
    Speakers: Paradigm Performa F75, Magnepan .7, Totem Model 1's, ACI Emerald XL, Celestion Si Stands. Totem Dreamcatcher sub
    Analog: Technics SL-J2 w/Pickering 3000D, SimAudio LP5.3 phono pre
    Cable/Wires: Cardas, AudioArt, Shunyata Venom 3
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  • lanion
    lanion Posts: 843
    edited December 2007
    Yeah. I had totem mites and LOVED them but they couldn't fill my living room... especially on a 30watt Jolida hybrid amp. I would guess about 15feet by 20 feet with 2 hallways. my Polk LSi9s fill it just fine so Totem Forests should not have an issue.
    My Iron Man training/charity blog.

    HT:
    32" Sharp LCD. H/K dpr 1001 to Outlaw Audio 7900 to Polk LSi + Paradigm Studio center. Hsu DualDrive ULS-15. PS3/Wii. Outlaw 7900.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited December 2007
    Woo Hoo!
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited December 2007
    Congrats on getting those sold- I saw a pair on CL and thought that might be you.

    We seriously need to do an RDU polkfest- there's a ton of us around here.
    Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
    Gallo Ref AV, Frankengallo Ref 3, LC60i : Bryston 9b SST : Meridian 565
    Jordan JX92s : MF X-T100 : Xray v8
    Backburner:Krell KAV-300i
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  • lanion
    lanion Posts: 843
    edited December 2007
    That was me all right. Someone with way too much freedom to use company shipping orders had them shipped UPS overnight Saturday delivery (that had to cost like $2000). He made the deal in about an hour so no complaint from me.
    My Iron Man training/charity blog.

    HT:
    32" Sharp LCD. H/K dpr 1001 to Outlaw Audio 7900 to Polk LSi + Paradigm Studio center. Hsu DualDrive ULS-15. PS3/Wii. Outlaw 7900.
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  • lanion
    lanion Posts: 843
    edited December 2007
    an RTP polkfest would be fun. I'm in a duplex right now so my 7900 hasn't gotten a chance to stretch its legs properly... i.e. at 100+dB :) it is a BEAST!
    My Iron Man training/charity blog.

    HT:
    32" Sharp LCD. H/K dpr 1001 to Outlaw Audio 7900 to Polk LSi + Paradigm Studio center. Hsu DualDrive ULS-15. PS3/Wii. Outlaw 7900.
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  • lanion
    lanion Posts: 843
    edited December 2007
    They are used but not very old. One guy has Forests and Hawks about 3 miles from my house so I am going to do A/B blind testing on a few albums and get whichever one sounds better (or the Hawks if the difference isn't huge). I remember something about a dot on the top of the tweeter indicating a new version. Maybe that is not the case with the Hawks.
    My Iron Man training/charity blog.

    HT:
    32" Sharp LCD. H/K dpr 1001 to Outlaw Audio 7900 to Polk LSi + Paradigm Studio center. Hsu DualDrive ULS-15. PS3/Wii. Outlaw 7900.
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  • lanion
    lanion Posts: 843
    edited December 2007
    I got a good lesson on Source and Amp quality a week ago with the Tylers... I demoed a Benchmark DAC-1 USB in my house and under blind tests preferred my Cambridge Audio 540c CD player to the DAC-1. I felt a little cheated.

    Then I hooked up my 7900 to the Tylers and used the DAC1 as the pre and it sounded ridiculously good. So, those speakers are just too much for my Outlaw to resolve much detail with. However, the RR2150 is magic for my LSi9s. Synergy sure is important.
    My Iron Man training/charity blog.

    HT:
    32" Sharp LCD. H/K dpr 1001 to Outlaw Audio 7900 to Polk LSi + Paradigm Studio center. Hsu DualDrive ULS-15. PS3/Wii. Outlaw 7900.
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  • SKsolutions
    SKsolutions Posts: 1,820
    edited December 2007
    Big Cambridge fan here, but it points to the pre as being the weak link.
    -Ignorance is strength -
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  • lanion
    lanion Posts: 843
    edited December 2007
    The RR2150 was the weak link with those speakers. I bypassed the pre section of the RR2150 and just used the amp stage with the Benchmark as the pre and got the same results. The RR2150 is 100 watts into 8 ohms and 160watts into 4 ohms (rated conservatively), so my guess is those speakers are very demanding and could dip well below 4 ohms.
    My Iron Man training/charity blog.

    HT:
    32" Sharp LCD. H/K dpr 1001 to Outlaw Audio 7900 to Polk LSi + Paradigm Studio center. Hsu DualDrive ULS-15. PS3/Wii. Outlaw 7900.
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,236
    edited December 2007
    lanion wrote: »
    Synergy sure is important.

    For those of you who are new at this, this is key. Please take a note of it. ;)

    Very important.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • phipiper10
    phipiper10 Posts: 955
    edited December 2007
    I'm going to place an ad:

    Seeking someone with Audio synergy experience to confirm my systems synergistic qualities.

    Which brings me to the question can you walk in a room and determine synergy when listening to an unfamiliar rig? Sure it might sound good but is that in itself synergy?

    Synergy is subjective still is it not?

    Someone needs to develop a synergy test.:p
    Analog Source: Rega P3-24 Exact 2 w/GT delrin platter & Neo TT-PSU Digital Source: Lumin T2 w/Roon (NUC) DAC: Denafrips Pontus II Phono Preamp: Rega Aria MK3 Preamp: Rogue RP-7 Amp: Pass X150.8 Speakers: Joseph Audio Perspective 2, Audio Physic Tempo Plus Cables: Morrow M4 ICs & Audio Art SC-5 ePlus, Shunyata PCs Misc: Shunyata Hydra Delta D6, VTI rack, GIK acoustic panels
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited December 2007
    Audio is easy....audiophiles make it difficult.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • lanion
    lanion Posts: 843
    edited December 2007
    Well, tried the Forests and the Hawks which were essentially brand new. Unfortunately that meant they were not yet broken in, so it was a bit difficult to really compare them. That being said, I slightly preferred the Hawks accuracy over the Forests. Given the prices difference ($1375 for essentially brand new Hawks is a good deal too) and the fact I liked the finish better, I now have Hawks! pics to come.
    My Iron Man training/charity blog.

    HT:
    32" Sharp LCD. H/K dpr 1001 to Outlaw Audio 7900 to Polk LSi + Paradigm Studio center. Hsu DualDrive ULS-15. PS3/Wii. Outlaw 7900.
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited December 2007
    Cool.....I was just at thier website looking at these very speaks...

    Congrats !
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • SKsolutions
    SKsolutions Posts: 1,820
    edited December 2007
    lanion wrote: »
    The RR2150 was the weak link with those speakers. I bypassed the pre section of the RR2150 and just used the amp stage with the Benchmark as the pre and got the same results. The RR2150 is 100 watts into 8 ohms and 160watts into 4 ohms (rated conservatively), so my guess is those speakers are very demanding and could dip well below 4 ohms.

    That would be the pre, either way. If you are also using the amp section, I don't see the point of even comparing them.

    When using the same amp and speakers, if you get much better sound using a source as a pre, you're pre is the weakest link.
    -Ignorance is strength -
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  • markmarc
    markmarc Posts: 2,309
    edited December 2007
    Explaining how to spot synergy, or the lack of, isn't easy. For me it's pretty immediate, if I come into a room playing music and go ummmmmm, that is a personal indication that there seems to be a nice balance. On the other hand, if I get ancy after a few minutes and spend time turning and adjusting to best find sonic satisfaction then something is amiss.
    Others will describe the treble as "hard", bass being mushy, a lack of detail, etc. etc.
    Review Site_ (((AudioPursuit)))
    Founder/Publisher Affordable$$Audio 2006-13.
    Former Staff Member TONEAudio
    2 Ch. System
    Amplifiers: Parasound Halo P6 pre, Vista Audio i34, Peachtree amp500, Adcom GFP-565 GFA-535ii, 545ii, 555ii
    Digital: SimAudio HAD230 DAC, iMac 20in/Amarra,
    Speakers: Paradigm Performa F75, Magnepan .7, Totem Model 1's, ACI Emerald XL, Celestion Si Stands. Totem Dreamcatcher sub
    Analog: Technics SL-J2 w/Pickering 3000D, SimAudio LP5.3 phono pre
    Cable/Wires: Cardas, AudioArt, Shunyata Venom 3
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