A visit from a Fellow polk forum member.

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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited April 2010
    Dan,

    I would be interested to hear you thoughts on the recent "poor" reviews Lickte had of the Totem and the subsequent smoothing over of the whole fopaa by Atkinson. I have to say after all the good things stereophile has said about Totem it was quite suprising to see a first time reviewer for them take Totem to task so hard. More suprising that they went on and printed the article in contradiction to there ordinary homage to the hi-end.

    RT1
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  • MillerLiteScott
    MillerLiteScott Posts: 2,561
    edited April 2010
    Awesome Dan.

    I am really interested in the Totem Bookies and would love to hear them in a better set up than what we have here in Baltimore. How far away is your shop from Baltimore?

    I love reading your write ups on the Totems.

    I forget who was asking about the Ushers but I know Mark/Doro has listened to both Totems and Ushers pretty extensively. Maybe he could give some comparative info on the two.

    Scott
    I like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D
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  • Des Moines
    Des Moines Posts: 115
    edited April 2010
    Dan, how do the rainmakers compare against B&W bookshelf models in terms of SQ vs. price?
    HT in Progress
    Receiver - Harmon Kardon AVR520 5.1
    Fronts - Polk SDA 1C
    Center - Polk CS350
    Monitor - Sharp Aquos LCD
    NMT - Mede8er500x
    Cables - Signal Ultra
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited April 2010
    Des Moines wrote: »
    Dan, how do the rainmakers compare against B&W bookshelf models in terms of SQ vs. price?

    That would be interesting.

    I myself made the jump on a great local deal on some B&W CDM 1NT bookshelves as an 'upgrade' from my RTiA3s.

    Prior to that, I had a pair of LSi7s (had both the LSi7s and RTiA3s at the same time in my house). I too did my own shootout of the RTiA3s to LSi7s - and pretty much agree with Mantis' assessment - the LSi7s, while creating a very rich and dense soundstage did not have the 'sparkle' (detail) that I prefer.

    So I may be one of two or three people in the known galaxy who actually prefered the RTiA3s vs LSi7s.

    When I made the jump to the B&W CDM 1NTs - they seemed like the best of the RTiA3s and the LSi7s: a rich/dense soundstage but with more 'sparkle' and detail top to bottom. For the price I got the CDMs, it was about on par with Polk Direct's price for LSi7s.

    The bass on the B&Ws does fall off rather quickly, so if you are serious about 2-channel listening - they really should be paired with a sub.

    Just my personal opinion and deflated 2cents worth...:p

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,205
    edited April 2010
    reeltrouble1 wrote: »
    Dan,

    I would be interested to hear you thoughts on the recent "poor" reviews Lickte had of the Totem and the subsequent smoothing over of the whole fopaa by Atkinson. I have to say after all the good things stereophile has said about Totem it was quite suprising to see a first time reviewer for them take Totem to task so hard. More suprising that they went on and printed the article in contradiction to there ordinary homage to the hi-end.

    RT1

    Can you post a link to these reviews? I would like to read them. I'm curious on why they didn't like the speakers.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,205
    edited April 2010
    MillerLiteScott wrote: »
    Awesome Dan.

    I am really interested in the Totem Bookies and would love to hear them in a better set up than what we have here in Baltimore. How far away is your shop from Baltimore?

    I love reading your write ups on the Totems.

    I forget who was asking about the Ushers but I know Mark/Doro has listened to both Totems and Ushers pretty extensively. Maybe he could give some comparative info on the two.

    Scott

    Scott,
    We are just north of Phila Pa. From center city to our doorstep is about 30 minutes. I drove to Baltimore years ago to visit polk audio and it was a few hours.

    I enjoy reading Mark's posts. He tells it like he hears it so it would be an interesting read
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,205
    edited April 2010
    Des Moines wrote: »
    Dan, how do the rainmakers compare against B&W bookshelf models in terms of SQ vs. price?

    Price wise Totem has them by a long shot. Take price away and it's a new ball game. Most B&W speakers are damn nice. Recently I have taken a strong liking to the CM line especially the 7's and 9's. I have not heard the 1's but I'd really like 2. I'm sure they are good.
    It would be very fun and interesting to do a shoot out with B7W and Totem. years ago I conducted a B&W vs Dynaudio and Dynaudio ran away with it. I was looking at the CDM9NT's vs the Dynaudio Audience 72 and 82. We also had the B&W CDM7NT but that speaker didn't compete very well against the Audience 72's at all.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,205
    edited April 2010
    Erik Tracy wrote: »
    That would be interesting.

    I myself made the jump on a great local deal on some B&W CDM 1NT bookshelves as an 'upgrade' from my RTiA3s.

    Prior to that, I had a pair of LSi7s (had both the LSi7s and RTiA3s at the same time in my house). I too did my own shootout of the RTiA3s to LSi7s - and pretty much agree with Mantis' assessment - the LSi7s, while creating a very rich and dense soundstage did not have the 'sparkle' (detail) that I prefer.

    So I may be one of two or three people in the known galaxy who actually prefered the RTiA3s vs LSi7s.

    When I made the jump to the B&W CDM 1NTs - they seemed like the best of the RTiA3s and the LSi7s: a rich/dense soundstage but with more 'sparkle' and detail top to bottom. For the price I got the CDMs, it was about on par with Polk Direct's price for LSi7s.

    The bass on the B&Ws does fall off rather quickly, so if you are serious about 2-channel listening - they really should be paired with a sub.

    Just my personal opinion and deflated 2cents worth...:p

    now those are some gems you scored there. I set up so many 2 channel Rotel and CDM1NT's with a ASW600 sub. It always was pleasing to sit and just get lost in the music. They have some of the abilities of the N805's but don't have the crazy detail and wall filling sound. But I would love to own a pair.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited April 2010
    Dan, let me and Phil know when/if you are going to get this together. We've been planning a road trip but have not been able to hook up thus far.

    Thanks,
    Joe
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,205
    edited April 2010
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    Dan, let me and Phil know when/if you are going to get this together. We've been planning a road trip but have not been able to hook up thus far.

    Thanks,
    Joe

    Absolutely, I will post an open invite once I get things together.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • Vette C6.r
    Vette C6.r Posts: 1,560
    edited April 2010
    """""""""Tony it was a qiuckie, phone call and gone! """"""""""""""

    Story of my life Stu. lol


    No worries at all. Thanks for the write up. It is truely a shame that such few places like this exist. Obviously there is a market for high ends rigs, glad it is on the close side.

    ML Scott and I are thinking of making the trek.

    I think I need to start working some overtime though.


    Glad you had fun Stu.
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  • Des Moines
    Des Moines Posts: 115
    edited April 2010
    Erik Tracy wrote: »
    That would be interesting.

    When I made the jump to the B&W CDM 1NTs - they seemed like the best of the RTiA3s and the LSi7s: a rich/dense soundstage but with more 'sparkle' and detail top to bottom. For the price I got the CDMs, it was about on par with Polk Direct's price for LSi7s. :p

    Erick, it sounds like you got a great deal on those B&W 1NTs with a comparable price the the LSi7s!
    HT in Progress
    Receiver - Harmon Kardon AVR520 5.1
    Fronts - Polk SDA 1C
    Center - Polk CS350
    Monitor - Sharp Aquos LCD
    NMT - Mede8er500x
    Cables - Signal Ultra
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  • Des Moines
    Des Moines Posts: 115
    edited April 2010
    mantis wrote: »
    Price wise Totem has them by a long shot. Take price away and it's a new ball game. Most B&W speakers are damn nice. Recently I have taken a strong liking to the CM line especially the 7's and 9's. I have not heard the 1's but I'd really like 2. I'm sure they are good.
    It would be very fun and interesting to do a shoot out with B7W and Totem. years ago I conducted a B&W vs Dynaudio and Dynaudio ran away with it. I was looking at the CDM9NT's vs the Dynaudio Audience 72 and 82. We also had the B&W CDM7NT but that speaker didn't compete very well against the Audience 72's at all.

    This sounds like it would be a great shoot out. Glad to hear you are so close to Phili since it would be an easy fly-in. Please keep us posted on CP day!
    HT in Progress
    Receiver - Harmon Kardon AVR520 5.1
    Fronts - Polk SDA 1C
    Center - Polk CS350
    Monitor - Sharp Aquos LCD
    NMT - Mede8er500x
    Cables - Signal Ultra
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter