Price Paid:  $1500.00 from Local sale in BC

Summary:
One more glowing review for the amazing speakers. My first experience with high end speakers , I've upgraded from a Mirage system, not a bad system at all, but this just blows it away. There is such a depth to the sound, it's almost tangible, I know that sounds strange but you really have to hear it to know what I'm talking about. The Highs are crystal clear and the bass goes so low it's unbelievable. It's almost a pleasure to watch these little woofers in motion, they really can move. I'm using these as my front speakers for 2 channel music, and all so have a set of Totem Mites for surrounds, a Mite center ( both sound just amazing for the price) I have no need for a sub at my listening levels, if I do I will add a Totem storm to the mix. As you can tell I love this brand from my experience here, and careful comparison with the competition. Enjoy

Strengths:
open and deep sound, crazy strong bass for their size, beautiful finish sitting in the living room, nothing better IMO

Weaknesses:
The beautiful finish will make you want to cover them with a sheet every night if you have a cat or pet, and after a while your wife might look at you a little funny for it.

Similar Products Used:
Audioned quite a few before buying, I was convinced I'd buy a new set of Mirage, but the Totems caught my eye (and ear) one day

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I had been resigned to living with "ok" sound as there were seemingly no hi-end audio stores in the Capital region, until I found the guys at Oasis Audio, who allowed me all the time to really listen to what I wanted. I worked my way up from the Arrow and Sttaf to the Hawks, and was consistently impressed by the quality and integrity of the sound. I initially thought they would be out of my price range, but a month of listening convinced me that anything less would eventually be a waste of money. Of course, the source material is critical, and the Hawks will reveal failings all the way down the line. But pair them up with a good amp and cd player, and this is a system for the ages. Fortunately, I was able to latch on to a SimAudio I-5 LE and Nova LE before they sold out the limited production run, and am now enamored of the system. Critical to the entire experience was having the patience to let the speakers break in. After a week, they seemed to open up, and a couple weeks later, they "bloomed"--I know that sounds cliche, but I have no other way to put it. CD's that had gathered dust for the past decade have new life, new sound, new meaning. Stunning is too mundane to describe the sound that comes from this small(ish) speaker. Sizzling highs, deep lows, and superb imaging. Although not a huge fan of War, popped in Cisco Kid for a spin and was blown away. Superb imaging and separation let me pick out every instrument on the soundstage. And talk about rediscovering my old CD's: Steely Dan's seminal AJA sounds brand new, with nuances never heard before--Walter Becker fingering the fretboard; Steve Gadd's drumming on the title track sounds somehow more present, more personal, more inspired than ever before. You can hear the immediacy of the strokes, including the decay of the cymbals and the rimshot midway through his drum solo. Vocals are a real treat (listen to Fiona Apple, Diana Krall, Norah Jones, all superbly recorded, and see what I mean) but instrumentals are incredible also--if you think you've heard Brubeck before, listen to him on a Hawk!!! Definitely a speaker for the music lover, the Hawk defines the quality of speakers in this price range.

I am giving an overall rating of 5 based on the fact that I have yet to hear anything in the same category for the price. But then again, IMHO the same can be said for any Totem Speaker. Kudos to the entire Totem team for making exceptional quality the minimum acceptable standard.

Strengths:
Price to musicality: unbeatable at this price. Accurate musical reproduction across the spectrum. Incredible dynamic range. Bass- strong without being boomy.
Treble- bright without being too sibilant.

Weaknesses:
Break-in time of 100+ hours may make you lukewarm to the speakers initially. MAKE SURE YOU BREAK THEM IN! Reveals downline mediocrity--these speakers deserve good amplification. Makes poor recordings more noticeable. Definitely enhances quality (or lack thereof) in the studio. Not really a weakness in my book.

Similar Products Used:
Allison CD 9
Vandersteen Audio C2

Price Paid:  $1500.00 from ebay

Summary:
I feel very fortunate that I acquired the Hawk off Ebay for the price paid. The speakers were 4 months old and not even broken in. I am running as my front end Legacy Audio ultra mono block amps, the stream preamp, and a Rega Planet. Now, the mono blocks are definately overkill for these speakers. But, what I get is absolute deadness as far as background noise. If you don't know about the Legacy's they are designed and made by Coda, An ultra high end company. Th topography was designed by Bill Duddleson, the voodoo high priest of the Legacy line. Anyway.....the totem's are unbelievable....a two way system with a 5.5 hyper long throw woofer...how they sound as good as they do is unfathomable. The bass,...is very tight and focused, AND.....deep! The imaging is wide along with the dispersion. The speakers are full,,,,detailed and precise. Not designed for home theater I believe....a waste in my opinion! Home theater speakers should be good....but should be designed to play loud and detailed. Now, the Hawk's will play very loud.....but, why? If I want loud boom-boom bass I will by Cerwin-Vega's. These speakers are giant killers, better than the Forrest model....these speakers are just the right blend of design, characteristics of drivers, and.....a beautiful furniture grade cabinet. Buy them....

Strengths:
Detail, precision, imaging.....is "spooky" to borrow a previously used phrase. Deep, precise bass.

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Legacy audio 20/20's
Vandersteen's 2ce
Wilson sophia

Price Paid:  $0.00 from AUDIOGON

Summary:
Well, here I go again. I only feel compelled to review something if it really moves me and goes beyond. Well the Totem hawk is that. I have had so many speakers that I would bore you going through them. These speakers are truily a marvel. They are fantastic in every way. I am playing them with 6 watt /channel single end amps and the sound is rich full and the sound stage and imaging is ghostly and real. If you want a speaker that will reveal and make you feel that you are there and with the highest WAF on earth. Small footprint and elegant finish. My wife told me to put them on the shelf so people can see them in the living room.

Strengths:
Spooky imaging and sound stage

Weaknesses:
Without SAND they could tip

Similar Products Used:
APOGEE SLANT 6, REFERENCE 3A, POLK, MARTIN LOGAN,MERLIN, DBX, THIEL, MAGNAPAN, B&W, JMLAB, DEFINITVE TECHNOLOGY,

Price Paid:  $2195.00 from Aris Audio

Summary:
This has to be one of the greatest two way speakers on the planet. It throws a tremendously large and densely musical soundstage! Totem talks about this model communicating the "soul" or essence of music itself. I agree. If you are looking for a fantastic sounding 2 way tower that looks great and transports you to a different place every time you throw a disc in your player, buy this speaker! It has fantastic detail, a glorius midrange, mid bass and surprisingly deep, bass down to around 29 hz! Yes, all from a speaker that takes up very little room.

I just love listening to my system with the Totem Hawks - less pyrotechnics, but more quality and true enjoyment of music. I sold my highly prized pair of Snell B-Minors for this little two way wonder of a loudspeaker. Totem also makes a couple of very good sub woofers that pair great with the Hawks, but trust me, you won't miss not having a sub - that's just how great the Hawk is. I think it's Totems greatest effort and and although it may seem like a lot of money for budget minded audiophiles, like myself, it is an astronomical bargain, once you hear it, broken in. If you get a chance to audition it, be ready to buy.

This speaker loves to be biwired and is a PERFECT MATCH for the Plinius 9100 - 120 wpc integrated amp. Be patient with the break in period. I left my system on 24/7 for a week and the speakers have broken in nicely after almost one month (about 200 hours of playing time). I was careful not to crank the Hawks too loud until it had a good week or two of solid use under it's belt. Now, a month later, it can play quite loud, but the special extreme long throw 5.5" woofer can get a little wooly sounding if pushed to extreme volume levels. Not to worry, it will play plenty loud to very, very satisfying levels for just about any discriminating audiophile. No other woofer I know of can do what this one does for its size.

The build quality and finish is top notch and I was surprised when my wife left me a voicemail message that she really likes the look of these speakers. Guys, there is nothing more gratifying than great sound as well as a a system that your wife also likes! Yes, she likes them, even though they don't have grill covers! Rest assured, I will keep these speakers for a long, long time!

Associated equipment:

- Ah! Supertjoeb (upgraded) (tube) CD player with 24 bit / 192 Khz upsampler.

- Plinius 9100 - 120 wpc integrated amplifier.

- Totem Hawk 2 way loudspeakers.

- Cable by Signal Cable: Double Run Biwire loudspeaker cable (8ft) with Analysis Plus BSM spades at amp side and Analysis Plus BSM bananas at the speaker posts. Analog 2 interconnects (3ft) with Bullet Plug RCA's and Magic Power AC cord (4ft) to the amplifier.

Strengths:
Huge, wonderfully dense soundstage. A real sonic wonder. Superb detail, one of the best midranges out there, yet it digs down to just under 30hz! You can add a sub, but you don't "need" it. It's a light weight speaker - easy to move around when determining ultimate placement in the room. GREAT LOOKING in cherry finish.

Weaknesses:
Can tip over with little effort on carpeting.

Similar Products Used:
Klipsh, B&W, Snell