Impressive bass and super imaging

No major weaknesses!

I think I would rank my mini-monitors in this order. 1) LS3/5a--still the best at portraying unusually realistic vocals and imaging which seems to come out of the walls, ceiling, everywhere. 2)Totem Model One--which has tremendous depth, bass representation and images extremely well. 3)The Arro, which possesses some of the best characteristics of both my top picks and comes very close to pushing the Model One out of the #2 spot.

Similar Products Used:

Totem Model One, LS3/5a

Quality construction, fit and finish. Compact size. Excellent sound. Best value for price.

Cheap connection to speaker base. Top heavy (correctable w/ lead shot)

While no stereophile nut, I am sensitive to issues regarding sound quality and value. I trust my own ears when evaluating speakers. The Arros are not quite in the same leaque with the Totem Model 1's, but they are close. (All things being equal, I would go with the Model 1's, however, my particular situation ruled out a book shelf speaker, even on pedestals.) The Model 1's reveal a bit more detail. If you're looking for heavy bass, these are not your best choice. However, matched with a decent sub-woofer these speakers perform nicely. I think they're the best sound for the money, period. Some tips: Get some lead shot and weight the speakers down. Get decent speaker cables (I think it makes a difference). Finally, be patient... it's taken over a month to break these puppies in. They just don't impress right out of the box.

Similar Products Used:

Totem Model 1; Dynaudio 60/62; others to numerous to mention

detail, good high, imaging

limited bass, slight laid back

After own these speaker for a year plus, these small guys i can said it do a great job for such a slim floorstand speaker, but the way it sound is depend on the cd recording. These speaker also need good positioning and correct component to match with. Before purchase these speaker i have auditioned it at the dealer shop, the sound are excellent when drove them with tube amp such as Audio Note integrated amp model Oto SE.

When bring back home this speaker, the sound is a bit bright, i believe it take time to run-in. After couple of month playing with, these speaker still produce kind of bright sound. I think it could be match with wrong component that i play with. After reading a few hi-fi magazine for recommendation item, i decide to change my front end equipment for amendment.

At last the problem had solve....all the bright sound that are coming from these speaker are gone, it replaced with clean, mellow, smooth, transparent and detail sound.

And now i'm happy man, these are the system where i lived to enjoy with. Happy listening :) adios.........


Associated component :-

1) Ownself made, power distributor terminated with AFA
(Hera) power cord cable

2) Audioquest AC12 power cord to Rotel 991AE CD player

3) LAT AC2 power cord(upgrade soon to JPS cord) to
Classe 151 integrated amp

4) StraightWire Maestro balance interconnect cable

5) MIT MH-750+S3 speaker cable

6) Totem Arro loudspeaker

Detail, clarity

None for price

I would have to say that after having the Totem Arros for over 5 months, they are absolutely fantastic.

Clarity, sound.

Unbelievable......traded my hand-me-down Tannoy S10s (now in my Sister's place) for these and am blown away by the clarity and how they bring out pieces of music which weren't coming through with the Tannoys....A+++++.

Excellent sound stage, crisp/clear highs and mid, incredible accuracy.

I paired these puppies with Cambridge Audio Amp and CD player. Straight wiring on Z1 Monster cables. The speakers were placed a few feet from the back wall in a 12' by 25' main room of a condo (kitchen overlooks living room).
Musical tastes run the gamut from Rock, Pop, Jazz, Spanish, Sitar/Tabla, House, and Techno.

All I can say is the sound clarity and quality was outstanding. Playing Frank from the Sinatra Concepts compilation really brought him back to life and over to my place for a few drinks. Pink Floyd Live: they were there too. Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins ditto. Flamenco music(Duende), spectacular. Trance, House, and Techno (MoS Annual collections, Euphoria II) shocked me with the real presence of the bass - it was exactly on, and not overpowering like a Subwoofer.

These speakers could easily sell for three times the price. 5 year Warranty came standard. Totem (from Montreal) seems to put an old-fashioned pride in building the best speakers possible before anything else.....and I thank them for pricing the Arros at a sustainable level for many people to afford. If your budget for speakers is less than US$3000, I can't see why you'd get anything else.

Clarity, size and footprint they leave in the room (small)

If there is one - it would be the bass (for some listeners)

Love these speakers!

http://www.totemacoustic.com/Components/images-full/arro_Large.jpg

We moved into a place with small rooms. Our existing Polks (Monitor 7) were old (14 years old) and far too big for the new room. We did not want our equipment to be a central feature to the room.

Tried out some Canton speakers in a shop and a set of Totem Arro speakers.

Fell in love with the sound from the Arros and the fact that they were sooo small. Tall and narrow, occupying a very small footprint in the room (about 6" x 6") Cannot believe so much sound can come from these small speakers - and with FAR better clarity than our Polks.

These speakers can rock....but the bass may be a bit lacking for the true headbangers. This can be solved by positioning (back loading) the speakers near the wall.

We listen to everything from classical, jazz to harder rock like Hole, Garbage, etc. on these speakers and have been quite pleased so far.

A bit more money than we wanted to pay, and they are not yet available at many retailers. Alas, if you visit their web site ( http://www.totemacoustic.com ) you can find one near you.

Recommend for casual listener (or more serious)who does not want to drop a tonne of coin on speakers...keeping it around US$1K.........but still wants top clarity in a small package.

Similar Products Used:

Canton
Polk

Slim, small, elegant, terrific imaging! affordable entry-level audiophile speakers. Quick, accurate wonderful bass at medium to low levels.

Base comes unmounted, need to attach with blu-tack. Bass sounds strained at higher levels (though not a big deal since 95% of serious listening is at levels that suit this speaker). Wife STILL thinks the Bose is better because of the small sub-sat configuration (UGH! YUK! ISH!)

This is finally my first step into audiophile equipment, and let me tell you......there is no comparison to previous examples of stereo gear. I actually can "see" the music in my head, as well as goose bumps seem to appear almost everytime I listen. It's hard to really compare with other high end stuff since I've never owned any, but the ones I've heard in the audio store for much more $$ are by no means worth the money when next to these speakers! I can't belive 4" round drivers can impact me as much as these can! The bass simply slaps you in the heart! The speakers (when set up correctly) will dissapear into the room, with images of sound arcing around the sides. I got to go!...got to get back to some music!

(ps.....I have Cambridge audio gear....A500, D500se, & T500...matches well!)

Similar Products Used:

Totem Acoustics Sttaf. Bose lifestyle 5 ( arghhh!). Epicure 5 bookshelf.

I bought my set of Arros for use with a Jolida SJ202a intergrated tube amp and Marantz CD63SE and I gotta tell you how nice it all sounds! The small footprint Arros throw up a huge soundfield and virtually disappear. And the bass coming from the 4" woofer! My eyes and ears are at odds. No way this little speaker should have this kind of bass extension! Build quality is excellent, the very small cabinets are dead when rapped and the bases can be weighted (and should be!). Finish is top notch and they really are a work of art.

I have just bought a pair of Totem Arro speakers for a month. After hearing, I found that they have more sound stage compared to their sizes. But they don't have much bass. I think they are suitable to be used for both stereo and home theater system.
My system is as follows:
1. Preamplifier: Acurus Act III
2. Amplifier: Acurus 125x5 W
3. CD player: Arcam Alpha 8
4. DVD player: Pioneer DV 606D
5. Main speakers: Totem Arro
6. Center speaker: Totem Mite T
7. Analog cables: Silver Audio
8. Digital cables: Synergistic Research Alpha Sterling Digital
9. Video cables: Silver Audio Flatline