Favorite 2 Channel Bookshelf. . .

[SolidSqual]

My buddy brought over his Totem Rainmakers . . . I was stunned by the quality of this speaker in both looks and SQ. I had no idea such a little bookshelf could be smooth and silky. The speakers sounded as if they were made to be played on tubes. I liked them so much . . . I think I may want a pair to have as an alternative to my beloved Lsi15s.

Some questions . . .

1. Anyone else heard these?
2. Anyone selling any?
3. Am I crazy for wanting two different sets of stereo speakers?
4. Does anyone else switch between speakers depending on their moods?
5. What's your favorite bookshelf speaker?

[RuSsMaN]

I enjoyed my Sonus Faber Concerto's, but always regretting selling my Spendor 1/2's. I don't think it's crazy at all, I have my Alpha line arrays, but I'm considering getting a nice pair of monitors to listen to also. Perhaps some Reference 3A or some such.

There's WAY too many good speakers out there to listen to, to sell out for only one pair, or brand.

Cheers,
Russ

[JimBRICK]

the 800 series b&w bookshelves are beautiful. I heard them in sudbury on a road trip a few weeks back.

[Ricardo]

Having two sets of speakers is not crazy. Having less than three is ;)

I have the Tylers for full range/SS power, and a pair of Kevlar crossoverless Aural Ersatz (TAD) that I run in SET mode tubes. If I had to keep one set it would be a taugh call....

[haimoc]

If I decided to have a stereo system with BK speakers, my favorite ones would be Totem Mani or ProAC 2SC.

[Bill Ayotte]

I auditioned some B&W 602 S3's and 805s's the other day...Both are rather large bookshelves, but they are really a awesome sounding speaker...The B&W CM1 is also a great little speaker, and the WAF on that one is leaps above the big black box of the 602's...Not enough bass for me though. I love the sound of Tannoys as well....F it, I can't choose.

[tryrrthg]

My buddy brought over his Totem Rainmakers . . . I was stunned by the quality of this speaker in both looks and SQ. I had no idea such a little bookshelf could be smooth and silky. The speakers sounded as if they were made to be played on tubes. I liked them so much . . . I think I may want a pair to have as an alternative to my beloved Lsi15s.

Some questions . . .

1. Anyone else heard these?
2. Anyone selling any?
3. Am I crazy for wanting two different sets of stereo speakers?
4. Does anyone else switch between speakers depending on their moods?
5. What's your favorite bookshelf speaker?

I'd love to hear Totem sometime.

I've heard the Reference 3A MM Dicappo's at a shop in Columbus. They were nice but I preferred my Dyn's. Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor and the Dynaudio 1.3SE have been my favorite standmount speakers. Thiel and ProAc make a nice standmounts also.

Get your ass to my place and get your ears on my Dynaudio's.

[Wardsweb]

I picked up a pair of Roksan Rok One speakers and can say they are the first bookshelf speakers I've ever liked enough to keep.

[pearsall001]

Living in the Philly, South Jersey area I am very fortunate to have quite a few really good audio stores (lo-fi, mid-fi, hi-end, & ultra hi-end). I heard the Rainmakers on a few occasions & they do sound very, very nice. I heard plenty of other great sounding bookshelves during my visits to the numerous audio stores. The only ones that caught my attention & made me sit & listen in amazement were the ones that I presently own - a pair of AAD 2001 monitors. There's just something about them that makes me smile ear to ear every time I hear them. I know there are other great sounding speakers out there but for now the AAD's aren't leaving my room. As far as adding another pair I really don't see the point as long as my AAD's keep making me smile. When the smile wavers then it'll be time for a change. Until then I'm quite content. :D

[janmike]

Proac 1SC.

[SolidSqual]

They remind me of my ex-girlfriend. (AAD 2001 monitors)

[mldennison]

dynaudio focus 110's, although the totem model 1's were a close second!

[madmax]

They remind me of my ex-girlfriend. (AAD 2001 monitors)

Is she behind bars? :D

Just kidding,
madmax

[SolidSqual]

Oh I see what you're saying . . . actually she usually had me caged while she worked me over for a few hours. I guess looking into the speaker might give you the same feeling .

[hearingimpared]

Thems is good sounding monitors!!!

[SolidSqual]

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1183323829

What do you guys think of this? I talked the guy down to $571 all in? Should I hold out for the Model 1s when they come around?

[hearingimpared]

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1183323829

What do you guys think of this? I talked the guy down to $571 all in? Should I hold out for the Model 1s when they come around?

You got the guy down $130, I would say you are doing pretty good.

[pearsall001]

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1183323829

What do you guys think of this? I talked the guy down to $571 all in? Should I hold out for the Model 1s when they come around?

Sounds like a great deal at that price. Grab 'em!! You'll be very, very pleased.

[RuSsMaN]

Cool, I'll email him and offer $600 all in. ;)

How the hell did you end up at $571?

[dkg999]

I istened to the ERA Model 4's over the weekend. Really, really nice for a small monitor. The ERA's might be replacing the current EPOS ELS-3 mini-monitors. I have to take my EPOS with me next trip to IA to do a side-by-side demo.

[SolidSqual]

Russman - what can I say, I know how to sweet talk em'. My Indian girlfriend actually taught me some good techniques as how to negotiate in a market. At any rate, there's always a lot of luck and perhaps some guy hurtin' for money.

You mentioned in your first post that you've been lookin for a good monitor . . . me too. Sometimes I really like just listening to a smaller speaker. The presentation is different.

[heiney9]

I istened to the ERA Model 4's over the weekend. Really, really nice for a small monitor. The ERA's might be replacing the current EPOS ELS-3 mini-monitors. I have to take my EPOS with me next trip to IA to do a side-by-side demo.


DIBS on the EPOS Doug!!!!! :D

[dkg999]

You got dibs if I decide to move them! The ERA's sounded really sweet, but I need to hear them side-by-side to see if they are really better. The EPOS are going to be hard to top!

[SolidSqual]

Epos smepos . . . get a scrotem and buy a Totem.

[SolidSqual]

Sorry that was immature of me, but I just liked the rhyme.

[SolidSqual]

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1182275406

These babies are slightly scratched, but if you can deal with that (I Can't) then they would be a pretty good deal . . . Sonus faber Minima Amator $750.

[SolidSqual]

I pulled the trigger on the Totem Rainmakers for $571. I can't wait to receive these babies.

[haimoc]

Congratulation on your new speakers. Excelent price.

[dorokusai]

Kef.

If you don't have some options in your listening enviroment, you need to re-evaluate what your doing in the first place. I hoarded speakers for a couple years, specifically Polk Audio, and it was fun but gets old. Why anyone would "collect" a speaker is beyond me, but its only because I've done it myself.

You should get your ears on as much as possible, in-house. It's not that hard to do as the used market is abundant with choices, just pick one. Don't ask, just pick, develop your own opinion. Do your research.

[markmarc]

The Rainmakers are a very nice monitor, and do sound wonderful with tubes. I'm looking forward to comparing them against the Era D5's and hopefully a pair of LSi9's if we get the house we are negotiating on right now, as Paul DiComo said he would send me a pair to review once I have a new house.

The Era D5's are very different sounding, the mids are without any bloom or sweetness. i like the their unique sonic signature.

[heiney9]

hopefully a pair of LSi9's if we get the house we are negotiating on right now, as Paul DiComo said he would send me a pair to review once I have a new house.


Wow, Polk really makes you jump through hoops to demo their stuff. I'm not so sure I would have bought a new house just so I could demo LSi's. But then Polk Paul is a bit crazy............so I've heard ! :D :p ;)

H9

[SolidSqual]

I've heard both the Lsi9s and the Rainmakers. I would love to hear the D5s, but I can't find a dealer around my Columbus, Ohio. The Lsi9s and the Rainmakers definietely have their own sound signature. I enjoy the rainmakers especially for acoustics compositions and female vocals commonly heard in jazz pieces, but the Lsis sound better with classic rock and other in your face electric music. But, this by no means suggests the Lsis can't do the Jazz, I just like the Totems better.

[ohskigod]

of what I heard, LSi9, LSi7. I still adore my Rogers LS-6's, and will not be selling them any time soon. i use them for videogaming just so I can hear them (until I put my tube rig together)