First pic of my little piece of heaven

[ltleo]

I never posted a picture of my system. So I hope this works.

[MC352]

Nice pic of your slice of heaven, Itleo.

Very nice system.

[Vintage Pete]

Very nice indeed! I'll bet it sounds as good as it looks...and it looks great!

Pete

[two dot]

Nice... I could listen happily there...

[ltleo]

thank you very much. I still need to change some things around, in this set up.

[80B]

Great setup - what's your impression of the Totem Winds (assuming I id'd them correctly).

[Yardbird]

Very nice setup, Lenny. How do you like your speakers and what music do you generally listen to? Ted.

[ltleo]

I have to tell you. I took a long time with my speakers. Well really I didnt, it cost me a mint because I would buy a pair, then change my mind, and sometimes I could not trade them in. The totem winds just really drew me in. Now I never was around totem. I first started with B&w. they were great at the begning, but then they would just be a little to much in the highs for my ears. So then I started to to demo a few difrnt brands.

I owned the two dali helicon series, the org 400 and then I traded up to the mk2. both great speakers but to me they were lacking real life dynamics, and total control. so then I came across the wilson sophias, and they were great, I came close to getting them, then along came hensons knights. and they were the clear winner, when all of a sudden, I heard the winds from totem. Now I was not a totem fan. but when I listen to the winds. they just changed my world.

These speakers just disapeared. I mean, they were just gone, you could not find them. just total sound and image. I never been around a speaker that had pin point dynamics that would just really take your walls out of the room. The bass just keeps giving, while staying tight and true, not bloomy, just reall bass. the mids are breath taking, the highs are right on, clear with air, but focus, with out being harsh. the wood work with the cab is just stunning, and after doing alot of research with regards to the making of the speaker, I found that it is done by hand by one person that takes 45 hours just to build the cab. You wont find reviews on these, and to tell you the truth unless you hear them, its hard to believe, but they really just do alot well. they reproduce everything from jazz to clasical. they can go low with the deepest bass from a orch, to the softest of highs with regards to a simple flute, all at the same time. though they do need a great amp, they do draw power, so if you give it clean power they just stun you.

I listen to everything from jazz to classical, to retro. I must say, they do piano in a way, that you feel you are sitting on the bench. If you do come across a set of these make sure they are really broken in. I will tell you from first hand. they take no kidding around 300 hours to open up. But let me tell you, from hour one till hour 300 there is such a difference that you think you just purchased a new speaker. Not that they are bad at the begining, but they just open up. As I said, i was all set to get either the wilsons or the hansons, but I just fell in love with these, and at the price point, it was a simple choice.

Im sorry I am bad at doing reviews, so please forgive my bad wright up, hope it help a little.

[80B]

Lenny, great writeup. Totem makes a great speaker with a build that complements McIntosh's quality and understated elegance. I've not heard the Winds, but would like to sometime. Sounds like you really found your perfect match.

[ltleo]

thank you. I do think I found for me the perfect match. The 501's control the winds very nice. While the winds, just make you want to listen more. you forget about speakers and amps, you just feel the music.

the problem with the winds, are one they only make 35 sets a year, and they sell out of them very early, so its tricky to find a show room who has them. Though the dealer I got mine from has a pair on the floor. It really is a speaker you have to demo, because there really is not that much info out there. Totem told me they dont want reviews of these speakers because they are such a pain to make and they have alot of loss pairs that dont make the cut, due to the fact the cab is so hard to make. Totem really doesnt want them to get over market. The cool thing I like is that they are hand made, and not many people have them, so it makes them a nice choice for me.