LOUDSPEAKERS: Does the Totem Mani-2 still rate as one of the ...

Probably not, Michel, because the
Veena is not substantially larger than
the MM De Capo, and indeed its woofer
is smaller. The notable difference, of
course, is that the Veena doesn’t need a
stand. We prefer the De Capo, but since
our review Reference 3a has announced
a tweeter change.
Both the Veena and the MM De
Capo are rear-ported, which means you
cannot place them up against the wall.
However in a small room a distance of
a foot (30 cm) or slightly more from the
wall is likely to be adequate. Placement
close to a wall adds loading to the rear
port, and therefore moves the low frequency
cutoff higher. At the same time
the “megaphone effect” of the wall-floor
boundary can emphasize the bass that
is reproduced. A distance of less than
30 cm from the rear wall would probably
not give pleasant results.
My entry level system consists of an Atoll
CD50, Atoll IN50 amplifier and a pair of
Polk Audio RTi38 bookshelf speakers.
I’m considering either adding a Goldring
GR2 (or Rega P3) turntable, or getting
a pair of second-hand Totem Model One
speakers (in good condition for about $1000).
Which purchase would give me the most
significant increase in sound quality?
Bo Jiang
DORVAL, QC
We are tempted to point out the obvious:
the Totems will add immensely to
the sound of your system, but if you try
to play an LP on a loudspeaker you are
likely to be disappointed! For that you
definitely need…a turntable.
Consider these factors. First, can
your amplifier drive the Model One to
a level you will find satisfactory? The
IN50 is the smallest of the Atoll amplifiers,
rated at 50 watts per channel into
8 ohms. What’s more, its power into a 4
ohm load is just 40% higher, at 70 watts,
which suggests that it has limited current
capacity. If you do get the Model One,
chances are the amplifier will be next on
your upgrade list.
Then consider how much of the
music you like is available on LP. In the
case of the classical repertoire, adding
either the Goldring or the Rega opens
up the possibilities of bargains galore.
The same is true of classic jazz (Shelly
Mann, Ray Brown, Herbie Hancock, the
Modern Jazz Quartet, etc.), but possibly
not current artists.
Being a rank beginner audiophile, I occasionally
(all right, it’s all the time) become
quite confused, especially when it comes to
cables, power cords and power converters.
One person’s advice: power cords first! The
next: no power cords until you clean up the
juice with a power converter! The next: the
power converter will screw up everything,
don’t do it!
I’m lost. It seems to me that the power
converters would be a good thing. I can’t see
that the juice coming from my (upgraded)
home outlet is going to benefit my system
until it’s gone through some sort of transformation,
otherwise it seems that I’m just
getting whatever level of performance is
available at the outlet, no matter how good
the power cord. I hate to waste money on the
wrong thing, so which should be first? Do I
just go all out and do both?
My system includes a Cary 2A3-Si,
Linn Ikemi, and Soliloquy SM-2A3’s. Then
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