LOUDSPEAKERS: Does the Totem Mani-2 still rate as one of the ...
LOUDSPEAKERS: Does the Totem Mani-2 still rate as one of the ...
LOUDSPEAKERS: Does the Totem Mani-2 still rate as one of the ...
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Listening Feedback Room<br />
natural, proving<br />
once again<br />
that <strong>the</strong> sibilant<br />
artifacts we <strong>of</strong>ten<br />
hear are <strong>the</strong> result<br />
<strong>of</strong> problems in <strong>the</strong><br />
playback, not <strong>the</strong> original<br />
recording.<br />
But it’s not even <strong>the</strong> voice<br />
that strikes you first. Ra<strong>the</strong>r<br />
it’s <strong>the</strong> perfect balance <strong>of</strong> voice,<br />
piano, cello, b<strong>as</strong>s and percussion. We<br />
all <strong>as</strong>ked for a second listen, and <strong>the</strong>n<br />
we noticed <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r virtues: a drum kit<br />
that w<strong>as</strong> clearer and much more natural,<br />
and details <strong>of</strong> diction we are not used to<br />
hearing quite so clearly. Gibson’s presence<br />
w<strong>as</strong> notable too.<br />
We continued with Eric Bibbs’<br />
Gospel Blues piece, Needed Time. It<br />
opens with a s<strong>of</strong>t and subtle duet<br />
between Bibbs’ own guitar and Göran<br />
Wennerbrandt’s bottleneck, and it w<strong>as</strong><br />
well night on perfect. The balance<br />
between <strong>the</strong> actual sound <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> guitar<br />
strings and <strong>the</strong> resonance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> instrument<br />
bodies w<strong>as</strong> just right.<br />
As for Bibbs’ voice, it w<strong>as</strong> pretty<br />
well nailed by <strong>the</strong> CEC <strong>as</strong> well. It w<strong>as</strong><br />
The clear winner here, I think, is…<br />
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4 ULTRA HIGH FIDELITY Magazine<br />
very clear, putting <strong>the</strong> lyrics in<br />
evidence, full <strong>of</strong> life and expression, but<br />
without at any point overemph<strong>as</strong>izing<br />
Summing it up…<br />
Brand/model: CEC HD53-R<br />
Price: C$990/US$790<br />
Size (WDH): 22 x 26 x 6 cm<br />
Most liked: Fine performance, two<br />
independent sections<br />
Le<strong>as</strong>t liked: Crapola output binding<br />
posts<br />
Verdict: Worthy <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> best ph<strong>one</strong>s<br />
you can afford<br />
CROSSTALK<br />
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any <strong>as</strong>pect <strong>of</strong> it. “He’s just <strong>the</strong>re,” said<br />
Albert, “and <strong>the</strong>re’s a lot <strong>of</strong> space<br />
all around him.”<br />
We ended with <strong>the</strong><br />
Stölzel piece sung by<br />
Karina Gauvin, and<br />
once again we were<br />
delighted. She sang<br />
with lots <strong>of</strong> power,<br />
and indeed we all<br />
reached for <strong>the</strong> volume<br />
knob to turn her down a little, though<br />
only because this CD is recorded louder<br />
than most. Gauvin’s voice remained<br />
smooth and effortless even when she<br />
rose in both pitch and volume. The<br />
harpsichord w<strong>as</strong> clear, but a little way<br />
back, <strong>as</strong> it should be. Albert, it must be<br />
said, thought this recording sounded<br />
superb with all three amplifiers.<br />
With <strong>the</strong> session over, we hooked up<br />
our Living Voice speakers to <strong>the</strong> output<br />
binding posts. They’re <strong>the</strong> same horrible<br />
posts <strong>as</strong> on <strong>the</strong> CEC integ<strong>rate</strong>d amp,<br />
unfortunately. The sound w<strong>as</strong> clear,<br />
without artifacts that made us cringe, but<br />
we would consider this a stopgap bonus,<br />
not something you would plan on using<br />
for <strong>the</strong> rest <strong>of</strong> your life.<br />
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