Speaker Asylum General speaker questions for audio and home theater.

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My Take

Posted by Luminator (A) on August 16, 2014 at 11:53:58

In Reply to: Love for the Totem Sttaf? posted by Schlep on August 16, 2014 at 07:47:35:

I have lived with Totem's Mite, Arro, Model 1 Signature, Hawk, The One, Forest, Element Ember, Mani-2 Signature, and Element Fire. As a long-time Totem user, my observation is that the Sttaf suffers from marketing position.

Let's assume a potential customer has a small room or listening space. If she is on a budget, she may be stoked by the toothpick-shaped Arro. If she's looking to upgrade over the Arro, she won't go for the Sttaf. Rather, she'll go for the superior Hawk and its WBT binding posts.

And if she doesn't want a floorstander, she will go with the killer Rainmaker (budget), or M1S (a bit pricier).

Thus the Sttaf is in that no-man's land, between the smaller and budget models, and the larger and more expensive offerings. And because everyone's checking out the other Totem models, experience, details, and attention with the Sttaf is limited.

What matters, though, is how the Sttaf works for you. Is it the right size for your room? Does it match the audio products you currently, or plan to, have? Do any of the Sttaf's finishes match your decor? Are you able to live with the Sttaf's lousy binding posts? Moreover, are you willing to bi-wire properly, and get speaker cables with bananas? Are you willing to invest the time and effort, in finding a better base/stand for the Sttaf? Is the Sttaf your final destination, or is it a stepping stone to, for example, Totem's higher models?

Like all Totems, the Sttafs are exceedingly easy to place. You keep them relatively close together, face them straight ahead (no toe-in), and adjust distance from the wall behind them. However, if you are still using a CRT television, be aware that the Sttaf is NOT magnetically shielded.

Do you like to sit from multiple places within the room? Do you like to get up and dance? Do you listen at low, moderate, or LOUD levels? Do you, unlike Stereotypical Audiophiles, listen to popular music?

Whatever you do, don't feel pressured. Take your time. Take a look at the big picture. Establish a budget and timeline. Then have fun checking out how well or poorly the Sttaf (and others) works for your particular needs.

-Lummy The Loch Monster

Edits: 08/16/14 08/16/14 08/16/14

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