how bad can they be? When I thought I wanted skinny towers I listened to them and really like them, but went with Magnepan MMGs instead. I sacrificed some bass for more detail and a wonderful midrange. A Rythmik subwoofer solved the bass issue and I got even more refinement with the Magnestand modification. That said I could certainly live with the Totem Arro, maybe someday I will if I find what I have to be too unwieldy.