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Totem Acoustic Mani-2 loudspeaker Followup, October 2001

John Atkinson wrote a Followup in October 2001 (Vol.24 No.10):

When I reviewed the $3995/pair Totem Mani-2 in February 1996 (Vol.19 No.2), I was very impressed by this modest-sized but expensive two-way. In particular, the speaker produces an astonishing amount of low frequencies, this due to its compound woofer alignment, which features two 7" Dynaudio drive-units, one mounted magnet-to-magnet behind the other, with a volume of air trapped between the two cones.

For a given bass extension, the compound configuration (patented in the UK by Linn Products as "Isobarik" in the 1970s…

Totem Acoustic Mani-2 loudspeaker Followup part 2

Measurements
Whereas the 1995 samples of the Mani-2 had a low sensitivity, the Y2K samples measured 84.5dB(B)/2.83V/m. While this is still below average, it is a more reasonable figure. Figs.1 and 2 show the impedance plots of the 2000 and 1995 samples, respectively. They overlay almost exactly, which reveals commendable production consistency. (The two Y2K samples were also very well pair-matched.) However, the use of paralleled bass units means that the impedance magnitude falls to 3 ohms at 200Hz, which will mandate a good high-current amplifier be used.

Fig.1 Totem Mani…

Totem Acoustic Mani-2 loudspeaker Mani-2 Signature, October 2009

John Atkinson reviewed the Totem Mani-2 Signature in October 2009 (Vol.32 No.10):

The loudspeakers Vince Bruzzese designs for Canadian manufacturer Totem Acoustic are intended for the long haul. His Model One has been in continuous production since its introduction at the end of the 1980s, and I recently gave a listen to its current iteration, the Signature, to see if the Model One was worth continued inclusion in our "Recommended Components" listing. Similarly, I first reviewed Totem's second loudspeaker model, the stand-mounted Mani-2, in February 1996, with a Follow-Up in October 2001…

Totem Acoustic Mani-2 loudspeaker 2009 Review System

Sidebar: Associated Equipment 2009

Digital Sources: Ayre C-5xeMP universal player; Meridian 808i.2 CD player; dCS Puccini SACD player; Benchmark DAC1, Ayre QB-9 D/A converters; Logitech (Slim Devices) Transporter WiFi music player with Apple Mac mini for media storage; dCS 972 D/D converter.
Preamplifier: Simaudio Moon Evolution P-8.
Power Amplifier Simaudio Moon Evolution W-7.
Loudspeakers: PSB Imagine B, Spendor SA1, Acoustic Energy AE1 Mk.3 Special Edition.
Cables: Digital: Kimber Illuminations Orchid AES/EBU, Stereovox CV2 electrical S/PDIF, AudioQuest OptiLink-5 S/PDIF.…

Totem Acoustic Mani-2 loudspeaker 2009 Measurements

Sidebar: Measurements

I performed my usual set of measurements using DRA Lab's MLSSA system. The 2009 sample of the Mani-2 offered an estimated sensitivity of 84.0dB(B)/2.83V/m, which is within experimental error of the 84.5dB I found eight years ago. Nevertheless, this is 3dB below average, implying that the Mani-2 needs to be used with an amplifier offering at least 50Wpc. Its impedance (fig.1) was very similar to that of the earlier samples and dropped to 3.5 ohms in the midbass and lower midrange, confirming that a good, 4 ohm–rated amplifier be used. The shape of the impedance curve…

Sonus Faber Guarneri Homage loudspeaker

Sonus Faber provides a fascinating and challenging insight into the art of high-quality sound reproduction. This Italian company makes two costly two-way stand-mounted speakers that couldn't be more different from each other.

Sonus Faber's big reference model is the extraordinary Extrema (footnote 1). Stereophile's writers voted the Extrema their 1992 "Loudspeaker of the Year," appropriately so, I feel, considering its amazing looks and equally remarkable performance. The $14,000/pair Extrema is built like a tank, and is capable of producing a seriously big sound, even in quite large…

Sonus Faber Guarneri Homage loudspeaker Page 2

However, Serblin's putting the music first, coupled with the novel and acoustically optimal cabinetry, has resulted in a speaker that's not only superbly musical, but also Sonus Faber's most accurate to date. As an acoustic engineer, I find that particularly rewarding (footnote 3).

Whether just sitting there or playing music, the Guarneri is never boring—it's fundamentally true to the spirit of the music it plays.

Musical instruments
The Guarneri is loosely based on the "larger-than-life" Sonus Faber Minima Amator (reviewed in December 1993, Vol.16 No.12, p.174), which costs…

Sonus Faber Guarneri Homage loudspeaker Page 3

The review samples were loaned to me by Ricardo Franassovici of Absolute Sounds of London, who gently suggested that perhaps lab tests would be inappropriate in a "concept" speaker such as this. I see his point: It should be the sound that counts, aside from any prejudices imparted by an interpretation of lab test figures. (Reviewers know only too well that both the design of test methods and the interpretation of their results are subjective.) On the other hand, a well-designed test program can reveal not only flaws (if present), but can also help to define a product's performance envelope…

Sonus Faber Guarneri Homage loudspeaker Page 4

Sound
Once everything was in place, the Guarneri really sang. Forget mainstream hi-fi; forget head-banging levels; forget gut-wrenching bass; forget the garage-door slam! Instead, remember the purity, unmistakable sense of liveness, scale, and sense of presence of real sounds in the listening space—this is what the Guarneri is all about.

In these abilities, the speaker that comes closest to the Guarneri is the Quad ESL-63. I admire the Guarneri's ability to conjure up a Quad-like, electrostatic sound from a pair of moving-coil drivers, even if they're encased in a truly remarkable…

Sonus Faber Guarneri Homage loudspeaker Specifications

Sidebar 1: Specifications

Description: Limited-edition, two-way loudspeaker with matching stand. Drive-units: 1.1" (28mm) silk-dome tweeter, 6.5" (165mm) polypropylene-cone woofer. Manufacturer's specifications: None. Measured specifications: crossover frequency: 2.5kHz. Electrical crossover slopes: 1st-order, 6dB/octave. Frequency response: 55Hz-20kHz, ±3dB. Sensitivity: 86.5dB/W/m (2.83V). Nominal impedance: 6 ohms. Power handling: 100W peak program.
Dimensions: 15" (381mm) H by 7.5" (190mm) W by 14.75" (375mm) D. Approximate internal volume: 10 liters.
Price: starting at $9000/…