Totem Acoustic

Totem Acoustic of Canada has been very busy creating an entirely-new line of loudspeakers called Element. They describe the models in this line as the finest loudspeakers in the history of their company. The first three models in this line are the "Fire" monitor at $5995 per pair, the "Earth" tower at $8995 per pair, and the "Metal" tower at $12,995 per pair. (There will be a center channel and subwoofer late in 2011 or early in 2012 for a total of five models.) The Earth tower has a single woofer and a passive radiator while the Metal tower employs two active woofers. Totem has also revamped the Thunder subwoofer to the Thunder II at $2195 and released their best on-wall loudspeaker ever, the Tribe V at $2750 each. They call the Tribe V their ultimate audiophile on-wall loudspeaker.

The Element loudspeakers effortlessly combine artistry and function while incomparably rendering any musical genre with conviction, ease, and enormous scale. They feature trapezoidal, gorgeous cabinets with no apparent parallel lines. These cabinets are available in gleaming, luxurious, multi-coat, Dusk/ Black or Ice/ White polyester finishes. They also come appointed with custom-designed and machined aluminum terminal back plates, precision-machined reflex ports, and fabulous platinum-grade WBT connectors in a bi-wireable configuration. Magnetically-attached grills are standard. The floor-standing models “Earth” and “Metal” also come with an adjustable center, front foot or "claw” for adjusting tilt. In addition, rear cabinet decoupling is provided on the tower models via "skid plates”.

Each Element features Totem Acoustic's own 7-inch Torrent hand-assembled woofer. Each Torrent woofer has a precision-machined fit and finish and employs revolutionary and brand-new magnetic technology, technology only found in the Element Series. This new magnetic technology uses segmented, multiple claw-like shaped magnets encased in an alloy cradle. Each woofer represents 8 hours of hand-crafted labor. This revolutionary Totem Acoustic technology allows each Element loudspeaker to harness the full potential of its woofer voice coil, resulting in stunning control and striking accuracy. This woofer is manufactured with the tolerances of a fine Swiss watch. In addition, all three models have absolutely no cross-over network in the woofer path, allowing for unfettered flow of information, sound, and energy. The tweeter is an incredibly musical on- and off-axis performer. Also used in the Tribe V (see below), this stunning tweeter features a 3/8-inch thick aluminum faceplate, and a finned aluminum alloy body for cooling and durability. The New Element Series offers exceptional linearity and purity at any volume, and outstanding on- and off-axis response. They are designed to integrate seamlessly with all Tribe Series, for stunning synergy in surround setups.

With respect to the new Thunder II subwoofer, about the only thing unchanged from the original Thunder subwoofer is the cabinet. The new model features an improved active 10-inch woofer and improved twin passive 10-inch radiators. In addition to yielding better bass performance, these new drivers make it much harder to "bottom" or overload the system. There are also updates and improvements to the overload circuitry and built-in power amplifier. Taken all together, these updates not only enhance the bass quality of music sources but make it much harder to overdrive the Thunder II with those really over-the-top bass sound effects present in the LFE (Low Frequency Effects) channel present in some movies.

To expand on the Tribe III's success, Totem Acoustic has introduced the Tribe V, the next evolutionary step towards the perfection of on-wall designs. Featuring the Totem Acoustic Torrent woofer, the Tribe V provides the highest caliber on-wall performance available. These powerful drivers provide energy, quickness, and bass articulation beyond anything else made. A new compact, high-efficiency, exotic alloy tweeter with a 3/8-inch thick aluminum faceplate completes the equation. Its easy-to-drive 8-ohm impedance, its wonderful resolution, and its impressively deep and tight bass make the Tribe V the ultimate on-wall loudspeaker and the world's finest architectural choice. Design and technical features include:

• Vertical or horizontal on-wall mounting
• Magnetic grill included
• Available in white, black, and Designer, multi-coated, polyester finishes
• 4 Torrent drivers per unit
• High-efficiency tweeters with aluminum faceplate