Is the Totem Rainmaker a Real Tear Jerker?

To order this kit, call 1-940-592-3400

[marctoupin]

The damping material is a multi-coat borosillicate glass paste hand-painted inside the cabinet. This paste is also used on the tube of the reflex port, which is made of damped acrylic and affixed with an anti-resonant glue. The borosilicate is a more lasting and stable damping material than foam, which tends to oxidize and degenerate over time, changing a cabinet's Quality Factor (Q).

[Clint_the_Audio-Photo_Guy]

A few points. 1.) I love the Rainmakers. I've compared them blind next to a $3500 pair of B&W monitors of the same size, and it was no comparison at all. The Rainmakers were so much better. Everyone who listened to the comparison confirmed it. I'm aware of the slightly elevated tweeter's response, but love the extra air, detail and soundstage. I think they've got better than most caps on it, and I think that helps it be non-fatiguing to listen too. They're designed to be listened to without toe-in, somewhat off axis. 2.) They don't fill the cabinets with foam or polyfil. They use Borosilicate mineral based paint instead for resonance control. 3.) I thought that woofer looked awfully similar to one in your design. I love paper cones in general. 4.) I've had them for years, and I've never heard any port noise. One thing Totem does is tune a bit extra deep for their size, so if driven harder than I'd care to listen, I'm sure that could become a problem. 5.) As a nearfield monitor on my computer, while playing Call of Duty it's almost like cheating with all the extra detail, haha. You can hear people sneaking up on you no problem, and just a stereo pair soundstages so well, you can tell exactly where they're coming from. 6.) Totem uses those connectors to avoid more solder joints. They think solder is degrading the sound, so they use mechanical crimping methods instead. Weather that helps or hinders the sound I don't know, but I know they do it on purpose. 7.) Totem tends to go simpler on crossovers with fewer components, favoring purity of the signal path rather than the flattest most "corrected" response. I'm not doubting you aren't taking them to another level, and have faith in your design, I just wanted to point out a few things about the Rainmaker. I was sad to see them discontinued, but still own a mint pair myself, which I keep in much more expensive company.

[jaywatterworth]

I love my Rainmakers and enjoyed your remarks. They are in my office (nearfield). I have a pair of Forest Signatures upstairs as my main surround system. Love those, too. Clean and clear. Thanks, Danny!

[marcfavell]

I love the Totem Winds one my favorite speakers ever ❤😊

[mpitogo]

I have a pair of Totem Hawk and by far a favorite but it won't play loud like bigger speakers. It's surprisingly full range in my measurements from my MLP using REW.

[EclecticApotheosis]

My ears are aging and I listen at low levels. I like the fact of the elevated high end. I'm really grateful to see this analysis and all the insides.

[slaving]

I had them, and they are bright, now I have the JMlab Daline 3.1 and they are better in every aspect, incredible speakers.

[jasonme]

Hey Danny Totem is among my favorite companies. I have had the Forest, the original from 1999 when it was Dynaudio Driver and seas tweeters.
I still have not found a speaker close to that one. I had the Hawk and for such a small slim, such a nice sound.
This Rainmaker is among their lower line. I am sure you know the Model 1 is legendary . Would love to see you work on that one.

Keep it up. I am looking forward to your 80's style speakers.

[russellparker]

The kind of speaker that needs zero toe in then. Nice work

[JukeboxAlley]

I have the totem dreamcatchers, and their very good, even when compared to the ls3/5a and kef ls50, and proac I've had, their very musical and perfect nearfield and engaging, also one of the few speakers I've had that sound nearly perfect with that new controls set all flat, normally some usually need a bump on the high end or low end. The engineer of the totem dreamcatcher said they like the cabinet to be more lively in timbre instead of the usual inert cabinets most go for. I think they nailed it just fine with the dreamcatcher, tweeters not bright either. German acoustics tweeter and peerless made in Denmark model woofers, both very well built. haven't heard the rainmakers though but would like to.

[alecrowell]

Fascinating video (as usual :>). I've got a pair of Totem Mites in the bedroom--should I send them in for you to take a look/listen. Unlike the Rainmakers, they're solid little suckers (though that may because their diminutive size gives them the cabinet stiffness of heavily reinforced speakers); I hear no prominent ringing, but haven't put them on a 'scope. However, I imagine they have the same sort of compromises in binding posts & crossovers.

[davekallerae]

Have you heard of the fire line from totem . They use their special magnet to each .no crossovers.

[cablezilla]

Have you ever done, or thought of doing, any speaker models from NHT?

[micheandmikey]

Interesting. I have Totom Tribe In Wala speakers for my rear channels in my theater. They sound amazing, I'm curious how they would stand up to the G-R test. Thanks!

[barneyohara]

When I go into an audio store and say I listen to classical, they put on some miniature floorstanders and play some light background music, as if I listen to music for the sole reason of wearing a yellow cashmere sweater, etc., hold a glass of wine and try to impress other "businessmen" with my high tastes and expensive purchases.
I'm a janitor who puts Prokofiev on at "11" (that's a volume rating from the past) and judges an audio system by whether or not it clears the 3 feet of wet Canadian snow off my roof in less than 2 thumps, or not.
I cannot express how sad it makes me feel when audio salesmen have NO idea of the power in classical music and try to brush me off with overpriced, tinkly junk.
NOW that I have that off my chest, the first millionaire to have read this is permitted to send me a pair of Focal whacchamacallits, the ones the size of a standing freezer, at no charge to me, of course. Oh and Macs and Denafrips and d'Agostino while you're at it.

Ya. See? See?? Ya. Johnny Rocco.
yaa.

[bernardchesneau]

How about placing a RLC circuit in // with the tweeter to level the tweeter and leave it at that with optional better x-over parts.

[ford]

Then the treble is guaranteed to be made by SEAS, which is the only Norwegian speaker factory. Their tweeters usually is relatively good. But I don't quite agree with the sound type that many midrange/bass elements from seas have. Not always the easiest to make a crossover for!

[markdompig]

I see this review 1 year after it’s post and break in tears. Do I understand Danny has fixed this Totem to the sound of a regular speaker?! 😂

[gregorycollins]

It looks good to me. Thanks for the review.

[nancydon]

Just wondering - did you try sealing/plugging the port? Essentially making them acoustic suspension speakers? Would be a fun/interesting experiment.