Напольная акустика — Totem Acoustic Wind

The Wind is a three-way floorstander from Totem Acoustic of Montreal that uses four drivers in a cabinet of complex geometry, and the maker notes that the model has been known since its introduction for an avant-garde shape. Totem currently lists it at USD 13,000 per pair. A related Wind Design version exists, using hand-selected drivers, exclusive crossover parts, a six-layer multicoated finish and an articulating claw for tilting the baffle back.

Key specs that matter

A single 8.5 inch woofer handles the low end, set in a cast frame, specially damped and designed for long throw and high power handling. Two 5.5 inch midrange units follow, each with a 3 inch voice coil, a cast frame and a wrap-around neodymium magnet structure. Treble is left to a 1 inch alloy dome with a flexible linear suspension, mounted on a low resonance chamber. Totem quotes 24 Hz to 21 kHz within 3 dB in room, 87 dB sensitivity and a nominal impedance of 4 ohm, with a recommended amplifier range of 80 to 250 W. The overall size is 27.18 x 112.5 x 35.56 cm at the widest points, and each speaker weighs 34 kg. The maker advises 200 to 250 hours of break-in.

Engineering and use context

Using a pair of midrange drivers above one large woofer defines this model, spreading the middle band across more cone area than a single unit would offer. Both handovers, woofer to midrange and midrange to tweeter, use second-order filters. Totem builds these networks manually with no circuit board, crimping the parts together mechanically and finishing the joints with WBT silver solder, and it argues that its custom drivers work together well enough that few crossover parts are needed. Each driver is a proprietary Totem design made to its own standards. The cabinet walls are variable density fibreboard assembled by Lock-Miter joinery, where the edges interlock, a method the company rates as up to five times stronger than V-groove construction. Borosilicate damping inside is claimed never to deteriorate. The speaker stands on feet machined from solid aluminium, whose geometric shape is meant to break up surface standing waves, and they can be used with or without the supplied ball bearing. Buyers can choose satin white or a veneer in black or mahogany.

Pairing

Its low impedance combined with only moderate sensitivity calls for transistor amplification able to deliver plenty of current, and the recommended power range rules out most small valve designs. Gold WBT binding posts support bi-wiring, so separate cable runs can feed the woofer and the upper section.

Alternatives

Totem also offers the Element Metal V2, the floorstanding model of its Element range.