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Paradigm Signature S2 vs. Totem Acoustics Mani-2

post #1 of 14
7/21/07 at 5:29pm
Thread Starter 
I am looking for a pair of quality bookshelf speakers and I auditioned both of these today. Both were very good but also very different sounding, not to mention big difference in price. I listened to both without a subwoofer

Just curious if anyone has had any experience with either? Opinions?
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post #2 of 14
7/22/07 at 7:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by nygiants20 View Post

I am looking for a pair of quality bookshelf speakers and I auditioned both of these today. Both were very good but also very different sounding, not to mention big difference in price. I listened to both without a subwoofer

Just curious if anyone has had any experience with either? Opinions?

I just went from Paradigm Studio 60's V3's to S2 V1's to S2 V2's. Still breaking in the S2's, but so far, they are absolutely wonderful. I don't know much about the Totem though. I have heard the Arro (I think), and it sounded very nice, but appearance wise, for me anyway, the Paradigm is much classier (I have piano black).
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post #3 of 14
7/22/07 at 7:27am
I own the Mani-2 and love it. Big soundstage, smooth tonality, excellent bass (no subwoofer needed unless you listen to lots of organ music), precise imaging, and the ability to fill my 3000 cubic foot room with quality sound. You can listen for hours with zero listener fatigue. The only caveat: you need a hefty amp to make them sing, 200 wpc into 4 and good current capability will allow them to give their best.
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post #4 of 14
7/22/07 at 12:04pm
I'm not a Paradigm dealer, but I really like the Sig S2 nonetheless. I even owned a pair once if that tells you something. The S2 has a gorgeous look to it and sounds very nice as well. Great imaging and smooth midrange puts it in the most listen category just below the $3K pricepoint. But, as with just about all metal dome tweeter designs, I tend to get a bit of listener fatigue after long sessions. I still prefer a soft dome tweeter design, but certainly the S2 is still a great speaker.

The Totem Mani-2 has a good sound to it with a good amount of bass, but it can also get a bit excessive down low IMO. It betters the S2 overall in every category but looks. But, looks are subjective to ones eye.

Just to throw another speaker suggestion or two out there for you to audition would be the Dynaudio's. Specifically, the Focus 140 and the expensive Confidence C1. Caution......Do listen to the 140 first, though. The C1 will make you take out a 2nd mortgage and dump your girlfriend to get a pair ($6500).

It's been suggested by others to have a good amount of current in supply for high-end speakers such as these. I agree with that suggestion. However, the S2 is a pretty ease load for any amplifier and does not require as much power and can easily be ran on a quality 60watt integrated.

Keep us up to date.
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post #5 of 14
7/22/07 at 1:59pm
I had the S2 V1's home for about a month to demo awaiting the V2's to arrive. I tend to agree with the comments for the most part regarding metal domes, but I have only been familiar with aluminum or various compositions of aluminum up to this point but the new S2's are using beryllium. Even though I'm sure they are not broken in fully yet, they appear to be very very smooth with no harshness or edginess at all, yet they provide some amazing highs. The imaging is probably the best that I've heard in any speaker. The clarity and separation of vocals and instruments is phenomenal. The only downside so far would be the bass, but for me it is not an issue since they are part of a home theater setup so I use them with a sub. That's not to say there is no bass. In fact, there is an amazing amount of base for such a small cabinet.

I also own B&W 804's and I'm tempted to say, when set up properly with a sub, the S2's outperform the 804's.

What is the price of the Totem's you are considering?
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post #6 of 14
7/22/07 at 5:43pm
Thread Starter 
The Totems were $4300 but due to efforts to maintain domestic tranquility I keep being driven in circles. I listened to the Paradigm S2 for the first time yesterday and liked them.

I have been looking at both floor speakers and bookshelfs. As for floor speakers I like the B&W 703s. I've listened to the B&W 804 and seem to prefer the 703s. But I also like the Totem floor and bookshelf speakers.

Recently, I was on a trip to San Francisco and went to a store there that carried both Totem and B&W. So, it was the first time I was able to compare the two brands side by side. I came away really liking the Totem model 1 signature bookshelfs with a sub. Yesterday, I went to a local store (DC area) and listened to them again and the person helping me said to ditch the sub and go with a better speaker. His philosophy was that a sub is just a band aid to compensate for something that is missing from the speaker (bass) so go with something better. He only liked using subs for HT which I'm not going to be doing, at least for now. So, he suggested the Paridigm S2 and the Totem Mani-2. I liked both but I was most amazed at how different they sounded. Both were good but very different.

Further complicating all this is that I'm custom ordering an entertainment center and I told my wife it would have to be at least 75"-79" wide so the bookshelf speakers sitting on the entertainment center would have enough space between them for proper imaging. So, she says that is too big for the entertainment center and she would prefer that I go to a smaller entertainment center and floor speakers. Arrrrrgh!

So, I guess that brings me back to floor speakers and so far I'd have to say I like the B&W 703s.
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post #7 of 14
7/22/07 at 6:04pm
Your wife has saved you from a big mistake. Neither the Mani-2s nor Paradigms will do well in an entertainment center. Why not just mount the 'digms or Totems on stands?
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post #8 of 14
7/22/07 at 6:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tonygeno View Post

Your wife has saved you from a big mistake. Neither the Mani-2s nor Paradigms will do well in an entertainment center. Why not just mount the 'digms or Totems on stands?

I'd agree - either that or go with floorstanders if that's to your preference.

I think that everything that you are listening to is very high quality - it's just a question of which best appeals to you. But you don't want to be crippling high quality speakers in an entertainment unit.

Bill
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post #9 of 14
7/22/07 at 6:59pm
Thread Starter 
I guess I need to better explain myself, because this isn't the first time I've received the same comments. The bookshelf speakers would not go "in" an entertainment center, they would sit on top of one next to a flat panel tv. Check out the picture in the link. The speakers would be on top of the entertainment console, where the red vase and red books are, instead of on stands.

http://www.sanus.com/us/en/products/...cat/component/

I really dislike stands, I'd rather have floor speakers if I'm going that route.

I appreciate everyone's opinions and I hope now I have made myself a little more clear.

Thanks,
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post #10 of 14
7/22/07 at 7:43pm
I'd go floor standers then. Check out the Totem Forest or Hawks: nice floorstanders that have some of the magic of the Mani-2. Neither of your two choices would have played to their capability on that the entertainment center: they are meant to play in free space,.
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post #11 of 14
7/22/07 at 8:00pm
NYgiants20: I agree with the other members. The speakers you mention are really designed to go on stands. Both manufacturer's make their own stands for the speakers you are looking at. I have the Sigs bolted directly to Paradigm's Premier J-29 stands filled with sand. There is a big difference if I take them off the stands.
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post #12 of 14
7/23/07 at 6:02am
I also recommend the J-29 stands if you go the S2 route. One of the most important reasons is that it puts the speaker at the seated listening position. I would rather have a speaker that sits too high in a room over one that sits too low, which would be the case if you place them on the shelf. Breathing room also needs to be considered. Luckily, the S2 is front ported.

Recommendation on the J-29 stands. Use a powered drill when putting these together. Also, fill the stands with shot and not sand. Sand adds only about 6 pounds in added weight, but shot adds a tremendous amount of weight and stability and would be hard pressed for a child or pet to knock over in the event of direct impact.
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post #13 of 14
10/18/07 at 7:26am
not sure if you bought speakers already... I'm a big listener of Conrad Johnson and Totem equipment.
I have listened to hours and hours on pretty much all Totem speakers and Conrad configurations.
Having said that, The signature 1 are great speakers, although they do lack a bit of punch in the bass.
Having said that, you should consider the Totem Signature-1 Twins which falls in between the Mani-2 and has more bass.

The Mani-2 are great, maybe too great for reproduction, but require so much high-end hardware behind them to work well... what kind of amp/pre-amp are you running ?

Anyways... I'd recommend you go w/ the Totem Signature-1 Twins instead.
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post #14 of 14
10/18/07 at 12:56pm
Has anybody considered the new Signature S1 speakers? I'm thinking about picking up three for my left, center, and right speakers in a home theater. I want the smooth clear sound of the Signature series, but have a more constrained budget...
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