Guns N’Roses

995:Sound That Won’t Break The Bank
144 TONE AUDIO NO.78 FEATURE
Changing setup to a
credenza table top with the
KINs placed four feet apart
and a foot out from the back
wall expands the stereo
image, pushing instruments
wider both left to right
and top to bottom, while
moving the entire image
further out into the listening
space than the prior setup.
This configuration makes
for more of multi-person
listening sweet spot.
In the context of a
smaller, 9 x 12 foot room,
the KIN system is a ton of
fun turning up the volume
and really rocking out.
Totem’s head honcho Vince
Bruzzese has been known
to demonstrate the imaging
prowess of their speakers
by facing them at the wall
instead of the listener, so I
tried this to good effect. In
Springsteen’s “Waitin’ on
a Sunny Day,” even with
the slight congestion of
synthesizer and guitars, the
drums come out clean and
clear, even with the speakers
pointed at the wall. Pretty
impressive hifi nerd stuff!
Placing the KINs on a
mass-loaded set of stands
about two feet out and five
feet apart into the room is
an instant recipe for success
in most other applications.
Don’t bother with toe-in;
the KINs sound great firing
straight-ahead. Cranking up
“Ophelia,” the latest from The
Lumineers, the funky, quick
FEATURE
beat doesn’t overwhelm
or hide the ever-present
room echo. Even classical
lovers will be impressed
with how well the KIN Mini
setup handles symphonic
recordings. The simple duet
of Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn
Stott playing the Brahms
classic “Lullaby” with its lush
cello will raise your arm hair.
Performance that
belies the small size
Most people love a big
surprise in a small package,
and many non-audiophiles
appreciate that equally
well. Tipping the scale
at just under $1,000, the
Totem Acoustic KIN Mini
and MiniSub take this
concept to a new level for
the price asked. The ability
to perform so well in five
different placement options
(stands, credenza, desktop,
bookcase, and ceiling
corners) says everything
you need to know about
designer/founder Vince
Bruzzese’s passion for
engaging sound.
Add spectacular build
quality and a robust worldwide
dealer network and
you’ve got an award-winning
loudspeaker that is sure
to satisfy without draining
your checkbook. We are
happy to award the KIN
Mini and MiniSub one of our
Exceptional Value Awards for
2016. l
www.totemacoustics.com
AUGUST 2016 145