The first model in Totem Acoustic’s new Bison range, this small two-way speaker offers remarkable tonal accuracy. What’s more, it delivers a rich, natural sound image with a depth that belies its compact size. Let’s discover the Totem Bison Monitor.
The new family of speakers, named Bison in reference to the power and endurance of North America’s largest mammals, includes three models. The small Monitor is the entry-level model in this new series. It is based on a fairly conventional two-way architecture. Nevertheless, it benefits from all the expertise of the Canadian manufacturer. It should be noted that since its creation in 1987, Totem Acoustic has always focused its research on small-volume speakers.
Despite the constraints associated with small dimensions, the company has managed to offer expressive, natural and balanced sound reproduction in its products. To achieve this, Totem has always prioritised listening, subjectivity and feel over measurements when finalising the development of all its products. As a result, it is often estimates made “by ear”, based on long hours of listening, that determine the final adjustments to achieve a sound that prioritises appeal.
As for the Bison Monitor, while its architecture may seem fairly conventional, each of its components has been optimised to ensure that it too benefits from Totem Acoustic’s DNA. Its tweeter, for example, is based on a large 33 mm diameter dome cut and shaped by laser from a flexible fabric. This choice guarantees both excellent harmonic performance in the high frequencies and a very smooth sound reproduction.
In addition, its large diameter for a speaker of this type makes it possible to set a relatively low crossover frequency between the two sections. Totem Acoustic has chosen a value of 2.5 kHz.
Similarly, to ensure a smooth transition between the two channels, the filtering remains at order 1, or 6 dB per octave. This simple filtering also has the effect of limiting phase rotations near the crossover frequency. This contributes to the precision and depth of the sound image that these speakers are capable of delivering.
The bass section of the Bison Monitor is built around a 133 mm diameter woofer. It has a rather impressive motor, equipped with a 76 mm diameter moving coil. Again, this is a rather imposing size for a small bookshelf speaker. In addition, the entire moving assembly of this woofer has a very high elongation. The combination of these features allows the Bison Monitor to handle the deepest bass reproduction with ease while maintaining a lively and dynamic temperament.
Finally, the Bison Monitor’s handcrafted cabinet uses variable-density fibreboard. These combine very high rigidity on the outer surfaces of the cabinet with greater softness on the inner surfaces. This feature contributes to good damping of internal sound waves and counteracts the appearance of standing waves within the bass reflex load, which can cause unwanted colouration of the reproduction at certain frequencies.
It should be noted that internal reinforcements are used to further increase the rigidity of this cabinet and give it great acoustic neutrality. It is clear that every detail has been carefully considered to give these small speakers exceptional performance.
INSTALLING THE TOTEM BISON MONITOR
Given the rear position of the decompression vent on this small speaker, care should be taken not only to move it away from the rear wall, but also to place it at the correct height, with the tweeter at ear level for the listener in their listening position, which is usually seated. To do this, it is essential to choose a pair of high-quality stands.
For our part, we conducted our tests with older models from the Partington brand. In fact, the Canadian manufacturer continues to promote these models. If necessary, you can find excellent options at Music Tools and Solidsteel. When it comes to the amplifier, choose one with a good power supply, as the small Totems have excellent power handling and will tend to let you know it. There is no shortage of good options… Finally, here’s a piece of advice that we urge you to follow carefully: bi-wire these speakers.
THE SOUND OF THE TOTEM BISON MONITOR
With this Canadian manufacturer, there is always a moment when you feel a sense of paradox.
This paradox exists between the life-size sound delivered by its products and the absolutely ridiculous size of the speakers themselves. What has been true of most Totem monitors for 25 years is now true of the Bison Monitor. They are tiny, but they deliver a big sound. A big sound is already excellent, you might say. But what stands out here is the ability of the sound to completely emancipate itself from the speaker as a sound diffuser. It’s as if the sound were colonising the entire listening room freely and independently.
It’s a bit like the speakers have disappeared from view. This creates a particularly well-developed three-dimensional image.
Not only is it wide, deep and high, it is also precise and well structured. It’s a rather exhilarating sensation that is hard to shake once you’ve acquired a taste for it. At the same time, the little Bisons give the listener a wonderful physical sensation, with rhythmic tracking that highlights the nervousness of the chords and the urgency of rock or symphonic music.
It moves, it swings, in short, you never get bored for a minute. Especially since the spectral balance is completely realistic. Ultimately, this is a particularly lively and spontaneous little pair of speakers that seems to want to push the walls aside to impose its style. How can you resist such an outpouring of good humour that plays with genres and fashions to always give you the most enjoyable sound from your recordings, whether old or new?
OUR CONCLUSION
The Bison Monitor replaces the Sky. On paper, this was no easy task. The small Sky was a real success in its genre. But with the Bison, Totem pushes the envelope of musicality a little further, offering a richer tonal balance and what we felt was slightly higher power handling. What we take away from this adventure is that the Canadian manufacturer has truly mastered the art of making small, hyper-musical, and completely compact two-way bookshelf speakers, which can be easily accommodated in your home and, above all, provide life-size sound reproduction. We love it!
Auhtor: Pierre Fontaine
TECHNICAL SHEET: TOTEM BISON MONITOR
- Origin: Canada
- Price: €2,600
- Dimensions: 170 x 240 x 330 mm
- Nominal impedance: 8 ohms
- Sensitivity: 87 dB @ 1 W
- Crossover frequency: 2.5 kHz (first-order filter)
- Bandwidth: 40 Hz to 29.5 kHz (±3 dB)
- Power handling: 30–150 W
