Product Strengths

• Delivers better clarity and more detailed reproduction than any other speaker in its price range
• Impeccable build quality and flawless sonic performance
• Puts a strong emphasis on all the dialogues and music, making them clear and intelligible when combined with the right front speakers
• Delivers punchy, accurate, and textured bass, detailed and clear mids, and extended and smooth treble
• Improves the solidity and cohesion of the soundstage created by the front speakers

Product Considerations

• Lacks the proximity compensation switch that the VCC-5 has
• Care is needed if pairing with speakers made by other manufacturers
• Barrier-strip terminals are used instead of the more common 5-way binding posts
• Designed for wall mounting and shouldn't be placed on a TV stand

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Compared to the Klipsch RC-64 II Center Channel Speaker, the VCC-2 delivers a more organic sound and a more enveloping soundstage, while the Klipsch has more brightness in the treble and is more directional
• The difference in performance between the VCC-2 and the Atlantic Technology 8200e C Center Channel Speaker is barely noticeable under ideal conditions
• The difference in performance between the VCC-2 and the VCC-5 is not a huge one

Takeaway: The VCC-2 is a high-performing center channel speaker with impeccable build quality and flawless sonic performance, making it ideal for home theater systems. The VCC-2 will be a great addition if Vandersteen floorstanding speakers are already owned.

Product Strengths

• Intricately detailed, articulate, and powerful sound
• Astonishing build quality
• High frequencies are smooth as silk, and speech is very clear
• Spine-tingling music listening experience with clean, full-bodied vocals, metronomic timing, and wonderful detail reproduction

Product Considerations

• Expensive by normal compact system standards
• The AW12 subwoofer is a lot heavier than its compact dimensions might suggest

Takeaway: The Apex system offers a masterful performance with movies and music, unearthing sonic detail that might be missed on lesser systems. It will be hard to find a better compact system, for those with the budget.

Product Strengths

• Small compared to others in its price range, making it suitable for smaller spaces and those with aesthetic constraints
• Capable of expansive staging, creating a holographic presentation with good depth and dimensionality, regardless of the amplifier used
• Delivers refined treble regardless of the price of the amplifier connected
• Spacious sound space and large sound stage

Product Considerations

• The claws that come with the Totem Bison are not adjustable
• Totem recommends zero toe-in, and this seems to be a good recommendation
• Sound may vary, based on personal height

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• The Totem Bison has forward side of neutral treble versus neutral to dark treble of the Buchardt S400 Mark II; the Bison is slightly warm in the midrange versus the Buchardt being warmer overall; the Bison has tonally richer bass, but the Buchardt has more bass overall
• The Totem Bison has forward side of neutral treble versus neutral to dark treble of the KEF R3 Meta; imaging on the Bison can be the same or slightly better; the Bison has tonally richer bass, but the R3 Meta has more bass overall
• Both the Totem Bison and Focal Aria 906 are on the forward side of neutral with treble, but the Bison's treble attack is slightly soft whereas the Aria 906's is slightly sharp; the Bison has a fuller midrange sound and slightly warmer tone, and the Bison's bass is juicier, more organic, and richer overall
• The PSB Alpha T20s are very similar in size to the Totem Bison Towers (32.5 inches tall), thus they are smaller audiophile floorstanding speakers

Takeaway: The Totem Bison offers attributes found in many top speakers and is a good option for those with size constraints who still want great treble refinement and a holographic midrange. It can be paired with both expensive and affordable amplifiers.

Product Strengths

• Impactful bass moves air and adds visceral depth to music and movie effects, even without a subwoofer
• Seamless and engaging sound makes every album feel fresh and enthralling, maintaining consistent, pleasing audio without causing listener fatigue
• Vocal presence allows for relaxed listening and renders music in a way that encourages sharing with others
• Attractive design blends technical prowess with stylish aesthetics, with options for different finishes like Moss Green
• Wide dispersion offers a broad soundstage and an enveloping soundfield

Product Considerations

• Expense relative to its capabilities is a potential consideration
• In small rooms, performance could suffer due to the high-mounted tweeter and narrow vertical dispersion window
• When pushed, the 'No. 2' tower center channel model, being a 2-way, may run out of headroom before the No. 2 towers
• A slight lack of dynamics in the bass and high mids around the vocal sweet spot was noted
• Edgy, crisp, and definitive resolution evokes excitement, though these may not be the right choice for all listeners

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Compared to RBH Sound 61-SFM/R, the RBH digs deeper and has its tweeter at a more typical listening height, however, the Aria Evo X No.4 is undeniably better looking
• Compared to SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacles, the Ultra Evolution Pinnacles have deeper and more powerful bass, although its overall frequency response isn't as neutral
• Compared to JBL HDI-3800, the JBL boasts a very wide dynamic range, having a narrower dispersion but more even off-axis response
• Compared to Arendal Sound 1723 Tower, the 1723 Towers have a bit more elevated treble on-axis, but the build quality is certainly a step above the Aria Evo X No.4 or pretty much anything at their pricing, and they can dig deeper in bass

Takeaway: The Focal Aria Evo X is a stylish speaker that sounds great, making it a good option for people who care about both aesthetics and audio quality. It offers powerful performance with seamless sound, bringing music to life.

Product Strengths

• Lute-shaped cabinets improve sound dispersion characteristics, and help them sonically disappear in the room
• Models like the Sonetto 5G2, 8G2, and Center G2 feature a Camellia midrange driver, which avoids resonances associated with round-shaped midrange drivers
• The woofers and mid-woofers feature a paper-pulp sandwich cone to ensure a natural tone, and a precise and dynamic bass response
• The DAD lens in the tweeter fixes phase issues, allowing the soft dome tweeters to perform linearly all the way out to 40 kHz
• The new concrete base provides more stability, and better vibration management

Product Considerations

• The Sonetto I G2 and Sonetto II G2 bookshelf speakers need good current to show their best, due to their sensitivity (86 dB and 87 dB respectively)
• High quality power amplification is recommended for all Sonus Faber speakers to showcase their improvements
• Careful attention to setup of the Sonetto speakers will reward the listener greatly
• Some models use a downward-firing reflex port, which provides placement flexibility, but careful attention to placement is still needed

Takeaway: The Sonetto speakers offer a smooth, musical sound with detailed clarity and tonal accuracy for both music and movies. They bring high-end design and technology from Sonus Faber's flagship models to a more accessible price point.