Montreal-based Totem Acoustic has announced the latest addition to its growing speaker line-up, the Bison Monitor series, which currently includes three models with plans to grow the line over time.
The Bison Tower and Bison Twin Tower are aimed at those who want a loudspeaker that’s equally proficient with all sources and mediums. The Bison Monitor has “exceptional width and depth of image,” says Totem, extracted from Element FIRE V2, resulting in “more spatial and lifelike restitution, a prairie like (re: wide open) soundscape, ultra-fast responsiveness, and exquisite harmonics, particularly in the upper octaves.”
The newly developed woofer is the result of four generations of development that provides a greater dynamic capability and when combined with a 43% increase in the cabinet volume versus the SKY Monitor. The “plug and play” monitor is both easy to drive and flexible with regards to placement. Further, the Bison Monitor can resurrect live recording ambience and create great separation of instruments, all the while remaining cohesive sonically. There have also been improvements to bass foundation.
The lateral soundstaging abilities of the Bison Monitor were applied to both the Bison Tower and Bison Twin Tower, resulting in ultra-wide and deep characteristics with great centrefill, whereby musical information hits you from all sides, says Totem. Both Bison Towers are easier to drive and offer a more flexible setup than the SKY Tower and exceed the performance of the Totem Hawk, especially in terms of midrange and harmonics.
The Bison Tower and Bison Twin Tower sound “right” in terms of tonal accuracy, says Totem, in any application with any genre of music thanks in part to the 3D harmonics. The Bison Twin Tower offers a more powerful scale that is capable of filling a larger listening space while maintaining virtually the same phase coherency as the Bison Tower yet is still comfortable in a smaller room.
Finally, both Bison Towers create the perception of a slightly warmer sonic signature in comparison to the Bison Monitor as a result of a frequency response that extends well into the bottom octave, yielding bass response that is round and fast, while sounding musical.
All three Bison series models employ a new tweeter that was designed to Totem’s specifications and guidelines. This tweeter is a neodymium activated, 1.3” laser etched, textile, soft dome, modified especially for the Towers. It extends up to 30kHz and is low enough to contribute to the midrange band.
The artisanal cabinet design features a lock-mitered, monocoque cabinetry with incorporated full cross bracing. Lock mitering produces a cabinet four times as rigid as V groove assembly and provides a substantially larger contact point for gluing. The extra gluing surface area allows for expansion and contraction over many decades without any sonic degradation. The Variable Density Fiberboard (VDF) used for the Bison series offers a density of 90% on the exterior sides and 65% towards the interior. The denser extremities increase strength and help maintain shape whereas the less dense interior is acoustically preferred, causing no repetitive nodes or underlying resonances. A single piece monocoque design chassis is for much better structural integrity similar to a Formula 1 race car. Finally, Borosilicate coating – an industry unique dampening material – manages energy dissipation in a desired, controlled manner within the enclosure while keeping the cabinet musically alive and yielding an improved transient response. As well, this coating significantly adds to the longevity of the loudspeaker.
The success of Totem’s “Acoustic Decoupling Claw” on other tower models has made it appealing to include with both Bison Towers. A newly engineered version was created specifically for both the Bison Tower and Bison Twin Tower that uses a high-density composite to successfully break up standing waves. The Claw controls surface resonances, tightens bass and accurately heightens the soundstage. They are fitted with ¼”-20 thread inserts to accommodate optional spikes which are not included. The Bison Towers were voiced using the claw without spikes, which are neither required nor recommended. The thread inserts have been integrated should the rare need for spikes arise, for instance to add stability on a thick carpeted surface.
All three Bison models are available in either new White Oak, Black Ash or Satin White finishes, include matching magnetic grills and feature high quality four-way bi-wireable speaker terminals. The Bison Monitor is available now for an MSRP of $2,250, the Bison Tower for $3,000, and the Bison Twin Tower for $4,000.
Here’s a breakdown of the key features of each:
Bison Monitor
- Ported 2-way design with 1.3” laser etched textile soft dome tweeter and a 5-1/4”long throw woofer with 3” voice coil.
- Nominal Impedance 8 ohms / Sensitivity 87dB @ 1watt / Crossover Frequency 2.5kHz (first order)
- Frequency Response 40 Hz to 29.5 kHz ± 3 dB and recommended power 30-150W.
- Dimensions (h x w x d): 13.11” x 6.73” x 9.57”.
- Recommended placement: 6” – 3’ from rear wall; 3’ – 8’ apart
Bison Tower
- Ported 2-way design with 1.3” laser etched textile soft dome tweeter and a 5-3/4” woofer with copper capped voice coil.
- Nominal Impedance 8 ohms and Sensitivity 88dB @ @ 1watt / Crossover Frequency 2.5kHz (first order)
- Frequency Response 33 Hz to 30 kHz ± 3 dB and recommended power 30-150W.
- Dimensions (h x w x d): 33.46” x 6.89” x 9.13”.
- Recommended placement: 6” – 3’ from rear wall; 3’ – 8’ apart.
- Mass loadable cabinet to effectively modify interactions with room acoustics without altering the speaker’s placement.
- Includes optional sound isolating Claws, increasing the cabinet’s height by 0.59” and overall width by 1.57”.
Bison Twin Tower
- Ported 2-way/3-driver design with 1.3” laser etched textile soft dome tweeter and dual 5-3/4” woofers with copper capped voice coil.
- Nominal Impedance 4 ohms and Sensitivity 90dB @ @ 1watt / Crossover Frequency 2.5kHz (second order)
- Frequency Response 31 Hz to 29.5 kHz ± 3 dB and recommended power 30-200W.
- Dimensions (h x w x d): 38.39” x 7.36” x 10.24”.
- Recommended placement: 1’ – 3’ from rear wall; 4’ – 12’ apart.
- Mass loadable cabinet to effectively modify interactions with room acoustics without altering the speaker’s placement.
- Includes optional sound isolating Claws, increasing the cabinet’s height by 0.59” and overall width by 1.57”.