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totemacoustic.com
sPeaker abuse Prevention
To ensure an optimum listening experience, protecting your Totem speakers from damage despite a
partnership with even the most advanced amplifiers in the industry is an achievable yet delicate balance
to achieve. Please be attentive to the following guidelines to obtain the foremost acoustical musicality
from your Totem speakers, whilst preventing any serious prejudice. (Please refer to your Totem Authorized
Dealer for amplifier recommendations)
amPliFier distortion
The most common source of speaker damage results from amplifier distortion. Your amplifier may run out
of clean power upon listening at loud levels. A direct consequence of such an overuse is distorted power,
producing a greater quantity of distortion than its rated output power. This provides a threat of damage
to any loudspeaker.
The greater the amplifier power, the safer the loudness potential. A 50 watt/channel amplifier, if driven
above this 50 watt/channel limit, will naturally produce multiplicatively more distortion than at 50 watts.
A 120 watt/channel amplifier will have substantial distortion above 120 watts, but will not allow any
significant distortion below 100 watts. To conclude, more amplifier power provides cleaner power and
less possibility for damage.
volume
Volume controls on the amplifier/ receiver/preamplifier are very misleading. Please note that the volume
control does not address power-output, but simply adjusts the audible level of music. It is the type of music
being played that has an incidence on the amount of power used at a given volume level. Less dynamic
music utilizes lesser amplifier power than more dynamic music does. With most music, the amplifier
reaches its maximum power between the 11 and 1 o’clock position on the volume dial.
Distortion is inevitable when the amplifier is pushed above its rated output level, which may result in
speaker damage. This occurs with any type of speaker. This type of damage constitutes abuse and may
not be covered by warranty. Be attentive to the instant distortion commences, turning the volume control
down to prevent speaker and/or amplifier damage.
limits
Be wary of providing more power than is appropriate for your speakers and damaging them. Although
a more powerful amplifier may provide better sound, it is very important to utilize speakers within their
power-range rating to prevent damage.
environmental inFormation
All Totem products are designed to comply with international Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS).
