Montreal-based Totem Acoustic’s sense-stimulating demo involved a 7.1 system consisting of the company’s Tribe 3 speakers, Tribe 5 center, and Tribe subwoofers, all powered by a Cary Audio Cinema 12 pre-pro/7.250 amplifier and bathed in blue light. (Don’t you want to roll around on that shag rug?) Seriously, the sound here was as good as the visuals: Right upon walking in, they started playing Ray LaMontagne’s “You Can Bring Me Flowers,” and it was as if a computer had scanned my brain to find out what kind of music I like. The subtle wraparound effect delivered by the Cinema 12’s processing of the stereo track lent it a rich ambience without taking anything at all away from LaMontagne’s breathy, bluesy vocals. This was one room I didn’t want to leave.
