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Help with speaker choice

I'm looking to replace my Totem Acoustic Hawks with something that offers heftier bass and more airy highs. The Hawk is an overall great performer with wonderful midrange and surprisingly deep bass for its small footprint, but I'm ready for a more powerful and more sophisticated replacement. I listen exclusively to records, mostly jazz and some rock, and use a solid state 2x50 watt amp, which will also be replaced at some point by a more powerful amp.

I'm looking for speakers that cost up to $5000. The 4 speakers I'm currently considering are:

1. Acoustic Zen Adagio
2. VMPS RM30
3. Vandersteen 3A
4. Silverline Sonatina III

I've only been able to listen to the Vandersteens and I do like the sound quite a lot. I think it's a great speaker for the money, but I've also heard great things about the other speakers. If anyone can offer advice or owns or heard the other performers, I'd really appreciate their feedback.
actusreus
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,443 posts
 
Check Hyperion HPS-938 reviews. It had a lot of "Editor's Choice" awards (about 10) and even "Component of the Decade" from Enjoy the Music. It is very resolving and dynamic but at the same time laid back and relaxed. I cannot find CDs that sounds bad with them (warm and musical). Imaging is very good and the midrange is incredible.

New is about $5k - I bought recently 6 month old dealer demo for $3k. Used (without warranty) are even less.

http://hyperionsound.com/hps-938_Review.htm

It is also quite efficient (90dB) and delivers a little more power because of 6 ohm impedance.

Unfortunately it is very ugly IMHO (resembles coffin) but you might like it.
philjolet's avatar
philjolet
2,306 posts
 
I have read some very good things about the Legacy Audio Focus 20/20 loudspeaker

just food for thought, I was salivating when I read about them, I have not heard them...
cmalak
681 posts
 
if you have not considered them, Devore Fidelity Gibbon 9 speakers are phenomenal and offer everything you are looking for and are easy to drive (also tube friendly given benign impedance curve if you are contemplating tubes down the road). should be under $5K used or for dealer demo.
celtic66
1,701 posts
 
I would first borrow a much better and more powerful amplifier to demo the Hawks before I dumped them. You could find more extension at both ends (the air you seek for the highs). Totem makes a very good product and tends to showcase whatever improvements have been made on the front end.
robertbrown
151 posts
 
Your correct to get rid of the Hawks I had them for one week and sold them you should try the Winds. I have the Sharmans,winds and Forest for my home theater and I like the winds the best. Great sound stage and detail
The hawks have totally diffent drivers than the other three.the guy above is wrong no amp will help the hawks i have plinius sa 102 with MSB DAC and they still sounded like crap
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