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
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.
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
Another strong vote for the DeVore Fidelity Gibbon Nines. They excel at meeting the stated needs of the OP!
the guy above is wrong no amp will help the hawks

Wow, Robert,you've heard the Hawks with every amp ever made.That's freakin' impressive.
If you are willing to buy used and interested in silverline, there are a pair of bolero used for sale now (not mine) well within your price range. much more speaker than the sonatina and match your criteria well. easy to drive and look great. fwiiw

gary