Yup, listening is paramount. I don't know what country you are in but strongly recommend you try and have a listen to Richard Vandersteen's range which are the polar opposites to the Totems and their ilk. The smallest of the offerings is the Model 1, has been around for decades and can be found cheaply second hand.
The Vandies are not your usual box speaker, have rave reviews and are IMO under-advertised. I mentioned the Model 1 because if you are unable to audition you could buy a second-hand pair to get a handle on the Vandersteen sound and if you don't like them they could be resold with little or no loss.
The modern style of speaker is generally focused on detail, detail, and detail and musicality seems to take a backseat which initially sounds impressive but long-term listening is fatiguing. Another to consider is Tannoy, especially the old and very large ones.
Good luck with your quest
The Vandies are not your usual box speaker, have rave reviews and are IMO under-advertised. I mentioned the Model 1 because if you are unable to audition you could buy a second-hand pair to get a handle on the Vandersteen sound and if you don't like them they could be resold with little or no loss.
The modern style of speaker is generally focused on detail, detail, and detail and musicality seems to take a backseat which initially sounds impressive but long-term listening is fatiguing. Another to consider is Tannoy, especially the old and very large ones.
Good luck with your quest