Big Step Up from Totem Hawks? 10k Speakers?


I'm looking to upgrade my Totem Hawks in a big way. Honestly,I have been extremely impressed with them. As I've moved up in electronics, the Hawks have kept up. But now, it's pretty clear they are the weak link in my system. My budget is a max of $12k, (it went up after I heard the MBL 126 at a show, they go for $12k) I generally like the small floorstander type, but I'm open to opinions. The room is 18'x15'. What will match up well with my class d Nuforce monoblocks with Modwright tube pre? (a fabulous combo, muscular yet musical) System: Clearaudio tt,Modwright LS100, Nuforce V3 SE,all Synergistic Research cabling and conditioning. Thanks for your time and opinions!
ptm
I've heard good things about the MBL's, and the Nola's are usually very nice.

The Joseph's work quite well with d class amps (they usually show with Bel Canto).

If you need help locating a Joseph dealer, shoot me a message and I can get you in touch with Joseph's sales manager.

Taylor
Goldprint Audio
I agree with goldprintaudio the Joseph perspectives are very good . Also let me say I have always liked totem speakers but I know their limits. I would also suggest a less exspensive but great sound for the$ Kef r900 I own a pair and found them second to Josephs in my search of many some over 10 k . The kefs list at 5k
Best
Guys he said Big Step Up
Check into a pair of preowned Vandersteen 5As
Also a vandy dealer over 20 years
I thought I saw a pair of MBL 101e's here on audiogon a week or two ago for $17,000. No longer here, but maybe you could find another pair for a similar price, and stretch your budget a bit. I heard these at the rmaf this year and thought they sounded awesome!
Hi Ptm, I've came from a similar place. My room is a similar size to yours and I ran Totem Forest which I really enjoyed. With two youngsters not to mention their friends the Totem's were an accident waiting to happen given their light weight.

Some budget became available and I went for Kharma (see system pgs). I was staggered at the difference, greater transparency, more lifelike tonality and most importantly sounds/instruments take on greater weight making them sound more real and obvious in their placement within a wide, deep soundstage (assuming that info is on the disc).

As my system has evolved the speakers have revealed more and more, care taken with cables, support and most importantly placement have got me to a place where I'm very satisfied. I'm as happy playing music these days as I was searching for the next upgrade in the past.

Having had some experience with the components you run I'd expect the Kharma's would work and if at all possible they'd be worth an audition.

Truth of it is if you take the care to find a speaker in this range that synergises with the rest of your system you should come out the end very happy indeed.

Very best of luck with your search.