Upgrade advice, please.

You could go either way, a good high power high current SS amp to optimally drive the Totems (maybe Class D/Icepower) or change to speakers that are more tube friendly. If you like tubes, then changing speakers would seem to be the way to go but first it would be nice to know what you are looking to accomplish in terms of the sound rather than the technology.

"I discovered some years back that some of the distortion that I thought was on my recordings, was actually my 60 watt KT88 tube monoblocks overloading. Recordings with few dynamics sounded fine, but the stinkers were actually the ones that were the better recordings."

I think that is actually a very common scenario many face and might not even realize it.

I believe underpowering power hungry speakers (like most Totems I am familiar with) has a bigger effect along this lines than most people, who never hear the same speakers being well driven, realize.

The other issue for many speakers these days, including Totems, is that tube amps are often not capable of handling low impedances at some (often lower) frequencies and that overall tonal balance suffers as a result. A high power, high current SS amp that doubles power into 4 and even 2 ohms is the best solution.

BTW, I think Totems are excellent speakers that I could even live with, but even the little Arros sound best with at least a couple hundred w/ch of good high current SS amplification.

Minimum power requirements typically do not deliver maximum performance.

Also, power specs are often designed to maximize the potential market so that more people consider a product. Most people are not "audiophiles", so these specs often have little meaning to those looking to maximize performance. Totem fits this model very well I believe. They sound good in general when running off amps with power that match the specs, but best with those that deliver more power. Current is the key to getinng optimal sound as much as power in that Totems typically present a varying load at different frequencies that can drop to 4 ohms or perhaps even lower. High current SS or even Class D amps are the best match in this case.

BTW, its no slight against Totem, they make fine speakers. Many speakers these days fall into the same camp, including the OHMs in my system. The 500w/ch Icepower amps I currently am using took these to a higher level than anything I ran prior despite a high power and current amp like that is not mentioned or required anywhere.

I believe the consensus on the Totems would be that they fall into this category as well.

"I think you are both running Class D "digital amps"? What's your opinion about them with respect to sound stage, ambience, air & space?"

I have found mine to be top notch in all regards. Hard to fault in any way that I can hear.

I think it boils down to whether you see value in optimizing the sound of the Totems or not.

The specs indicate 6.4 ohm minimum impedance, which is not necessarily out of the realm of tube amps.

Maybe there are others who have experience running the Forests with higher power tube amps that can offer some input?

My only concern with say an Icepower amp is how well the high damping factor matches to the Forests. There might be potential for an amp with high damping to sound somewhat lean with some speakers, especially in comparison to a tube amplifier. Personal taste in sound comes into play. Maybe others have observations there as well.

I think you will do better regarding amplification with separates than integrated in your price range.

Have fun!

Always nice to hear when things work out.

Cheers!