The Totem Hawk is the best of the few Totems I have audition. Everytime over the course of 10 years and at 5 different locations, they sounded very good (and just right with a tincture of warmth), with outstanding imaging. I last heard them a few months ago in a small and cramped showroom, and the magic was there again. They actually outshown the Dynaudio 2/6, and the Rega RS-3. However, the very expensive Sonus Faber Guerini(monitor?) were better and crisper, and provided brick solid images.
I have been advised that the Forest speaker is/was the strength of the line, but like the Hawk, IMHO, grossly overpriced, which also jacks up their "used" ticket.
Overall, I disagree with Rich's comment on the first response. I think imaging is important to a speaker's task of conveying the musical event. The original large Advent was possibly the most tonally accurate speaker I have ever heard, but its imaging was almost non-existent, and highs were below adequate. Another vintage classic was the Rectilinear 3A, a large floorstander that was the easiest and one of the most musical, or euphonic speakers I have heard, but again imaging though better than the Advents was just adequate.
I think there are some "legit" budget masterpieces out there whose overachievement is often based on far exceeding the listener's expectations. I may say to myself "I can't believe 'that speaker' is capable of so much performance" I may be impressed and/or overimpressed, and that fills my satisfaction quotient....but that will only be temporary until one listens to say a "legitimately" good $1000-$1500 monitor, or a good $2000-$2500 floorstander that gives you exactly what you paid for. It may be just a well-designed "achiever", but it delivers quality sound with few limitations or faults.......Tricky business this audio hobby, but I guess that is why it is becomes obsessional.
I have been advised that the Forest speaker is/was the strength of the line, but like the Hawk, IMHO, grossly overpriced, which also jacks up their "used" ticket.
Overall, I disagree with Rich's comment on the first response. I think imaging is important to a speaker's task of conveying the musical event. The original large Advent was possibly the most tonally accurate speaker I have ever heard, but its imaging was almost non-existent, and highs were below adequate. Another vintage classic was the Rectilinear 3A, a large floorstander that was the easiest and one of the most musical, or euphonic speakers I have heard, but again imaging though better than the Advents was just adequate.
I think there are some "legit" budget masterpieces out there whose overachievement is often based on far exceeding the listener's expectations. I may say to myself "I can't believe 'that speaker' is capable of so much performance" I may be impressed and/or overimpressed, and that fills my satisfaction quotient....but that will only be temporary until one listens to say a "legitimately" good $1000-$1500 monitor, or a good $2000-$2500 floorstander that gives you exactly what you paid for. It may be just a well-designed "achiever", but it delivers quality sound with few limitations or faults.......Tricky business this audio hobby, but I guess that is why it is becomes obsessional.