Budget Hunter: Spendor S8e vs Totem Hawk


I'm replacing a pair of B&W Matrix 804s with something less fatiguing and (hopefully) more musically involving.

A pair of Spendor S8e ($1200) and a pair of Totem Hawks ($1800) are for sale locally. I like what I've read about both. Before I drive an hour and a half in opposite directions to audition, I hoped I might get some insights from this group about any personal experiences you may have had. Likes and dislikes. My tastes in music runs the gamut but the human voice is the common thread through all of it.

The rest of my system is capable but modest. A Musical Fidelity A300 dual mono Integrated (150/250), MF A3 CD transport, Denafrips Aries II, Rega P2 and a Bluesound Node2i.

Thanks in advance!
craig_co
Totems are well made speakers, have a good following. The metal tweeter does have a propensity for brightness/harshness, esp. with solid state gear. One can use tube gear to take the edge off some, but one needs to be careful with matching tube amps as Totems are typically lower impedance and lower efficiency, so tube amps may smooth out the treble but in the process, also lose a good bit of the good bass response (given their size) which is one of Totem’s typical strengths.
I have a pair of totem hawks i can sell.  Built in december 2012, with claws, but no boxes so I cannot ship.  I am in the charlotte nc area.
@jjss49 thanks, tempting! I’m in the DC area. I need to do something. Listening to Neil Young right now and those guitar solos are just ear shredders on these B&Ws. I might just have to send my son to community college and buy the Harbeths.