I have heard many of the speakers in the B&W 600 series. They seem to lack coherance and seem to have some problems reproducing some orchestral textures and harmonies. I think this is due to a compromise in the crossover design. [Listen to the soundtrack from the movie "Gattaca," available on CD, tracks 1, 2, and 3 - I use this as a reference just for this purpose.] The B&W Nautilus 805 is the lowest speaker in the B&W line that, for me, appears to resolve this problem. But I feel the 805 likes lots of power and volume to sound its best which doesn't usually work with classical.
I have not heard these specific Totem speakers, but if they are anything like the Totem Hawk then they are in a different class altogether from the B&W 600 series. I think this would be especially true of the Mani 2's.
The best $1000 speaker for mostly classical music that I have ever heard is the Alon Petite. My dad has a pair they image and sound great with Parasound amplification, even though they are against the wall on either side of a small Steinway grand piano. They don't go really low or really loud, but they can't be beat at the (new) price within these limitations by anything I have heard. If you can find it used it would be an absolute steal at anything less than $800. The model is not made any more, but the manufacturer still has information about it on this page: http://www.alonbyacarian.com/index2.htm. Go to the products menu and choose previously manufactured products. It may be worth looking up a dealer to see if Alon currently has a model similar to the Petite.
I was not impressed with the last Rotel amp I heard, but to be fair it was an integrated unit playing through an awful sound board using "zip cord" for speaker cable. I have heard some good things from Rotel in the past and perhaps the models you are considering are better than what I heard. Whatever you choose, keep it for a while to let the components break in and allow you to get used to the sound. Then when you "upgrade" you will be able to hear the difference.
I have not heard these specific Totem speakers, but if they are anything like the Totem Hawk then they are in a different class altogether from the B&W 600 series. I think this would be especially true of the Mani 2's.
The best $1000 speaker for mostly classical music that I have ever heard is the Alon Petite. My dad has a pair they image and sound great with Parasound amplification, even though they are against the wall on either side of a small Steinway grand piano. They don't go really low or really loud, but they can't be beat at the (new) price within these limitations by anything I have heard. If you can find it used it would be an absolute steal at anything less than $800. The model is not made any more, but the manufacturer still has information about it on this page: http://www.alonbyacarian.com/index2.htm. Go to the products menu and choose previously manufactured products. It may be worth looking up a dealer to see if Alon currently has a model similar to the Petite.
I was not impressed with the last Rotel amp I heard, but to be fair it was an integrated unit playing through an awful sound board using "zip cord" for speaker cable. I have heard some good things from Rotel in the past and perhaps the models you are considering are better than what I heard. Whatever you choose, keep it for a while to let the components break in and allow you to get used to the sound. Then when you "upgrade" you will be able to hear the difference.