You listen to classical (so do I) and most spkrs "cannot reproduce an illusion of an entire orchestra" as you note. If you want to take the comment further, try Mahler 8 or 5 on an average commercial pair of speakers. Or Wagner, for that matter...
A) I have heard of no PASSIVE speaker on the low side of $~40-50k that can do that without a built in active sub: Genesis Tech, A-Physic Kronos, the big Vandersteens, etc. I.e. you'll be biamping anyway, relegating the Thor to the "satellite" (mid-highs) which is not a bad thing.
B) Three unusual exceptions that I've experienced are:
*Linkwitz's Orion (www.linkwitzlab.com) BUT it requires 6-8 channels of amplification (it's fully active, all drivers connected to a dedicated amp channel). On the plus side, it costs less than 10k. More on the plus side, it's boxless so, "airy" much like a stat, with lots of dynamic impact. In fact, it's an exquisite sounding spkr.
*Beolab 5 (I think): OK, not our usual high-end brand-name, but these speakers are excellent. On the down side, they're fully active, so your existing amplification is useless...
*Classic Audio Reproductions: excellent drivers, very good and solid design; horn loaded and unusual...
Then of course, Pass also offers nice spkrs -- but these too are fully active and well over 20k
C) Known, "big" brands. From limited personal experience, some speakers that deliver -- more or, usually, less full-range sound, with reasonable or better dynamics and microdynamics: Acapella Campanile (or the cheaper Violon, but you'll need to keep yr subwoof); Genesis 200's or 300's used (too expensive new); Genesis 6,1 maybe...; Vandersteen 5a; the latest (i.e. more sensitive) Soundlabs, if you're still into stats; Duevel Jupiter -- omnidirectional highs, if you like the thing, I did actually; Bosendorfer as in the piano, the big model whatever it's called; the big Tannoy Prestige series, lovely "heavy" sound if you're into that sort of thing.
The bigger A-Physics are nice but expensive; likewise with the Accuton driver users club: Avalon, Kharma, and Martens Designs, etc. Finally, S-Faber make beautiful spkrs, but their full-range model is also well over budget. Full-range Wilson, JMLab, Rockport, while great, are stratospherically priced.
NOTES:
-this list is far from complete; just my experience and what comes to mind.
-The "unusual" spkrs in B are IMO mostly better (possible exceptions being the Acapella & Bosendorfer exceptions)
-You'll need to keep yr sub with all of the spkrs that do not offer their own active built-in subs.
D) You may want to give kits or "esoteric" designs a thought (apart from the Classic Audio, above):
-the 47 Labs speaker with a Hartley driver (don't remember its name but it was lacquered white);
-the Audio note speaker, the mid-high level offering
-the Lowther loaded Rethms
-some very unusual kits/products from Decware, Bastanis that are quite successful in delivering the goods, but lacking in brand/snob appeal:)
-the Oris horn kit (it's easy to put together and looks quite good, too)
I was looking into speakers myself a short while ago and enjoyed myself immensely!
Have fun!
A) I have heard of no PASSIVE speaker on the low side of $~40-50k that can do that without a built in active sub: Genesis Tech, A-Physic Kronos, the big Vandersteens, etc. I.e. you'll be biamping anyway, relegating the Thor to the "satellite" (mid-highs) which is not a bad thing.
B) Three unusual exceptions that I've experienced are:
*Linkwitz's Orion (www.linkwitzlab.com) BUT it requires 6-8 channels of amplification (it's fully active, all drivers connected to a dedicated amp channel). On the plus side, it costs less than 10k. More on the plus side, it's boxless so, "airy" much like a stat, with lots of dynamic impact. In fact, it's an exquisite sounding spkr.
*Beolab 5 (I think): OK, not our usual high-end brand-name, but these speakers are excellent. On the down side, they're fully active, so your existing amplification is useless...
*Classic Audio Reproductions: excellent drivers, very good and solid design; horn loaded and unusual...
Then of course, Pass also offers nice spkrs -- but these too are fully active and well over 20k
C) Known, "big" brands. From limited personal experience, some speakers that deliver -- more or, usually, less full-range sound, with reasonable or better dynamics and microdynamics: Acapella Campanile (or the cheaper Violon, but you'll need to keep yr subwoof); Genesis 200's or 300's used (too expensive new); Genesis 6,1 maybe...; Vandersteen 5a; the latest (i.e. more sensitive) Soundlabs, if you're still into stats; Duevel Jupiter -- omnidirectional highs, if you like the thing, I did actually; Bosendorfer as in the piano, the big model whatever it's called; the big Tannoy Prestige series, lovely "heavy" sound if you're into that sort of thing.
The bigger A-Physics are nice but expensive; likewise with the Accuton driver users club: Avalon, Kharma, and Martens Designs, etc. Finally, S-Faber make beautiful spkrs, but their full-range model is also well over budget. Full-range Wilson, JMLab, Rockport, while great, are stratospherically priced.
NOTES:
-this list is far from complete; just my experience and what comes to mind.
-The "unusual" spkrs in B are IMO mostly better (possible exceptions being the Acapella & Bosendorfer exceptions)
-You'll need to keep yr sub with all of the spkrs that do not offer their own active built-in subs.
D) You may want to give kits or "esoteric" designs a thought (apart from the Classic Audio, above):
-the 47 Labs speaker with a Hartley driver (don't remember its name but it was lacquered white);
-the Audio note speaker, the mid-high level offering
-the Lowther loaded Rethms
-some very unusual kits/products from Decware, Bastanis that are quite successful in delivering the goods, but lacking in brand/snob appeal:)
-the Oris horn kit (it's easy to put together and looks quite good, too)
I was looking into speakers myself a short while ago and enjoyed myself immensely!
Have fun!
