About to audition Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Grand Reference - advice?

I have been waiting to hear them as well. The local dealer hasn’t brought them in yet. I have listened to the Beethoven Concert Grands and liked them just not enough to buy. I am hoping the Reference series will make the changes I wanted to hear. I think Vienna Acoustics has some great products and beautiful cabinets.
on the other hand I am strongly considering Aerial Acoustics 7T but haven’t heard them in a few years. The local dealer doesn’t stock the,. And I hate to invest without one last audition. 
So I too will be interested in the suggestions in this price range.

So to the OP, I ask what is about the Aerials you haven’t liked? In your 20 years of ownership, have you had any problems, failing drivers etc? And how has the finish held up?
Just asking if you don’t mind or answer via private msg if you prefer

Theo

  The Focal 1038BE at todays clearance prices might be something to check out.

Question #2: Suggestions for speakers in the $8-12K range ... good for full orchestra (think Mahler 5th)

Here are a few mid-sized speakers I heard playing Mahler 5 (better still Mahler 8) reasonably well (i.e. the rest of yr musical choices follow):
Vienna Acoustics Beethoven (as above), Genesis V (latest model), Devore X, Wilson Sasha / Yvette (but, price???), Gamut 7, Focal Supra 3 / Scala. These are models I’ve listened to; there are many others, for sure.
A small point driving the Beethovens: when I had (an older model I suppose) these at home, I used a big solid-state 125W class A amp. Orchestral music: the sound was fantastic. Jazz; same. Prog rock & blues: great
Heavy metal: a bit on the polite side (including too much info, not enough noise -- if I’m making sense).
Vienna Grands for 12k sounds good to me, why not stick to these? I think they’re much easier to drive than your Aerials—although they are a nominal 4ohm load, so not SO easy!

So jmfawdofile, did you ever get to listen to the new Reference series? I would be curious to hear your thoughts and comparisons to the previous version as well as you Aerials.

Hi All
Thanks for the suggestions. Sorry I didn't get back to you.  Just been overwhelmed.

Theo and gregm,
I've listened to the Focals -- several. And liked them.  The huge monitors are amazing. And several Wilsons (which I did not like -- too clinical.)  
I loved the 7Bs...but they were showing their age every time I listened to new speakers. Not fast, and low sensitivity for my amp. The finish is still mint. I moved them to my second system - Spectral amp and pre. Now they growl! I removed the SUB. No longer needed. They were starved for current -- not just watts. And they are in a smaller room.

I was able to spend half a day in Philly on 3/13 and listened to the Viennas.  Loved them.  Bought them.  Had them delivered by mask-wearing folks a few days later.  Thrilled I have them now.  Whenever I think the amp or speakers are bass shy, I put on some Micky Hart and quickly realize the recording I was listening to lacks bass.  These (not) babies ROCK.  Scared me a few times on AC/DC.  And Mahler!   The change in sensitivity is significant.  No bi-wire option, but seems OK.  I've got Van Den Hul cables on loan...for a while it appears.  Not sure I love them.  I've heard better from AQ.  Thoughts on that front?

Joe