What is a good all around high quality speaker to purchase?

onehorsepony

I too think you're being too hard on the Thiels, especially the 3.7. It's picky, needs proper equipment pairing, and the listening area is not generous......but when you get it right, they're glorious......but I understand, they can be hard to live with. I've owned 5 sets of Thiels, and the only ones I have left are the 2.3s; which I do not find dry at all.

Thiels can be very finicky to get set up correctly. I have a friend that has owned a pair for about 20 years. They have never sounded good. Now, this is definitely partly a criticism of my friend. He has a powerful Krell amp and a good front end... but is in a difficult room(s). Also, he was unable to correctly do anything on the acoustics. But, you could get a cheap set of Polks and have them sound better. So, while the fault lies with my  friend and the home he chose for them... some fault lies in how sensitive they are to their environment. Got a great audio room and you are dedicated to making them sound great... and they can. If in doubt, I would look elsewhere.

I’m another Legacy Audio fan. I run a 5.1 system with all McIntosh electronics (except for my new Atoll streamer) I have the Whispers for mains, the Marquis center, Studio HD for surrounds, and the Foundation Sub. I’ve had the Legacy stuff since late 2009 and love it all as much as the day I bought them. They don’t make the Whispers anymore, but plenty of great choices in the current product range. I have occasion to be driving right by their factory in Springfield, IL at least twice a year and usually make time to stop in and say hello and hear what’s new. I’m a fan for life. 

Another vote for Fischer and Fischer.

@onehorsepony - there are a lot of great choices with your 20k budget.  It’s best to demo yourself at audio stores and shows to find the speakers that resonate subjectively with you.

Devore Orangutan O/96 and Fleetwood Deville are highly musical usually paired with tube amplification.