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Affordable Power for Thiel CS 2.0s

No $$. My Audio Reseach D125 gave-up and I am questioning the wisdom of paying to fix it. Never had enough power for the Theils. Tested against much higher power Haflers and Adcoms. Power sounded better, just couldn't live the the sound quality. I see the VT-20 monoblocks here and it fits my meager budget but I've never heard them. for $650 I doubt that I'd find better on the used market. Thoughts? Suggestions?
largelylivin0974

Showing 2 responses by rcprince

rcprince
3,083 posts
 
I would guess you like the tube sound but need a bit more power. If you can find an ARC D100.2 (their solid state amplifier, now replaced by the 150.2), I think it would be a good match for the Thiels. I used an NAD 2200 with Thiel CS-3s for a while, not bad, but certainly not a tube-like sound, and if you didn't like the Hafler or Adcom you might not go for the NAD. One other possibility is a used Meitner STR-55 or MTR 101s, very rich-sounding solid-state amplifiers that might mate well with the Thiels.

What are the VT-20 monoblocks you're referring to?
rcprince
3,083 posts
 
I would also echo the use of the CJ solid state (Motif and MF series), as the others have, I should have mentioned them earlier. And if you can get one of CJ's earlier Premiere tubed amps, you might not care about some slightly weaker bass!

Unsound is right, the Thiels following the CS2 and 3.5, while certainly not sounding shelved down in the highs, are not as forward-sounding and as tilted to the highs as the earlier models. Matching them with a forward-sounding amp might be a little too hard on the ears, at least at higher volumes.
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