Amp for Thiel CS6

I can see why you feel the CJ isn't quite up the what these speakers require. I had a similar experience/problem and here's how I solved it. Don't get me wrong, I love CJ gear and use a CA200 amp to drive CS2.4s in a second system.

A Krell FPB 400cx (KCT preamp) is what I've been using since 2003 to power my CS6s, this was an upgrade from Bryston 7BST monos. This amp fully controls the CS6 and over the years the bass extension and clarity have so greatly improved that any thoughts I might have had about a sub are now long gone. And over the yers, I believe the amp finished the break-in process of the speakers so that they could fully perform. Also, the mids and highs are sweet and three dimensional' it's hard to imagine improving this, perhaps with a 700cx or their monoblock versions. With this setup there is little, if any, in the way of current limitation from the amp and with the excellent dynamic range afforded by the Krell cx amp, this is what these speakers require to work optimally. Beware: I also in home demoed a 300cx before deciding on the 400cx; the 300cx simply didn't quite have enough juice for the CS6s and the 400cx made a noticeable difference, so for me, it's a minimally required level of amplification for these speakers. Levinson (300 series) and Pass also work well. You do want amps that double power as impedance halves, at least down to 2 Ohms.

I spoke to Jim and to Sheri (their tech support person at the time) back around 2003 and both explained that they used several amps during the design process for their speakers. For the CS6, Rowland, Krell, Levinson and Pass amps, ammog others, were used.

Droz, I understand your goal with the CS6s being increased bass control. These speakers are fully capable of very deep and dynamic bass response but they need to be fully controlled by an amp that can act as an unfazed current source down into the mid 2 Ohm range. This is a matter of physics. There are only a handful of amp designers and manufacturers that can meet this requirement, and, as Rtn1 puts it, these have well been mentioned in the above amplifier listings.

So again, it depends what you are trying to achieve, but I guarantee that the Rogue amps will not do to the Thiels what the Krell FPB series of amps can do for the Thiels, no matter how you slice it. I know, I have tried other amps with these speakers; they are electrically demanding and require stout power supplies that provide sufficient current at low impedances and that property cannot be afforded by tube designs. If you want the bass you cite, this is the direction, high current solid state, that you must go plainly and simply.

Droz: good choice for your 6s. Let us know how the amp breaks in and how the sonic picture evolves.

Happy listening!
Steve