If you want to get the most of Thiel CS3.6. Buy an amp whose manufacturer lists a 2 ohm power rating. The higher the rating the better, I would pick an amp rated at about 800 wpc into 2 ohms.
Blue Circle BC26 and Sim Audio Moon W-5 are perfect examples and you should be able to find either one for
2500-3000 used. The Blue Circle BC26 will be more musical and Sim Audio W-5 will exert more control over the speaker but the Moon isn't a slouch in the musicality department either.
Take note of the impedence curver in the stereophile review to understand why this is so important.
http://www.stereophile.com/printarchives.cgi?225
Preamps are another issue altogether. I would pick the power amp first and let the input impedence, gain, and voltage sensitivity of the power amp guide your selection of a preamp.
Blue Circle BC26 and Sim Audio Moon W-5 are perfect examples and you should be able to find either one for
2500-3000 used. The Blue Circle BC26 will be more musical and Sim Audio W-5 will exert more control over the speaker but the Moon isn't a slouch in the musicality department either.
Take note of the impedence curver in the stereophile review to understand why this is so important.
http://www.stereophile.com/printarchives.cgi?225
Preamps are another issue altogether. I would pick the power amp first and let the input impedence, gain, and voltage sensitivity of the power amp guide your selection of a preamp.