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Help choosing an amp for Thiel 2.7s

I just upgraded from Thiel 2.2s to Thiel 2.7s and my source is both vinyl (VPI Scout) and digital (PeachTree Idac) through a Classe Model 6 Preamp and B&K EX 442 AMP – both recently recapped. I am looking to replace either the amp or both amp and pre-amp. My first trial was with a pair of Bel Canto REF500M. In many ways they sound amazing – tighter bass, more extended highs, much blacker background. My only hang-up is that they seem to lack some of the body (midrange presence) of the B&K. As an example when playing Stevie Ray Vaughn my daughter asked why the guitar had moved so far to the background. Is there any way to have my cake and eat it too – or are these necessary trade-offs at my budget -- $5000 for the amp?

Any advice would be very appreciated
kadlec

Showing 2 responses by georgehifi

georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

06-19-15: Bdp24
I just checked my Music Reference RM-200 amp, and it has 8ohm, 4ohm, 2ohm, and 1ohm taps! It's a very stable circuit, and a good sounding amp. And the only tube amp I can think of that would work with the load of the Thiels. Give Roger a call and see what he thinks. He's an expert with difficult speakers, having designed the electronics for the Beveridge Electrostatics, and having a current direct-drive ESL/tube amp product.

These would be nice as a tube alternative but you would have to use the 2ohm if not the 1ohm tap. But you'll only get around 20watts per channel off these taps, then only problem is at 87db the Thiel's won't go too loud before the RM200 clips. Ok if you don't listen too loud.

Cheers George
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

The 2.7's have a nasty (2.4ohm at 160Hz)load, this together with whatever negative phase angle, could go even lower.
This is probably why the Bel Canto's Class D's lost out in the lower mids, as below 4ohms Class D's usually cannot double.

If you want the very best out of them I would look at solid state amps that can come close to doubling wattage for each halving of impedance, which means they can deliver good current.
IE:
8ohms 100watts
4ohms 200watts
2ohms 400watts
These would be solid state amps with BJT ( bi-polar not Mosfet) output stages, with nice hefty power supplies, in other words big heavy BJT amps.

Cheers George
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