Need Help - Best Tube Amp for My System - Thiels

Have a look at the Wolcotts which are offered here for sale. They are a tad above budget though but probably offer the best bass performance as far as your list above is concerend. Cheers,

IF AGE DOES not matter,a PAIR OF AUDIO RESEARCH , ID SAY A pair of D115MKII, stereo amps115wpc@8ohmbi-latterally bi-amp;230wpc .can be had for around 1000.00 ea. on audiogon,these amps are approx. 10 yrs old,originally sold for 4000.00 ea,pure tube circuit,no hybrid.8-6550 for outputs

Your 2.2's are the same Thiels I've used since '97. After going through a couple of modest SS amps, I put a C-J MV-55 on 'em and lived happily for a few years. Then I got a pair of VTL MB-185 Signature mono's last year and shifted into warp drive - to me, it's an outstanding combination (something which Shari at Thiel - also a 2.2 owner - seconded when I visited the factory this year). The 2.2's are among the friendliest loads Thiel has offered over the last decade, and any decent 4 ohm rated tubed amp of sufficient power for your room size and listening habits should work fine. Of course, the speakers are very honest and revealing, so as far as amp quality goes, the better, the better. Your list looks like a fine starting point - now it's time to audition some stuff for yourself (the amps I got are not found used all that often, but should fall within your budget - the C-J's or any late-model monoblock ARC's will likely go over).