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New amp? Thiel...

Bought a pair of Thiel CS2.4's about 6 months ago and they are just as amazing as the reviews say. I'm driving them with a Krell KAV-250a, which has plenty of power but somehow I'm wondering if there's not a better amp for the Thiels...

The rest of the system includes a Krell HTS7.1 (need to maintain the HT/2-ch in one room, so not much of an option there... besides the analog pre of the HTS7.1 is pretty darn good), a Clearaudio Champion with Benz Silver MC, Graham Slee phono stage, Oppo BDP-95 (xlr analog) and all Cardas cables. The room is pretty much a concrete bunker... basement with carpeted concrete floor, concrete walls with drapes on the walls (basically thickish cotton/synthetic blackout curtains), so it's a pretty bright room. I know I need to add some acoustic panels to it, that's on the list.

I've heard the Thiel CS2.4's with a very large (and out of my price range) McIntosh (MC1.2k) and that's an amazing combination.

I would sell my Krell (seems to go for $1100-1600 depending on condition lately) and I would add another $500-1000 to that...

Any recommendations where to start looking?
audiojan

Showing 5 responses by audiojan

audiojan's avatar
audiojan OP
436 posts
 
The 334 is an amazing match for the Thiels. Mind you, the Krell is still a very good amp, but the slightly darker ML does complement the Thiels better.

... and yes, I am enjoying! :-)
audiojan's avatar
audiojan OP
436 posts
 
Thanks for all the recommendations. The Krell KAV does have more power than I truly need (yes, nice to have headroom, but still...) and it is extremely neutral, maybe too much so with the Thiel's.

I'd love to mate them with a big McIntosh, but that's not going to happen... (too much $).

I've also looked at Mark Levinson's... I've heard the 2.4's with a 336 a few years back and that was breathtaking. A 334 should fall within my budget.
audiojan's avatar
audiojan OP
436 posts
 
Ok... The Mark Levinson No334 is a major step forward. Mind you, the Krell isn't bad, just a little too forward for the Thiels. The biggest difference is really how relaxed the Thiels now are.

Used to have Magnepans and I would bet that the roles would be reversed with those speakers... the KAV-250a's are really magnificent with Maggie's!

Will sell the Krell.
audiojan's avatar
audiojan OP
436 posts
 
Second day of trying out the Mark Levinson 334 and I think I've found a real gem. The slightly dark (yet detailed) sound of the ML meshes nicely with the extremely neutral Thiel's.

Best way to describe it calmness. It just sounds right.

Ok... so now I need to sell off the Krell. It has served me well.
audiojan's avatar
audiojan OP
436 posts
 
I appreciate the input and the heads-up about the caps. They are fairly recently replaced though, so I should be good for many years to come.

One thing that really strikes is the depth and height this amp can re-produce. The Krell was more forward (to be expected) and extremely detailed, kind of calling attention to all the details. The ML is kind of just "there", you hear all the details, but more in appropriate "space". I used the word calm before to describe it and that's very much what it feels like listening to it.

Before the music was played in front of the speakers (and yes, the speakers disappeared) and now it's more behind the speakers (and you still can't pinpoint the sound source).

The combination of the Thiel CS2.4's and the Mark Levinson 334 is very, very special. Yes, I've heard better, but that was with the McIntosh MC1.2kW mono blocks, so many magnitudes dearer.... still the 334 is not that far behind in my room and at my volumes (larger room and louder might be a different story, but I would give you way before the amp will...)
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