Congrats! Thiels are indeed amazing. Every change upstream I've made through out the decades had always made significant differences. Thiels reveal everything that's thrown at them. I've auditioned a few more "modern" and highly rated speakers and they didn't impress me. Happy listening!
Thiel 2.3
I picked up these speakers locally a few weeks back as I’ve been curious about Thiel speakers for many years and have never had the opportunity to hear them, or own them. I tried them in my listening room a few times but they were so bright and strident sounding that I kept removing them.
Upon hearing them, I totally understood some of the many complaints I’ve read about them. This was even with decent and a warmer sounding SS gear pushing 200 watts into 8 ohms. I wanted to like them, but I just couldn’t. I then decided to try a tubed preamp and amp, pushing 185 watts in tetrode mode.
I’m not sure I’ve ever encountered a speaker where the upstream gear made that drastic of a difference. What was ear-bleedingly strident and unlistenable turned into a “Holy crap! These sound friggin’ amazing!”
Boy, am I ever glad I tried the tubed gear. These old speakers are now making beautiful music in my room! Proof again, to me, that system synergy plays such a huge role in our hobby.