Thiel CS 3.6 amplifier selection Monarchy SM 70?

How big is your room?

I have owned the Thiel CS 3.6 speakers since they were released, and the idea that they need a SS high-powered amp, I have found to be a croc-of-crap. It's a shortcoming of the amp.

The problem with these Thiels is that they hum along between 2.5 to 4.0 ohms. There's the power problem.

I have a tube amp that was custom built with a 3-ohm tap, and the Thiels play as loud as I want. My amp puts out 28 watts/ch triode. I have a small to medium size room.

Masi61 - I don't mean to misdirect you, but the tube amp I'm using was custom built for the Thiels. The original version had a 4 ohm tap and could not do an adequate job with the Thiels. Once, this was changed to 3 ohms the difference was monumental.

For years, I powered the Thiels with a CJ Premier 11a and they sounded very good. Today, my custom amp from Sam's Audio Labs rivals the somewhat colored CJ in resolution, bass, extended treble, and power. See this old and short article from Soundstage.

http://www.soundstage.com/rise01_4.htm

What's most important is that you audition different amps with the Thiels because it's only your ears that matter.

Masi61 - Sam Kim has been building amplifiers since he was sixteen years old back in the fifties. He's a Guru.

His partner Steve, who handles sales, will tell you stuff, like he told me, that simply sounds like hype. What hooked me was the money back guarantee if I didn't like how it sound.

Sam mainly builds Integrated Amps using old chasis' in excellent condition. That eliminates the high chassis cost that small boutique companies pass on to you. He specializes in push-pull circuits in full triode, and with all types of output tubes. He builds his amps from his head, so no schematics! To answer your question, it's from scratch, so what are your requirements?

Sam's signature designs are low watt for higher efficiency speakers. The Thiels were a challenge. Sam knew that they were 86 dB, but did not know their impedence of 2.5 to 4 ohms. His first amp utlizing EL34 tubes and a 4 ohm tap was unsucessful as the Thiels sucked the headroom out of the tubes. He re-designed the amp with 6550 tubes and the 3 ohm tap that made all the difference. The Thiels play loud for me with the volume at twelve o'clock.

I love tubes and I love the Thiels. When I first auditioned them the dealer sold Krell, BAT, and CJ. I chose the CJ over the Krell amp. But that's me!!! Sam's amp completely blows away my old CJ.

How big is your room? If it's huge, you may have a loudness issue. You can probably expect to pay about $3K for the amp, but keep in mind that this is preamp plus power amp.

Good luck, and listen to what the other members have recommended.