Thiel Owners

Wow, what an impressive thread....
I just stopped in because I will always be a huge Thiel fan.  Here's my story.

My first pair were 1.2's.  I loved them for a couple years and couldn't wait for my income to improve until I could upgrade.  Then I bought 2 2's.  Likewise, I loved them and looked forward to being able to climb the Thiel ladder.  Finally, I was able to afford a pair of 3.6's.
Audio Nirvana!  Unquestionably, the best speakers I ever owned.  I paired them with a Krell KSA 200 and Audio Research LS26.  I used to go to RMAF and listen to the uber-priced goods on display.  Then, I'd go home and power up and realize that my system gave no ground to anything I had heard for under $50k.
But I sold my 3.6's, for a couple reasons:  Jim Thiel died, and I began to have concerns about the company's future and availability of parts/service.  Also, as good as the Krell was, it was an enormously inefficient amp....it wasn't noisy, but there were times I thought I could hear the whir of my electric meter when it was running.  So, I jumped and sold the 3.6's.
Next, I bought Revel Studio 2's.  A darn good speaker, but too big and imposing for my room, and they really needed the Krell as much as the Thiels to sound their best.
Meanwhile, I craved simplicity and moved to an integrated amp, an
Ayre AX 5 Twenty.  A great integrated and I don't see myself going back to separates in the future.
The Revels always seemed to need more breathing room than my listening room allowed and I finally decided to let them go.
After a lot of auditioning, I landed on Vandersteen Treo CT's, my present speakers.  It's a really good system and the Vandy's remind me so much of my Thiels....amazing musical and open sound and ability to listen deep into an ensemble.

As happy as I am with my present system, there are plenty of nights when I close my eyes and recall that Thiel/Krell/AR rig.  Taut, fast, deep, transparent, unbelievable sound stage, wide and tall.  Like my present system with an extra gear.
I don't want to disparage either the Revels or the Vandys...wonderful speaks.  But the 3.6's were the BEST speakers I ever owned and among the very best I've ever heard.

Funny, the CS2.4SE was on my short list, but I never got to hear a pair.

I had lunch this week with a friend of mine who lost his home in the Marshall fire in Colorado.  It didn't occur to me until we talked that, among his losses, were his Thiel 2 2's.  Sad day.

I still daydream about my Thiel 3.6's, which I sold some years ago, and sometimes I think I should get another pair.  But, when I had my 3.6's, I powered them with a Krell KSA 200, and the sound was glorious.  Nowadays, though, my amplification is an Ayre AX 5-20.  I would appreciate anyone's comments on how the Ayre would pair with 3.6's, in case I get the opportunity to move back to Thiels.

thanks, Jafant.  Appreciate your response.

Thanks again for the thoughts on my Ayre AX-5-20 with 3.6’s.  The lure of 3.6’s is strong in me.

And a very Merry Christmas and excellent new year to you all!

I have an opportunity to score some Thiel 2 2's, which would replace my Vandersteen Treo CT's.  I like the Treos, but I have really fond memories of Thiel 2 2's that I had years ago.  They would be paired with an Ayre AX 20 integrated.  I am not one who deeply understands phase angles and impedance curves, current demands, sensitivity plots, etc.  I would heartily appreciate any thoughts on pairing the Thiels with the Ayre.  And, also any overall thoughts on what I might achieve and give up with the swap.

@jafant.  thanks for the response (@unsound, too).  Currently, I am using bi-wired Anti Cables for the Treos.  Sources at this moment are an Ayre CX5eMP and a Lumin D2.  Listening habits include a lot of classical, jazz, rock (though not much metal), bluegrass and acoustic guitar in various ensembles and formats.

@beetlemania. Sorry for the delay in responding.  The Treos are quite good at portraying round, live instruments in space.  The sound gets out of the cabinet and lives in the room.  Which is wonderful and one of the qualities I love about Thiels.  Compared, for example, to a pair of Harbeths I heard recently, that sounded nice, warm and relaxed, but boxy.  But the Vandys tilt to the lean side, lacking in the upper bass-low midrange perhaps.  So they don’t give me the weight, authority that I want, especially at the lower volume levels I am listening at more and more.  Sometimes I just want more of the belly of a sawing double bass.