Thiel Owners

A lot of amps do not have published specs in the 2 Ohm region but that does not mean that it can operate there. My Benchmark AHB2 x 2 on the Thiel worked well but it did not make the low end shine.

My new speakers are easier to drive and I will like to get an AHB2 again because I miss that sound. I do like my current amp, the CODA #16 which would be great on the Thiel's.

I have a Magnepan LRS+ in my office ($999). It is a killer speaker but very had to drive like my old Thiel CS3.7. No way I would even try the AHB2 on it. It took me a while to find an amp to drive them. I now use the Sanders MagTech amp which is 500 and 900 at 8 and 4. It does not have published specs at 2 but given the explosive way it drives the LRS+. I am sure it is good at 2 Ohms. I was thinking this amp would be great with the Thiel CS3.7. 

I bought a used MagTech from the Sanders web site for $4k. Thiel users should consider it.

yyz - my only caution regards ''I am sure it is good at 2 Ohms'.

Consider that it already doesn't double its power from 8 to 4 ohms, so it is current limited by definition. I suggest contacting Sanders to find out how it behaves into 2 ohms.

Tom

Thiel 1.5

Right speaker(without polarity markings)

100 hz ---------- 4.100

120 ‐-‐------------3.6565

400 ‐--------------3.6626

1khz -------------4.169

4khz -------------4.210

10khz -----------4.445

Left speaker (with polarity markings)

100 hz ---------- 3.9187

120 ‐-‐------------ 3.6039

400 ‐-------------- 3.6251

1khz ------------- 4.120

4khz ------------- 4.224

10khz ----------- 4.449

Thiel 3.6

Left speaker(after replacing a resistor and resolder)

100 hz ---------- 3.0218

120 ‐-‐------------ 2.7144

400 ‐-------------- 2.6676

1khz ------------- 2.9541

4khz ------------- 2.4293

10khz ----------- 3.1372

Right speaker

100 hz ---------- 2.8188

120 ‐-‐------------ 2.738

400 ‐-------------- 2.6377

1khz ------------- 2.9

4khz ------------- 2.3977

10khz ----------- 3.11

Instead of speculating how hard they can be to

Drive. Here it is, some impedance measurements.

While not benign, I don't think it should be hard for 

A competent amplifier with large energy reserves. 

@tomthiel 

Thanks For the detailed information about Adcom amps. My negative opinion came from using one as a loaner many years ago while my amp was being serviced. I see now that mine must have been one of the bad ones.

Roxy54 - it's hard to know. I had some clues from an acquaintance who had been personal secretary to Adcom's president in the day. She advised  me to find an 'original' and helped puzzle it out.

It's not uncommon for a manufacturer to create a worthy product, get good reviews and dealer buy-in and then erode that foundation via lower cost components, sources and so forth. I was personally chagrined to see some late Thiel CS2.4s that didn't hold a candle to the original Lexington variety. So the world goes.

I suggest keeping an open mind to the potential of the GFA555. Nelson still loves it as designed; and we have certainly taken it up a few notches.