Thiel Owners


Guys-

I just scored a sweet pair of CS 2.4SE loudspeakers. Anyone else currently or previously owned this model?
Owners of the CS 2.4 or CS 2.7 are free to chime in as well. Thiel are excellent w/ both tubed or solid-state gear!

Keep me posted & Happy Listening!
jafant
In a spare system in a smallish bedroom (my UHD video system, although it sounds quite good on music using my Panasonic 9000 playing files from the NAS), I use a Sumiko S.5 sub I got on close-out (with my old B&W P6s I own since 1997), which is a copy of a Rel T5 (Sumiko used to distribute Rel).  The sub works really well in the space (11x13 feet with a 10 foot ceiling).  I did try to get a Sumiko S.9  (which is a copy of a Rel T9) but I just missed out on the last one at the time.

Eventually, I know I'll have to replace the old Rels at some point.  Upstairs in my bonus room (basically a guest bedroom), I have a pair of GR Research N3s as mains and when my old Sunfire, Jr. sub started to go (I could have gotten it repaired for $200-300), I opted to upgrade the master bedroom (which is strictly HT with in ceiling speakers) to a Bic Acoustech PL-200 II.  I had two subs in the bedroom.  The KLH 10 inch 100W one someone gave me went and I moved an 80W 8 inch Dayton Audio sub upstairs to fill in the bottom end of the GR Research speakers.  It works well in that regard (not that the system sees tons of use).  At some point when I upgrade something, I'll move stuff around.
cascadesphil

Very nice systems all around. Is your Pannasonic 9000 player the most current universal spinner?

Happy Listening!
Btw for those that like thiels. I find audeze lcd-xc to sound thiel-ish but in a headphone. Just throwing that out there.
Oh Boy!
found a pair of 3.7’s locally!! couple of blemishes. Drivers are ok.

compared to the 2.4’s, much more detailed I easily noticed it in the cymbals. The 3.7’s  sound so much more “open” and realistic. Bass is extended but is perfectly blended. Can’t point out bass or mid issues. In fact the entire sound is integrated beautifully. Imaging is about same as the 2.4’s easily well outside the speakers.
as is known, they are source dependent. Some sibilants like snare strikes or sibilants can be harsh but  I haven’t treated the room’s walls for that first reflection point.
Man. What an enjoyable listen.
i am having difficulty integrating my SVS sub tho’.
i need to fool with it more to get the crossover and phasing right.

One thing to help with integrating a sub that is not super expensive is the (Studio Six Digital) AudioTools App (for phone or tablet)  https://www.studiosixdigital.com/audiotools-modules-2/  

I have an Audio Control one third octave RTA and can attest that the above (as well as something like Room EQ Wizard) does a great job.

One would get a calibrated mic to use with the phone or tablet such as https://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-imm-6-calibrated-measurement-microphone-for-tablets-iphon...    The mic comes with an individual calibration file.

Usually what I do is measure from the listening position with the sub off at first to get an idea as to whatever room induced frequency abnormalities are present.  The sub should be crossed over just below where the mains start to drop off (in your room).  Where I have had my 3.7s and from the other couple of pairs I have seen, it can typically start to drop off in the upper 20s.  

As noted, one's room can cause differences in those measurements.  If it does start to drop off in the upper 20s, one would want a sub crossover to be just below that.  I have my subs (Rel Storm IIIs) crossed over at 22Hz.  From my listening position, the bass is near flat from 25Hz and up.

The crossovers with many subs are usually not great.  Many of the subs are designed with HT in mind, where one would set the crossover high and use the crossover in the receiver or HT processor.  Once one measures without the subs, I typically (and that includes many systems I've calibrated for others) set their HT sub (and I have a friend with an SVS sub that somone told him to buy, which he uses with a pair of Ohm 2000s and eventually he'll replace that sub as the low crossover point is 50Hz) at the minimum crossover point. 

When I use AudioTools with the RTA, I take a screen shot of the measurement without the sub.  After setting the crossover at or around the lowest point (depending on the speakers involved), I'll use the subs volume control to achieve what is a better measurement with the sub active.  With many HT subs, as noted above, you won't get as good a result vs. using something like a Rel or Thiel sub which are designed more for music use.  My friend does nice woodwork and has a friend who designs commerical systems and at some point (an amp is next up in his system) he'll build something better that his current sub.
@gasman how much were they? I hope they weren’t near oconomowoc Wisconsin cause I’m looking for 3.7’s 😫
With no disrespect intended to those of you putting forward various proprietary solutions for sub set up, I use the ultimate power in the universe for such configuration with my 3.5s - a pair of ears.

Not scientific, but my goal, as I’m sure applies to all, is to create the sound that best works for me musically, not technically.

As I say, not wishing to put down other solutions, but I really can’t see how ears can be beaten.
Hi tmsrdg, all,

I have two PXOs configured for the 3.7s. (running a pair of SS1s in my case) They worked well but in my room I decided many years ago to go with a Behringer DCX2496 (Ric Shultz EVS modified) to allow more customized crossover control.

(I also have one non-functional other PXO that Thiel and/or their retailer decided to abandon in place and replace rather than repair. I honestly can’t recall if that one is set for the 3.7 or the 3.6s that I had when starting with the SS1s.)

I have procrastinated about offering them for sale.

Yours, John
Jafant, per your request: VTL 450MKII and Mcintosh C2500 pre. Not long ago I posted that I was selling my CS6 & SS1. I don’t think they will sell here, so I posted them on Facebook. After I tested the speakers before posting, I’m not as motivated as I was, but man I need the space.
vegasears

Thank You for the follow up. I hope the CS6 and SS1 find the next good home.

Happy Listening!
jschwenker

Good to see you again. Feel free to post here any sale items.
What other gear including cabling rounds out your system?

Happy Listening!
gasman117

the CS 3.7 is a very nice match for your PS Audio gear.
What cabling is in your system?

Happy Listening!
Happy Saturday all,

Wow am I psyched...just picked up a pair of totally mint barely broke in CS2.4’s....Can’t wait to starting my comparisons with my CS2’s and the mag 3.7’s.....what a perfect plan for a Christmas week diversion...woohoo....course the kids and wife will probably want me doing my A/B’s with xmas music....🤯...alas sacrifices must be made...ha
This will probably keep me busy for the next year once I start adjusting/adding  in cables, amp, placements, room treatment etc....will share my impressions. Been reading the thread from beginning to tap the tree of knowledge while I listen thanks all 👍 
On a side note anyone spent anytime with the Lumin T2 with their Thiel’s? Starting to look at my digital/streaming front end which is quite dated.
JM and all - for a dose of Christmas Music with a twist, tune into Dana Cunningham's Christmas Concert, Sunday night at 8PM eastern via her website danacunningham.com  It's my first livestream event and I'll be recording it in high resolution audio for (hopefully) future audiophile mastering. Dana's piano journeys are quite a trip. This trip begins in an unfinished restoration of an old-school theater that was gutted by fire several years back and is being brought back to life as a teaching / performing music school / venue. This is the first concert from the bare stage.
Jafant,

got my cables from a long since defunct high end dealer in rochester, ny.
RCAudio. I was trusting and I must say they ha
they’ve performed very well with my 2 2s .
The main cables are 2 inch thick and heavy .

Any suggestions for cabling?

dave
" On a side note anyone spent anytime with the Lumin T2 with their Thiel’s? Starting to look at my digital/streaming front end which is quite dated."

I use a Lumin U1 (and have an NAS in the office it reads with files from) along with an EMM Labs DAC2X (version 2) with my 3.7s.  I read the files for my various back-up systems from the NAS as well.
Tom,

That would be a fantastic start to Christmas week thanks for the heads up!
Cascadephil, thanks, are you pleased with the overall sound from the U1 through the 3.7’s? I am considering the U1 with a separate DAC as well for cost reasons but the one solution box of the T2  is attractive if I am understanding the differences correctly.
Yes the T2 is supposedly the sweet spot in the line.  I had the DAC (bought it used as version 1 and sent it to EMM Labs to get upgraded to version 2) already.  So for me it was an easy decision and I bought the U1 lightly used.  Was already using the NAS with a small fanless PC with JRiver as well.  So when I bought the U1 I just installed Minimserver on the NAS and have been using it ever since.
Hi Jafant,

Current goodies feeding the Thiels: VPI HW-19 Mk4 TNT, and SME IV.5i arm, both with various DIY hot rodding mods**; Soundsmith Strain Gage cartridge and pre-amp; Marantz CDR510 CD; Some HiRes digital files on the Mac, through JRiver Media Center S/W; Nelson Pass Adcom GFP-750 passive pre; Ric Schulz EVS modded Behringer DCX2496 for subs Xover and time alignment parameters only; PS Audio Stellar M1200 power amps; Thiel 3.7 mains and Thiel SS1 subs; Cables a mixture of Audioquest and Cardas; Aux reference: Stax Lambda Pro phones.
(**some mods documented in detail on AudioCircle — links available on request)

Yours, John
Amazing how much value one can get from the used market albeit with a bit of risk....makes complete sense since you had the dac...T2 on initial look seems exceptional for my needs but not necessarily at a value price given the rapid changes in the dac/streamer area. although it does seem it is at least somewhat future upgradeable. I have a-lot of cd’s as well so thinking the dac in the T2 would be beneficial vs my current old California audio labs player’s.
Have a look at the AudioByte VOX | ZAP | HUB (1 power cord needed for all three same units. This is going to be my next DAC system ($6K). It will start to get more press in the future. An initial slow burn of awareness  like the Mola Mola Tambaqui that everyone is now raving about. I am keeping my Benchmark DAC3B but will also have a second with the AudioByte stack. The tech in that is incredible.
Will do yyz...thanks...
first listening comparisons...still so much more to do..given my modest backing of Classe DR15/DR4 pre and analog only on Rega P8/ Alpheta 3/ Rega Aria the 2.4’s detail is insane incredible and definitely better at lower volume than the Mag’s but the  3.7 wall of sound and super sweet upper mid and highs are amazing as well especially at slightly higher volume. Thiel’s base is tighter too but my amps may need upgrade to fully satisfy and expand the 3.7’s base...ear Nirvana on both and still a work in progress...same as most everyone here...haha
Brian Ferry : Bete Noir
Chet Atkins :CGP
Dire Straits
Jean Pierre Rampal/claude Bolling Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano...highly recommended btw
Time for some rock n roll....



jmbumgarner01

Nice score! on those CS 2.4 loudspeakers. You will not become disappointed.  That is quite a nice mix of gear. Another +vote for Christmas music. Enjoy the Audio journey.

Happy Listening!
gasman117

I seem to recall reading about RCAudio. I am currently contemplating cabling myself. I tend to stay away from any product sourced to china (Most U.S. companies unfortunately)?
After I clear this Holiday season, the first brand auditioned will be Swisscable from Switzerland. I will keep this thread posted on my findings.

Happy Listening!
tomthiel

Thank You for the suggestion on Christmas music. Have fun recording the concert!

Happy Listening!
Playing catch-up for the past month of this forum.
tomthiel: The Philips CD-80 you reference. That was introduced in 1989 (not 1985) for $900. I auditioned it at the time, along with the one-model-lower CD-60 that I bought and used for a decade (later with an Adcom GDA-600 DAC) before getting a deal on a CD-80 that I still use in my bedroom system today. You're right, this was likely the best CDP of its time, overbuilt like a tank electrically and mechanically, with some of the best control flexibility ever. There used to be threads of reworking the CD80 electronics, not as a 'modder' might, but more like Philips might in a "Mk II" to correct and optimize portions of an otherwise brilliant design and execution.

yyzsantabarbara: I've taken renewed interest in your threads here and elsewhere about your Thiel and KEF LS50 experiences, as I just picked up a pair of LS50 Metas to 'supplement' my CS2.4 due to a neighbor hypersensitive to what little bass transmission between condos exists, even with my room and 2.4s optimized for minimal LF bleed. Both the stands and speakers will remain unopened until after the holidays, but will be curious how the two speakers compare based on your observations. I have listened to Blades (1&2) at length, but was never in the market for an LS50-type speaker, until now, and the choice was clear. Though i was less clear as to whether the previous version on closeout, or the meta before this batch sold out.  Are you going Meta?

Finally, I'm going to try again, the first time in years, to sell my mint pair of CS2.3 in maple, complete with the original shipping boxes and manuals. These are later-production models with the already-updated XO and coaxes (the latter replaced at least once). I haven't sold any audio of 'substance' in many years, Audiogon doesn't appear to be what it once was.  How and where would this group suggest I go about selling my 2.3s, and for how much?
@sdecker Congrats on the LS50 Meta. All the comments I have read on it indicated a very nice performance improvement. The Meta are doing something like what Vivid Audio is doing but likely more advanced. I wonder if the rear cancelling Meta allows closer front wall placement. Reviewers usually do not give this valuable info.

I am deciding on the Yamaha NS5000 or KEF Bade 2 for my downstairs system. Buying this is all dependent on a stock investment I made. A few years ago I sold my old stereo system and put it into this stock. So if it hits I will spend a bit of money on the living room system without anxiety.

I am waiting on KEF to trickle up the Meta tech to the Blade 2. I am under the impression that is in the works. Blade 2 are going for half price used now and is the smarter buy but this next 2nd system is not about being smart.

USAAudiomart is free and rather good for selling. Though last night I put up an ad for a WANTED AHB2 amp and I got a scammer redirect me to his/her web site to scam me. I figured it out after some customer support conversation with someone in this group. However, for selling, USAudiomart, is very good. A’gon is also still pretty good.
@yyzsantabarbara  I've read Meta reviews too, from a consistently slight improvement over the original to a significant technology leap for all box speakers. As I've no experience with the original, I doubt I'll be let down. Like I said, the intent is not to replace my Thiels.

Recent Stereophile measurements clearly show Meta tweeter wired ouf of phase vs original, though no mention in KEF white paper as to why this should be so. You have your share of experience now with out-of-phase HF units, any idea why they might make this change?

I've been very impressed with Blade 2, but admit it would be tough to choose between a known-good-quantity at half price, and a likely very-improved upcoming Meta model, as I had to decide at a much lower price point last week with the LS50. But if it's not about 'smart money' go for the newer Blades: as with the LS50, they'll be tweaking more than just the tweeter rear wave absorption.

I've probably taken this far-enough off-topic by now for a Thiel forum...

I do not have a good baseline to compare and offer an opinion. My COAX was wired out of phase and also wired incorrectly between the tweeter and mid-range (on 1 COAX). This COAX was likely damaged from that second mess up. When I got the speaker home I definitely could hear some nastiness with that COAX. I could not hear it at the previous owners place. So I attribute that to amplification or me not listening so intently. 
" Is your Pannasonic 9000 player the most current universal spinner?"

Yes - the UB9000 is their flagship.  I also have the (Panasonic) UB820 in the main system, which is the model down, but just use that for video and it is better than the Oppo 103D I had in the main system for that purpose.  I has an Oppo 203 in the system where the UB9000 now sits.  The UB9000 smokes it on both audio and video.  I have the Oppo 203 in the upstairs bonus room system (basically a guest bedroom) with a 55 inch UHD.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/panasonic-dp-ub9000-uhd-player-review.143...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXMNz0doK2U


cascadesphil

Nice! how do you like the UB-9000 for Audio playback?
Does this player offer SACD playback?
I have been thinking about adding this spinner to my collection.

Happy Listening!
No DVD-A or SACD playback with the UB-9000 (pretty much just CD, DVD-V, Blu-Ray and UHD Blu-Ray).  It will, however, play up to quad DSD files.  For me, it's not an issue as I don't play discs.  I have disc spinners in every system (in some, multiple ones) that have been rotated from old systems.  Pretty much the only time these get used is if someone brings a music disc over once a year (if that) or a movie is played. 

The UB-9000 also has a bunch of playback settings. Those include six types of digital output tube settings (to make the unit sound a bit different on each different simulated setting).  The unit is also built like a tank.

I have not followed recent developments about the unit and the only other caveat I'd offer is that it doesn't have a dedicated app (unless they have come out with one in recent times) like the Oppo players did.  That means one needs to navigate through files via a display with some exceptions.  In my case, I have he DS Audio App which comes with the file station on my Synology NAS and I can navigate through the files easily.

The UB-9000 IMO is worth its price as a stand alone CD player.  However, with many people using outboard DACs, one can buy a nice DAC for around the same money.  For machines such as an Oppo, one can also convert SACD discs to output 24/88.2 and go through an outboard DAC.  Of course, Oppo players these days tend to sell for a pretty penny (I've actually though about selling the Oppo 203 which now sits in a guest bedroom with my old UHD TV and never saw tons of use as I only had a bit more than a handful of UHD discs and I have my main system for music and other systems as well).  So I personally don't have much use for disc spinners.
cascadesphil

Thank You for the detailed follow up. This is a killer spinner spec-wise.

Happy Listening!
3.6 Owners on The Panel -

which power amps are you guys enjoying?
ARC and Bryston are top runners. Any other considerations?

Happy Listening!
Krell and Pass Labs are top runners as well.
Any other brand over-looked?

Happy Listening!
I have been happy with my long-time "Thiel friendly" McCormack DNA 1 (with SMc Audio upgrades). It provides sweetness and excellent midrange detail. Soundstage presentation is also 1st rate. Wide, very deep, and gives the impression of the music appearing to be at once a "whole" presentation with each instrument or voice being heard as completely distinct and apart from the others. The top end is articulate but not overly analytical or forward. The bass improved with the addition of the SMc Plitron transformer option, but this is no 100 plus pound monster amp. I would describe the bass as tuneful and accurate but slightly lacking in the chest-thumping slam and weight department compared with the really big amps with overbuilt power supplies and extra heavy-duty metalwork- Think Krell, Levinson, Moon, Pass, Classe & Bryston, etc. However, it does the double down trick with really impressive current capacity and drives the hell out of my 3.6es. 

https://www.stereophile.com/content/mccormack-power-drive-dna-1-power-amplifier-1992-measurements-pa...

In addition, these amps can be customized by SMc Audio to fit your system or needs. Steve McCormack has many decades of knowledge (wisdom!) gained by experimenting, careful listening (to systems and customers), and refining a brilliant design architecture. In my experience, McCormack is an excellent pairing with Thiels of the 3 series and smaller variety. I do not know how a DNA 1 would drive the larger 6es & 7s, but for my 3.6es (3.7s here and unboxed but not installed) it is glorious. McCormack made some bigger amps that might do the trick on 6es & 7s or I suppose you could have SMc configure DNA monoblocks.

I do not have audio memory long enough to completely recall the last time I heard Thiels with another amp. However, I do remember Classe as being very good, lush, and smooth sounding. I did hear 3.7es with an Ayre front end and amp that sounded a bit flat and emotionless, but that was a very long time ago in a demo room with 3.7s that might have been just out of the box.

Anyway, you may want to give McCormack a try. Oh, and if you hear any top-end edge, try a tube preamp. I have an ARC Ref 3 that helped open up the sound stage and beautifully refine the top end. Happy holidays and happy listening.  
yabe1951: others here have heard from me -- some years ago now -- of Steve McCormack thoroughly upgrading my DNA 0.5 to optimally drive my CS2.3s.  A complete success, that was only bettered when I started using CS2.4s as I still do today.  

   The same Plitron transformer in the smaller 0.5 makes for power doubling 125/250/500 wpc into 8/4/2 ohms, absolute stability into 1 ohm, an alleged 60A peak current.  He put in a few other tweaks specific to my 2.3s, as well as his established upgrades he was using at the time for a 'revision B+ Gold' designation.  Steve knows his design cold, and can optimize any of his amps for nearly any preference or load.  My avatar is the internals of the reworked amp, if you can possibly make it out.

   This was completed in 2006, and just recently this amp, at a high-end audio shop, was the best-sounding amp of five modern $5k-$16k power amps, driving a pair of Aerial Acoustics 7T speakers.

   To me this is sort of old news, but your post confirms I shouldn't take what I have for granted!
SMc has worked on my amp twice making upgrades. Both were very successful. I suppose one advantage is that Mr. McCormack will "tailor" an amp to fit your needs and purposes. Like a good suit, instead of buying off the rack, Steve will be sure you get what fits. I am not surprised that your amp did well in comparison with others. At this point, SMc upgrades are essentially a hand-crafted product/solution w/o the need for mass production, a large dealer network to support, and ad budgets, etc. They can focus on what sounds best rather than worry about all of the requirements of running a large and complex production and sales operation. If they hear something better, it does not require a big redesign or operational change. This ongoing R&D may eventually run its course and further improvement may no longer be possible given whatever limitations the original amps create. Sometimes one must start from scratch to do better. Tesla seems to be working on that angle. But for now, and into the foreseeable future, what SMc Audio does seems to work very well. Perhaps this is why and how SMc can compete with more expensive amps.
Actually it took three upgrades to make mine *perfect*, though the first one was just the ’basic’ upgrade of the time. I imagine by now it’s a labor of love, as Steve is past able to retire if he chose. He’s spent decades listening to the best passive discrete parts to mix and match into his existing circuit boards and amp topology, as you say, knowing exactly how to tailor his suit to fit us.

Just a couple examples of ’business as usual’, as part of my middle-of-the-road (non-Thiel-specific) upgrade, he uses 10" of some massive Shunyata Copperhead AC power cable to just connect the rear AC input to the front panel power switch. 1" per channel of some sort of carbon fiber conductor to go from the WBT NextGen RCA input jacks to the circuit board. 4" of Van den Hul high-end speaker cable to go from the output transistors to the Cardas speaker terminals. And that was in 2006 as part of a B-level upgrade!

The beauty is that for some time he *did* the mass production, dealer network, advertising, at least on a modest scale, and enough to have a long-running well-regarded set of products, that were a big bang for the buck as his designs allowed for modest parts to sound ’good enough’, and little money was put into cosmetics.

A good design is still a good design, optimized by the parts and their integration. Just look at all the recycled vacuum tube circuits from the 50s and 60s that are used in today’s top gear with fully modern parts in the signal path and support circuits (power supplies, auto-bias, layout). It would seem he could extract a bit more by further optimizing his circuit board layouts 25+ years later, but that would be a question for Mr. McCormack to assess price vs performance, a calculation he’s always excelled at...

It's this designing for the long haul I find similar to Thiel, and find this approach to be of personal value to me in the components I choose to make up my audio system as a whole.  And other products of note I own...
yabe1951

Thank You for the McCormick power amp suggestion.
Conrad Johnson will be in a similar camp here.
Happy Listening!
sdecker

Thank You for the McCormick confirmation as well.
Very impressive power spec(s).

Happy Listening!
Greetings all.  I've read this thread over the last week, and have really appreciated the info and discussion.  I'd love to hear your amplifier opinions, if you'd indulge some background info.

Due to ongoing complications related to the plague, we've finished our basement and I've moved my desk down there.  All of that inspired me to set up my audio equipment after five years of storage (we moved to this house 5 years ago.

So... I have a 5 channel setup, a big tv, and a new couch is coming.  We like TV shows and movies, but music is much more important to me.  All this stuff (not the TV) was bought back in 2001 when I was excited about multi-channel SACDs and concert DVDs.  Now most of my music comes from Apple Music (2 channel streaming, don't judge me) but I just ordered a Pink Floyd box set that comes with Blurays of some albums and live shows.  Favorite music is all over the board, including Tool, Radiohead, Elbow, and Alice in Chains, but also modern jazz, classical guitar concertos, bluegrass, and more.

I have 2.3s for the mains, an MCS1 for center, and 2 OG PowerPoints as surrounds (what we called "rears" 7.1 brought "back" speakers into the world).  These are matched with a Onkyo PR-SC866, Krell Home Theater Standard and two SVS CS-Ultra subs running on a Crown K2.

I have mild sensory processing disorder, and am very sensitive to treble "ringing" (think trumpets, violins, and similar audio icepicks).  Audessey MultiEq has been a godsend in this area, as I've been able to use a rolloff curve that almost entirely solves the problem for me without feeling making things sound muffled or muddy to me (which just "turning the treble all the way down" used to do).

OK, a lot of background info I guess (sorry).  Just one more thing.

I can only get three of the Krell's five channels to work.  I haven't experimented a whole lot with it yet, but I did attempt to replace a fuse on one of the channels with no luck.  I've looked into repair, but it seems Krell has had some trouble over the years and at best I'd be shipping this 100-pound monster away ($$) leaving me with almost nothing for a while.

So right now I'm not running my subs at all, I have my 2.3s running off of the Crown K2, and my center and rears are running on the three working Krell channels.  If I do nothing more, it already sounds "pretty darn good", but can't quite reach the heights I had with the setup at the old house playing, say, a Nine Inch Nails concert.  I have an eARC adapter coming out of my TV that I'm using for source switching which works fairly well but feels like a band aid.

So anyway, I'm looking at options and I want to maximize joy without being stupid.  But I know that "reasonable" means something different to everyone.

I want to give the Crown back to the subs.  Option 1) I could replace the pre-pro with a good receiver, and use the three Krell channels for the L/C/R and the receiver amps for the rears and possibly some height channels.  Or, Option 2) I could buy a nice stereo amp to drive the L/R and use the three Krells for center and rears.  Option 3) I could replace the Krell with a new 5 channel amp, try to repair and sell it.

Option 2 appeals to me.  Getting a musical but powerful stereo amp to make music on the 2.3s sound as good as I can get them sounds like the most fun and potentially rewarding.  But I don't know anything about amps and would love to discuss options with y'all.  Thoughts?

I sent the impedance phase graph to adcom asking if my adcom 5800 would be able to drive 3.6. They said assuming you listen at normal levels you’ll do just fine. Anyone have any idea on luxman m-117? It’s claimed it can run 2 ohms all day 820 watts.
therealpupalei

Welcome! Good to see you here. We have a few 2.3 owners on The Panel.  Try option 2 for now while you await on of our 2.3 owners to chime in addressing your query. I look forward in reading more about your room/space. Enjoy the Music!

Happy Listening!