Keep that Classe, kdross. I've run a Thiel/Classe pairing for over two decades now. And you cannot better it. Believe me, I've tried. The electrical and timbral match is perfect. The closest on tone was a big Threshold, but it lacked the dynamic headroom and full resolution of the Classe that these Thiels often demand. The Krells are a little too iron-fisted with Thiels, which thrive on the finer tonal nuances of any good amp. The legacy Classe amps present a slightly finer tonal palette on a Thiel than the Krells as you climb the octaves.
One tip on the older legacy Classe amps: Once you get about 20-25 years out, they really do benefit from a full recap. After extended conversations with their service techs and customer service department, and upon their recommendation, I recently recapped my old CA series.
Classe designers used exclusively Nichicons during that era, and all the capacitor families they specified in the early models have since been superseded by Nichicon with improved audio-grade versions.
It was about a 75 capacitor job. I do my own work, so the total cost was only about $250 for the parts. But once given about 100 hours to settle in, the older Classe is even better than new. Everything improves up a notch, and absolutely nothing is lost. It revived into a real sonic tiger, and a perfect pairing with the Thiels. Jaw-dropping, actually. Dynamics through the roof with spectacular tonal nuance. Now it's good for another two decades . . . and I probably won't care by then. Highly recommended.
