Tube Amp recommendation for Thiel CS1.6 under $2k


Noticed a lot of tube amps have low wattage ratings and my Thiels say 50-300W.

Have a 24’ x 18’ and looking for a recommendations or thoughts on best integrated or power amp (ideally vintage) to drive them nicely.

 

uthlidian

uthlidian

Feel free to join us over on Thiel Owners thread. There are a few fans and owners of model CS 1.6 speakers on The Panel.

 

Happy Listening!

gs5556

Feel free to join us over on Thiel Owners thread. There are several fans and owners of model 3.6 loudspeakers on The Panel.

 

Happy Listening!

 

For low impedance loudspeakers there is only one tube power amp I would suggest: the Music Reference RM-200 Mk.2. The amp was designed specifically for low impedance loads, a job at which it excels. Do a Google search and read all about it. Reviewed by Michael Fremer in Stereophile (in both original and Mk.2 iterations), residing in the mag’s Recommended Components list Class A Tube Amp category for many years.

I don’t know what you mean by "vintage", but the RM-200 was introduced in 1998, the Mk.2 version a little over a decade later. It typically sells used (of course) for around $3000, a real bargain. I’ve owned ARC, Atma-Sphere, and Music Reference tube power amps, and have settled on MR for my remaining years. They’re all great, but for low impedance loads the RM-200 is the one to go with. IMO, of course.

Power output is 100 watts, and from just a single pair of KT88 or 6550 tubes per channel! The Atma-Sphere M-60, in contrast, uses 8 output tubes (16 for a stereo pair) to produce only 60 watts, and is not well suited to low impedance loads.

$3000 is 50% more than your $2000 budget, but $2000 is unfortunately just not doable. Save up, or sell something else!

 

I drive my Thiel 1.5s with a Musical Fidelity M6si in a similar size room.  Not tube, but plenty of power. But it goes about 3K.   Never tried the M5si which is about 2K but less power.  Works for me.  YMMV.