Which surr/proc to go w/ Krell & Thiels?

Thanks for the tip on Theta Glen. Actually, I've never considered them due to price. But, I'm sure a Casablanca
would sound great! I'm curious, why did you get rid of your Thiel/Theta combination?

I have a pair of CS3.6's, with an SCS3 center and some older AR surrounds. While my amplification is not up to your level (I have two Adcom GFA-555II's in bridged mono pumping 850w into each of the 3.6's, and an Adcom GFA-2535 feeding the center (bridged) and surrounds), I am very happy with the results that I am getting out of my Rotel RSP-1066. The store that I bought it from (Progressive Audio, in Columbus, Ohio) said that the Krell Showcase was their highest recommendation, but that if you didn't want to (or weren't able to) pay its asking price, the Rotel RSP-1066 was nearly as good for a far lower price. I would love to have all Krell in the preamp/amp department one day, but in the meantime, the Rotel/Adcom setup works well.

How do you like your Merlins with the Thiels? My AR's are nice sounding speakers, but their voicing is a good bit different than the Thiels. So far, in surround use, I haven't really noticed, but I would like to pick up an SACD player within the next year, and my guess is that the different voicings will become more apparent when I do.

Tom.

Tom, thanks for the response. The Krell Showcase is probably a good choice since I have thier amp. I haven't played my Merlins since I got the Thiel 3.6s five years ago. They've been in storage waiting to be used for surrounds. I'm not expecting too much from them, except to give me a better sense of ambience. I currently own a Melos hybrid stereo preamp, so I haven't had a chance to listen to anything other than 2 channels. But, I'm getting closer!

I have a setup very similar to yours. I have Thiel 3.6's on the front, an MCS1 for the center. I have Krell KAV 2250/3250 amps. I use the Krell Showcase pre-pro that I got used on Audiogon for less than 3 grand. I have been extremely pleased. It works just as well for music as movies.

Highly recommended.

FWIW, I have since upgraded my amplification significantly to Theta Enterprise monoblocks on the CS3.6's, and Theta Intrepid powering the rest. I have also added a Velodyne DD-12 (great upgrade!). I still have the RSP-1066, but my next upgrade (after my Modwright tweaked Denon 5900 comes in) will probably be to either the Krell HTS 7.1 or the EAD Theatermaster 8800 Pro. I was incorrect in my prior post about the Showcase being my dealer's "highest recommendation." They really like the Showcase for the money, but sonically, the HTS 7.1 or Theta CasablancaIII woudl be their highest recommendation. Of course, they don't sell EAD.