Intregrated Amp for Thiel 2.4 s

I just auditioned the Thiel 2.4's with the Musical Fidelity KW500 yesterday in Illinios. I actually went to audition the conrad-johnson Premier 17LS2. I spent four hours listening to the c-j with Vienna Acoustics speakers. Then the Musical Fidelity KW500 (I have MF equipment myself) with the Vienna Acoustics speakers.

The salesman then brought in the Thiel 2.4's and set them up with the KW500. It was unbelievable! He told me that my MF A308cr Power Amp at 250 wpc in 8 ohms/450 wpc into 4 ohms would work fine too. I'm looking into selling my B&W Silver Signature's and getting the 2.4's too now.

You can check my system out here, and also see that I used to own the Krell KRC-3 and KSA-50S combo and replaced it with the Musical Fidelity A308cr pre-amp and amp combo.

Chuck

Jazzdude is correct. I tried a VK-300x on my 2.4's and it just didn't work for me. They need some power. I'm using a GamuT D200 and the sound is significantly better with more authority. I'd say the W-5 would be a good choice also.

Thank you for your advices, guys. Jassdude, would you please explain more on damping factor and interaction with speakers. I have taken some EE in college but I love to learn more. Vgrubb, sorry for late feedback. Krellman, how do the 308 separates compare to trivista and kw500.?

I thought damping factor is increased by having negative feedback, which is view by some to have bad sonic implications. Increased damping factor means the fluctuation in speaker impedance would introduce less variation in the amp's performance. Therefore, sonic gain in lowfeedback amp needs to be weighted against the stability of output into varying impedance.

Please correct me if i am wrong. I cannot be offended.

Glai,

I don't know how the A308cr pre-amp and amp compare to the Tri-Vista or KW500 integrated's.

I'm sure a MF dealer or the US distributer, Signal Path, 'http://www.signalpathint.com/', could give you an honest evaluation. They've always emailed me right back on any questions I've had.

Before they were discontinued (just recently) their price was $2800.00 for the pre-amp and $4000.00 for the amp. They were made in England and have the Choke-Regulated power supplies. From what I understand, they are heads and tails above the A3.2 cr pre-amp and amp.

To give you an idea of how good the amp is supposed to be, I called Sound By Singer to see about trading in the amp for a conrad-johnson Premier 350, $8,000.00, and the salesman told me to keep the amp, that I didn't know how good it was. If the salesman gave up the commission on an $8000.00 purchase in telling me that, what do you think?

There are reviews on the internet that rave about it. It's supposed to one of the most neutral amps on the market. Like I said, after hearing them while waiting for my Tri-Vista 21 DAC to arrive, I traded my Krell pre-amp and amp in the next week on them.

Chuck