Thiel Owners

TY oblgny

unsound...
Funny,  I'm not getting that CJ "warmth" from the 200 as much as I did when I had the MF2100 a few years back,  but then I was also using a CJ preamplifier - I forget the model number - that,  I think,   imparted that perception of warmth.  I've been hooked on Audio Research for my preamplifiers ever since.  For me they seem to mate well with just about anything I've hooked up to it,  the only exception being a Musical Fidelity amp which was so colored it makes a CJ look like its black and white.

As the contributors to this post know,  "Thiels reveal" - everything in the chain associated with driving them.  I'm SO bloody sorry that I sold my Pass Labs X150.5 I can't begin to tell you.  Unfortunately the price has pretty much skyrocketed new/used or refurbed - double what I paid Mark at Reno Hifi for mine currently!

As my previous post documented I returned the Primare because I could not use it with my Thiel's eq.  I NEVER return anything.  I was offered a pair of Paradigm Prestige 95F's from my dealer at a silly price,  and though very tempted I refused.  

The only way I will part with these is when someone can pry them from my cold,  dead hands!

^Not at all surprised that the AR pre imparts less warmth than the c-j pre.
I too am a Pass fan. Perhaps you might enjoy Pass's previous products: Threshold. Which were reputed to be used by Jim Thiel when developing these earlier Thiels (& Pass used Thiels amongst others then too). Good examples should be considerably less expensive than more recent Pass Labs. Keep in mind that these older amps might need some refreshing: caps, bias, etc..

unsound...
Yeah,  I have seen a pretty good amount of Threshold pieces about the inter-web thingamabob but my skepticism about their provenance has kept me from actually dipping my toes in the proverbial waters.  Price wise they're certainly in my wheel house.

My guys around the corner just told me that they have a BAT VK3 preamplifier coming in soon - not certain of the exact model number - that they'll let me have for about $1k.  I've never had but always wanted to check out their stuff and maybe this is the perfect opportunity to tube front a class d amp!

What this all comes down to is that I am building a new system around my LOUDSPEAKERS - which some people here may think is backasswards...but what the heck.  I moved my Maggie 1.7's out and haven't looked back,  but when I have my original CS 3.5's to my nephew I haven't been able to look forward.  Thiels are THAT good.