Amp upgrade for Thiel CS 3.7

michaeljbrown

I'm sorry for what happened to you CS6 that's a shame!
Hope you will get them fixed properly.
Looking forward to your experience on your CS6.
I've seen a very nice pair for under 3000 $.

Jafant

Really happy for you that you were able to grab a pair of CS 2.4SE.
These are beautiful and rare one the used market.
Wish you luck on completing your reference system.
The Mark Levinson n° 585 is actually a verry good match for the CS 3.7, i know someone who has that combo.
I just ordered the n° 519 network player to replace his Aurender.

I'm not going to buy that Krell 700cx, it hasen't been recapted the owner told me.

I've been speaking to Steve McCormack lately and he sumitted me the idea of his latest reference system SMC Audio as an option for me.
Looks like he's making some very nice gear with his new company.
I'm considering this option seriously.

Thieliste

Keep me posted- thieliste

Hi Thieliste,

I recommend that you seriously consider a Classe’ DR-9 (or two). You should be able to find a nice one for around $1k. Have the seller send it to Classe’ to install a refurb kit (new power transistors and critical caps). I have one that has this "upgrade" and it sounds ridiculously good with my 5i’s. None of the dark sound of my DR-25 and has much more energy than my other "stock" DR-9. Very open, dynamic, tonally rich, and slams in the bass. Excellent imaging and a BIG soundstage. I much prefer its sound to my Krell FPB-600c with my 5i’s. None of the grain and slightly over-prominent upper-mids and treble of the Krell that is problematic with the Thiels.

Just make sure to use it (and all early Classe’ amps) with the single-ended (RCA) inputs as the XLR inputs use an op-amp in the circuit and sound much less open and dynamic as a result.

Best to you Thieliste,
Dave

I've gone through most amps available on the market in the past few years and i came to the conclusion that the best one of them all for Thiel CS 3.7s is the Gryphon Diablo 300 by a wide margin.For any future Thiel CS 3.7 owner i've done the job for you, just get a Diablo 300 and don't look back.

^Just because it might suit you, doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the best choice for all. Some with particularly large rooms, might be better off with more powerful amplification commensurate with the CS 3.7’s power capabilities, and depending on sources might find some of the other capabilities of the Diablo superfluous.