Thiel Owners

I used a Bryston 4B with mine. No distortion at louder levels.

The 3.5 is a remarkably good speaker. I’ve had 3 pairs paired to amps that were capable of 300 watts into a 4,ohm load.  I never came remotely close to that.  

The bas eq is indeed a must for making them sound as Thiel intended.  Though I’ve never blown a speaker in my life the 3.5 mids do not suffer abuse well. If you can make sure they’re working prior to purchase - the repair/investment is about $300 apiece if they aren’t. 

And worth every penny.  I had a pair repaired by Rob a few years ago. 

oblgny
You are the 3.5 resident expert. Thank You for chiming in my Brother.Not only did you own the (3) pairs, you had a plethora of gear constructed for each pair that offered a unique aural experience.  I can hardly await to read about your next Thiel loudspeaker acquisition.

Happy Listening!

Hope you guys in the Carolinas are safe and seeking shelter from Hurricane Florence.

Long ago and far away, I once heard a pair of 3.5s that took my breath away. The owner had set them up in a very nice room, constructed of plaster on structural brick with 2: 6' pocket doors and openable windows on one side. So, the room was effectively non-resonant and adjustable.
The speakers flanked the fireplace, creating a varied reflective surface. 12' ceiling height. Magnificent.

That pair had dual inputs; I don't remember whether that was standard or a modification. The amps were Phase Linear 400s, top notch in 1980. Each amp drove one speaker, with one channel driving the bass and the other the mid-highs. Same amps, same cables on all 4 circuits. Equalizer affecting only the woofers.

What a trip.