Thiel Owners

What is "radical divergence"

Some people like to listen at very high SPLs and have large rooms. They will need a LOT of power. Some people have smaller rooms and listen at moderate levels. They will need hardly any power.

I did some calculations for my CS2.4s. Thiel claimed a minimum impedance of 3 ohms and three reviewers measured the minimum ranging ~2.7-3.1 ohms. Assuming a *constant* 2.9 ohm load (a worst case scenario as the impedance dips this low only for part of the frequency spectrum) and ignoring room interactions, I need about 5.5 watts for 85 dB at the listening position, ~20 W for 90 dB, ~50 for 95 dB, and ~180 W for 100 dB. I estimate my amp clips at ~97 dB. But I very rarely ask for more than 90 dB peaks and most of my listening probably only requires 2-5 W. My amp has plenty of headroom for my listening preferences. Others may need more power. If you demand 105 dB peaks (sorry for your ears), you may need 500-750 W with something like the CS2.4, depending on room interactions!

So, someone like me needs <50 W but some others may need an order of magnitude more power. Radical divergence.

Clear and Beetle - thanks for the good question and the excellent answer and sorry to compress both into such a short two-word summary "radical divergence".

beetlemania...
Your post regarding driving your CS2.4's was MOST appreciated at this moment because I am about to tender an offer on a pair that's available locally here in New York.  (not the SE version) I just sold my Audio Research DSi200 integrated to assist funding it.  The seller is asking $1800. I'm offering $1400 - we'll see what develops.
My listening levels are pretty much in line with your own.  While I do listen at louder levels every once in a while,  most of my listening is done very conservatively.  Example:  I once sold a Threshold amplifier at a serious discount because I thought the meters were broken.  After the sale the buyer contacted me to say nothing was wrong - I just never listened loudly enough to get the meters moving.
At this moment I am once again enjoying the Maggie experience.  I love Maggies and I love Thiel.  My Maggie MMGi's frequency response is 50hz - 20khz - not much downstairs at my preferred listening volume.  Pushed a little bit,  just above that zone they do fill in nicely.  I can feel the bass.  But at lower volume...I find myself wanting.

Thiels do a much better job at reproducing that "feel" of the bass at lower listening levels - at least IMHO.  I'd keep these Maggies otherwise,  but this pair of 2.4's is tantalizing.
I'll be keeping the Belles 250i integrated.  Based on my previous experience with Thiel and Magnepan I just know this will be a fine synergy.  This Belles is outstanding.

Happy Friday! All