Fellow Thiel-ers. RE: 3.5's and amplifiers. Just a post for whatever it means to you. I've replaced a series of SS amps with a pristine used VTL ST-85 (paired with a Counterpoint SA-1000 preamp and a Counterpoint SA-2 headamp. Magic!
This amp is much better than the Audio Research D90b I used to use with these speakers (before the SS's.) The 85 is optimized for 5 ohms, exactly what the 3.5 needs (impedance 4 ohms to 6 ohms over most of its range.) The amp is rated and delivers 85wpc at that impedance, and has an absolutely flat power response down to 20hz according to the QC chart that came with mine. Bass of course is not equal to the SS's, being less controlling and tight. But oh my, the naturalness and 3D of these pieces even with less than optimum speaker environment is superb. And the power is sufficient to have normal listening levels in the next room when I am working at my computer.
BTW, the VTL also sounds superb with my 2 2's which are even more transparent, but I was expecting that. It is with the supposedly power hungry and "veiled" 3.5's that the surprise happened. As I sa id, make of it what you will.
This amp is much better than the Audio Research D90b I used to use with these speakers (before the SS's.) The 85 is optimized for 5 ohms, exactly what the 3.5 needs (impedance 4 ohms to 6 ohms over most of its range.) The amp is rated and delivers 85wpc at that impedance, and has an absolutely flat power response down to 20hz according to the QC chart that came with mine. Bass of course is not equal to the SS's, being less controlling and tight. But oh my, the naturalness and 3D of these pieces even with less than optimum speaker environment is superb. And the power is sufficient to have normal listening levels in the next room when I am working at my computer.
BTW, the VTL also sounds superb with my 2 2's which are even more transparent, but I was expecting that. It is with the supposedly power hungry and "veiled" 3.5's that the surprise happened. As I sa id, make of it what you will.