Thiel Owners

I have the 3.7 speakers. This past summer I introduced two AHB2 amps to replace my Classe ca 300 which was having problems. They sounded so good I moved to an all Benchmark system soon thereafter: DAC 3B (replaced a Berkeley Alpha DAC Series 2, smoked it), LA4 pre and AHB2 with all Benchmark cabling.

I ran the two AHB2s in bridged mode at first, then tried just one amp. I have to say, the single amp sounds better -- better harmonic purity, focus and all the volume I need for massive orchestral music in my 19 x 20 room. I've had it as loud as anyone would want, and no clipping.

So that's my system: Thiel 3.7 and all Benchmark along with an Aurender N10 server. It sounds _fabulous_ . I've had a life as a professional classical musician with constant interaction with venues and ensembles large and small. The Benchmark AHB2 has an extraordinary purity and depth,  no coloration, just the music, with instruments placed perfectly in the stage. No problem hearing into dense tone clusters in, say, Messiaen's orchestral music. Dynamics, transients, timbre is just as it should be, or rather, as it  is. I feel at this point that that's it, no need to look further.

I should add that most of the listening in our house is not "massive orchestral music," more solo instrument or small ensemble of one sort or another. But the power is there if you need it. That, from a single 100 watt stereo amp.

I'm on a roll...Benchmark has a free 30 day trial for all components and the people are well informed, helpful and personable. Plus the product price presents extraordinary value. There you have it.

And, yes,Tom, I remember discussing this with you via email this summer. We both thought the stereo setup was better as I recall.Todd

" thieliste - what's the price tag?Anybody tried the new PS Audio 1200 watt monos? They state 2ohms as suitable for musical transients, so I donno."

Not using the PS Audio 1200W monos.  It uses the IcePower AS1200 modules with their own custom (12AU7) tube input buffer.  I have an EVS 1200 which has two of the same mono input modules with a custom mods and buffer designed by Ric Schultz.  No problems driving my Thiel 3.7s to insanely loud levels and they are between two and three ohms over much of the band (there were a couple of magazine tests that measured the minium impedance of 2.4 and 2.3 ohms).  Before that, I had an unmodded (Mivera Audio) AS1200 stereo amp which easily drive the 3.7s better in all respects to a well know Class A/B amp (and I had another well know Class A/B amp before that).  Those are no my opinions alone, as I had others over who heard the prior amps.  

The module spec sheet says 2.7s ohms minimum, but that is there for people in large concert venues piggybacking speakers, and, while I'm sure they have a limit (I'd be hesitant to try them with old Infinity Kappas which I believe went down to something like a minimum of 1.3 ohms).  I'd imagine the PS Audio amps are really nice.  I don't really have the space for monoblocks (have an integrated A/V system) so it is really not something on my wishlist but I'm sure they sound great.