Amp upgrade for Thiel CS 3.7

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.

No you don't need more power, taste is another thing.

^” No you don’t need more power...”for a larger room?
You might not, but somebody else might.