Thiel Owners

@tmsrdg A shame you cannot use ROON (or JRiver). The Convolution file optimization is incredible. It fixes the room which I think is always the biggest hurdle to great sound at home. For me this a likely a bigger hurdle than most, because of the big speaker in a small room.

I had 3 filters made for me. The first was very good but needed a bit more bass presence. So I received a 2nd file that had a slight boost from 100 Hz down. That gave me a slight irritation in the ear. So we made a 3rd file that was half the bass adjustment between 1 and 2. This was the goldilocks filter, It was just right. This showed me it was not the amp that was deficient it was the room.

Today, I just found some extra money to buy some audio gear but I now have no need for anything. I was thinking of the Halo Audio May Level 3 DAC that people are raving about but I have 0 desire to change what I am hearing. This Benchmark stack is amazing. I currently streaming some 70’s BeeGees, with their huge bass lines, it sounds so good without fatigue.

@ solobone22

which specific piano recordings? I want to listen to what you are referencing.

Sure -- just off the top, Scarlatti 30 Sonatas, John Browning piano, Nimbus, 16/44;  Brahms 7 Fantasies,etc, Emanuel Ax piano, Sony,16/44 , also Mari Asakawa's excellent new recording of Elliott Carter pieces, Centaur, 24/96.
That's a good beginning cross section of venues, recording technique, piano touch and tonal balance. The Scarlatti doesn't have those lowest notes but is good for mid and upper mid.

All,

New to the board. Great informative reading. I learn a lot about matching and challenges one doesn’t always think of when getting new equipment.
I am currently running Magnipan 3.7 and Thiel CS2 (depending on my mood, love them both) from ole school Classe DR-15 amp/DR4 pre. Very very happy overall with the  sound on both but considering what going to a Pass Labs 250.8 might bring. Or maybe an upgrade to preamp?
(Also have Rega P8/Alpheta3/Rega Aria mk3/California Audio Labs CD).
 I know the Classe stuff is dinosaur so maybe not much experience here with that but it has served me remarkably well.
any thoughts would be appreciated.....Thanks.

@jmbumgarner01, FWIW, I clearly prefer the Pass Labs 250.8 to the Classe’ DR-15, but at what cost? I suspect the extra costs might be more rewarding if spent elsewhere. Perhaps, on newer digital sources, or upgraded Thiel’s?

Yeah those 250.8 are not cheap even used. I have been trying to score the 3.6 or maybe 3.7 so definitely aligned with you on that. 
Funny but just started researching DAC’s this morning and also streaming maybe Roon or Innuous. I have a fairly substantial collection of CD’s and vinyl but Tidal is pretty sweet, currently streaming from an Astell and Kern AK120 II portable.
For the price of the 250.8 could likely almost do all....appreciated.

also on the piano part of this thread
Rachmaninov Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Vladimir Ashkenazy London Decca