Thiel Owners

Questions about the proper amp for Thiel speakers come often up here. I would answer such a question by inquiring what is your standard and weakest link in the chain. I have yet the standard for myself to have a resolving chain of 16 bits or better, which translates to a thd+noise of each component better then 96 dB. With a streaming source of music or a high quality cd player, the (pre) amp becomes the weak link. Here is a link to a database of amplifier measurements by 3rd parties.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZlTOYxmPs938gqHjtDABkWS-MApu7uJjzIGnJ2Elm6Y/edit?usp=sharing
Benchmark leads the list and hypex based amps are well represented near the top. For the diy, the plate amps of hypex are a great and affordable option to have a complete digital chain from beginning to end. 

I don’t think my audire forte should be leaping to 1v on start up and shut down.

Thielrules - thank you for posting that amp list. There is a fairly widespread belief among audio pros that audiophiles prefer distortion to provide qualities they call "fullness, richness, lushness, warmth", etc. I must confess that it took me quite some time living with the Benchmark AHB-2 to appreciate its lean directness as being correct. I now delight in its simple clarity and hear other amps as adding artifacts. 
I am using a PS Stellar Gain Cell DAC/Pre. It's nice, but PS gear lands pretty far down the list. I am coveting a listen to the Benchmark DAC/Pre. Is there a similar list of preamps?

Check audiosciencereview.com for their listing of reviewed dacs with pre-amps. 

Speaking of the Benchmark DAC3B and the LA4 Pre -- Paul Seydor has a nice review of these along with considerable mention of the AHB-2 in this month's online Absolute Sound.
Todd