Best Integrated Amp for Thiel CS 2.4 Speakers

thiels need juice... lotsa juice, and bass control - but driven right they are imaging champs, so need a unit that has excellent spatial resolution

think hegel 190 or 390, maybe a used ayre, or maybe even a nuprime ida 16 (not in same class as hegel or ayre, but quite good)

My 2021 KRELL K-300i  sounded great on my Thiel CS3.7. Smooth as butter with great bass. I am getting it back from KRELL next Wednesday after a front faceplate replacement. Send me a DM if interested in the unit. I may sell it because it is now a headphone amp for me (which is crazy). The first 90 watts on the KRELL are Class A.

The CODA CSiB was also great on the Thiel CS3.7 and is a bit cheaper used than the KRELL K-300i (with internal DAC). Is not as smooth nor the bass as strong but both of those maybe preferred. I had Version 1 with the first 18 watts in Class A.

I also tried a D-Sonic M3a 800s stereo amp on the Thiel CS3.7. It was not as preferred as the KRELL or CODA but it was pretty good and cost $1500 (I could have lived with it). You can get a preamp to hook up to that amp. I tried the Benchmark HPA4 (or LA4 at $2500) to compliment that amp and it was a match. I now use the Topping pre90 ($599) with another amp and it is a great preamp if you do not want the preamp to add anything. I tested the Topping pre90 with the D-Sonic amp but only with headphones, not the Thiel CS3.7.

I was also considering the NCore Class D amps with mega power for the Thiel but never got to it.  I have now settled on the CODA #8 amp with a CODA 07x preamp for the Thiel CS3.7.

There’s a McCormack DNA-225 and a Bryston BP-6 available here that’d come in well below $4k for both. Back in the day McCormack and Thiel showed together frequently, and I used a BP-6 with a DNA-0.5 (Rev A) with CS1.6es and it was an excellent match. The 0.5 provided the juice and some heft and both allowed the Thiels to throw an awesome 3D soundstage the speakers are capable of. I know they’re not an integrated, but I felt remiss not at least bringing this combo up given my experience.  You also have the future option of sending the DNA-225 to SMcAudio for their renown upgrades and go to another level entirely.  Anyway, just another option to consider, and best of luck.

gcarlton

Sound advice as above. Feel free to join Us over on the Thiel Owners thread. You will find several CS 2.4 fans and owners on The Panel.
I look forward in reading more about your musical tastes and system building.

Happy Listening!

You’ll need amplification capable of a minimum of 400 Watts per channel into 2 Ohms, and depending on room size and desired volume levels, you’ll probably be better of with at least double that. Slim pickings when it comes to intergrateds with such capabilities.