I just thought I would post since my current setup is sort of along the lines this thread took.
To qualify I do have some Thiel speakers, but the previous owner ran them with too weak an amp and now they only sound good at low volume, they are awaiting new tweeters.
To get to the gist of it, I am now using Von Schweikert Audio VR2 speakers, driven by Bryston PP120 amps. My Bryston preamp is currently sitting in its box with a label on it to go to Bryston for a repair, I attempted to go from my DAC, straight to amps, this was a bit, well, a lot too loud, so I bought a cheap passive pre off of ebay, It cost less than fifty dollars, so now my cd transport, and computer connect to my DAC which connects XLR to the pre, then six foot XLR to each mono block.
The sound is so to speak delicious, the best audio I have experienced in many years. Since my Ohm Walsh days anyway.