What new tube amplifiers are good for Thiel CS7

If I were to keep the Levinson 332 amp and elect just to replace the Levinson 38 preamp with a tube preamp, what would be the best alternatives with an $8000 budget limit? is this an type of upgrade worth such an expense?

If you have a very deep pocket then go for the 220watts otl by Berning.

Dear Audpulse: Are you really recommending an OTL amplifier design for those Thiel's?, if yes then IMHO you have no single idea of what means matching speaker electrical impedance curve with an amplifier output impedance and obviously you don't have idea why that speaker/amplifier impedance matching is a must to have.

On this subject tube OTL amplifier design is the worst of the worst choice for those speakers, please read about Ohm Law before give that kind of advise.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.

Raul,are you familiar with the Berning 220 watts otl ? I do not need to read Ohms Law. The same kind of expression you showed is what others have showed when I mention the Berning otl. Go read the design specs. on the otl. This otl is not like the conventional otl you see out there. After that, seek out the amp and have a listen. There is no speaker out there that this otl will not drive with ease.

Dear Audpulse: David Berning is a designer from what I have great respect, IMHO he and Ralph ( Atmasphere ) are the ones that really bring the tube technology to a different league understanding the tube technology " problems " and though their designs solving many of those " problems ".

Even that and as good are the Berning items the trouble with the Thiel 7's is its electrical impedance curve that needs a very low amplifier output impedance to handle " seamless " in favor of quality performance.

These are the output impedance specs on the today top of the line amplifier Quadrature ZH270 that for a tube and OTL design is really good ( btw, Ralph use the OTL " road " on amplifiers. ):

" Typical output impedance (measured at 1 amp, 60 Hz): 0.8 ohms, NORM feedback; 2 ohms, MED feedback; 5 ohms, LOW feedback. "

IMHO it is not enough, those impedance values are higher that what Thiel's are asking for.
Maybe you could think that 0.8 ohms is a good one but even this does not made a good match and in this amplifier design you " pay " a fee because for you can get 0.8 ohm the feedback goes at 12db in that top of the line amplifier.
I'm still tink that you need for those speakers at least: 0.1 ohm in amplifier output impedance.

Now, you can choose whatever you want and this depend of what you are looking for, I almost look for excellence and this kind of level always needs a very carefully decisions on audio items.

Regards and enjoy the music,
raul.