tubes with thiel, meadowlark or revel

If you are considering the Kestrel 2s, you should also look into a pair of Shearwater Hotrods (I doubt that you'll find Ospreys within your budget). While I haven't heard the Kestrel 2s, I lived with a pair of Shearwaters for over a year and I was duly impressed.

Good luck!

From the speakers on your list I would choose the Kestrel 2's.

I have been a big fan of the Meadowlarks owning Kestrel HR's , Shearwater HR's and Kestrel 2's. I also enjoyed a pair of Audio Physic Virgo II's and didn't enjoy a pair of Virgo III's.

I sold the Kestrel 2's after hearing the JTM's from www.carolinaaudio.com ($1500) they are just simply the best I have heard at home. The transmission line is so much more accurate sounding then the Meadowlarks going deeper and with much better definition without any thickness or congestion in the midbass.

I really can't say enough about them. They are a single driver speaker but offer more extension at the extremes than the 2-way Kestrel 2's. They offer an amazing amount of detail in the most effortless way.

They're definately worth a listen and there is an in home trial which I took advantage of.

Ok, I hate to add to the list when the post is specificly asking about certian speakers, but I must just this once, sorry. Magnapan 1.6 and the VTL amps would be unbelievable and the Maggies cost about 1700 new. Some speakers work better with tubes than others and also depending on the match with modern tube sound or old fashon like VTL, the Maggies work with the VTL sound just perfect!! Vocals are on the world class level for cheap dollars. Ok so rock will not be the Maggies best type of music but it will be fine and with much less ear strain over long listening sessions.

Marakanetz, et al are right on. I'd suggest the Meadowlarks.

Just want to say thanks to everyone for your opinions, you have no idea how helpful you have been.

Any thoughts on running the Thiel 2.3s with the VTLs?

Thanks so much.