Thiel 1.6 vs Proac 1.5

Tom, I'd suggest that what you are hearing is that the 2102 (or other tube amp) is a much better match for the Thiels because its particular colorations tend to cancel the speakers' own colorations. Neither one of them are perfectly neutral, but when paired they can sound better than either alone. The opposite will occur with the McCormack/Thiel combo, where the colorations will be additive and thus much more noticeable.

Break-in! Which-ever you get, please make sure you break the speakers in very thoroughly. My unbroken in Thiel 2.3's had no bass for a few hours, then one-note bass for a dozen or more hours, then finally, remarkable bass. Same for lean-ness in the midrange, except that this took well over 100 hours to disapate.. Similar experience with my Proac 2.5's. Unfortunately, given how new the Thiel 1.6 is, any in-store demo will likely be with unbroken in models. Sigh.

Both speakers want 150W plus in a medium sized or larger room. Use a warmish amp like the Plinius 8200 and warmish cables like Cardas and the Thiel 1.5 is not at all harsh. Can't comment on the 1.6. The Proac 1.5 needs a bit more open accompaniments to get them to be lively.

Personally I find the Thiel 1.5 to be very musically engaging, more so than the Thiel 2.3.

Both are good but ProAc has that certain undefinable (but definately hearable) "magic"...like the Thiel, love the ProAc.

I listened to them side by side, in a mccormack arcam system, went with the thiel. I was expecting the proac to be more forgiving than the thiel, but it wasn't. The thiel bass was better defined, and I think the thiel was more detailed. I'm breaking the Thiels in now.

Thanks!