Affordable Power for Thiel CS 2.0s

I would also echo the use of the CJ solid state (Motif and MF series), as the others have, I should have mentioned them earlier. And if you can get one of CJ's earlier Premiere tubed amps, you might not care about some slightly weaker bass!

Unsound is right, the Thiels following the CS2 and 3.5, while certainly not sounding shelved down in the highs, are not as forward-sounding and as tilted to the highs as the earlier models. Matching them with a forward-sounding amp might be a little too hard on the ears, at least at higher volumes.

I'm dissapointed with myself for not mentioning these earlier: Forte' 5 and 6. There are others in the line, but, I think the power or the cost make them less appealing in this application.

Another thought might be Classe'. Not my favorite of the three lines I mentioned, but, a worthy consideration.

More thoughts keep comming to mind. The next two are guarded recommendations. For some reason I seem to like the Bryston 3B ST much more than most others. With that said the 20 year transferable warranty sure makes it a sound used consideration. The VTL amps with their 5 Ohm output are a natural for the CS 2's. The VTL's tend to have better bass than most other tube amps. That said they don't work for me, as I find them too forward and pushy on the CS 2's. YMMV.

During the 17 years or so I owned the 2s I was quite happy driving them with a Precision Fidelty M-8, a conrad johnson Mv-75a1 and a Bryston 3B-ST. The last two amps I still own.
The Bryston was a very good match. The c-j was excellent imho. I also used a Hafler DH220 briefly and an Audionics CC3. The Audionics was okay. I did not like the Hafler-Thiel synergy. Heard a good demo with the 2s and an Electrocompaniet 100 watter many many moons ago.