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Affordable Power for Thiel CS 2.0s

No $$. My Audio Reseach D125 gave-up and I am questioning the wisdom of paying to fix it. Never had enough power for the Theils. Tested against much higher power Haflers and Adcoms. Power sounded better, just couldn't live the the sound quality. I see the VT-20 monoblocks here and it fits my meager budget but I've never heard them. for $650 I doubt that I'd find better on the used market. Thoughts? Suggestions?
largelylivin0974
unsound
7,329 posts
 
Another thought might be Classe'. Not my favorite of the three lines I mentioned, but, a worthy consideration.
unsound
7,329 posts
 
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.
stne418
91 posts
 
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.
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