Thiel 3.6, what will drive them best?

A buddy of mine has the M-200s what they use Plitron transformers in his pair. He also uses one of the Musical Concepts mods which really improved them. I had a DH-220 Hafler completely modified by Musical Concepts, close to $2700 for the mods (but I purchased the amp used for less) and it was a killer SS amp. Balls to the walls power, room shaking bass, very fast and very dynamic, with frequency extension at both ends plus it was very musical for SS. I prefer tube sound so I use tubes myself with speakers that do not require big watts to drive them.

Hope this helps. The Aragon and Parasound amps are also good alternatives. I am not a fan of the Bryston sound. The Carver signature series power amp is also a consideration.

Happy Listening.

What qualities made you prefer the M200's over the HCA2200?

It was multiple factors. Sonically, both are excellent, but I thought the M200s were a little more neutral and warmer. The HCA2200 runs hot, indeed generates a good deal of heat which in the summer was an issue in my room. The M200s can put out heat too, but not as much. Finally, I prefer mono blocks for placement purposes, in most situations.

Thank you, the M200s are in the running. Heat is bad.

Ron

Regarding your question about bridging: if I'm not mistaken, most amps bridged require an 8 ohm load. With the 3.6s rated at 4 ohms (and averaging just under 3) that would be a very tough task.

One thought,
The McCormack DNA 1 is a fine amplifier that has stood the test of time.
It's WAY better than a number of the recommended amps with the Thiels and can be found on Audiogon for 900-1100.
A good choice that has been a proven match for the 3.6's