2. amps-preamps
  3. 1333909767

Need info on amp rec. for these Thiel cs2.4's

Ok, this is my last attempt before I have Crutchfield take the speakers back.

let me say that when things on these speakers sound right it trully is amazing. On most other average CD recordings though the speakers sound tends towards the brighter side. I just recently purchased a NAD M51 DAC and it helped and is a first rate piece of equipent - I have a review on Audiogon if your interested. However, while Im generally happy with the speakers I think either I need to change the amp or get a CJ preamp - ET2 (or similar). Im using the NAD to drive the Amp (a Vincent sp331 - 150 @ 8 ohms and 300 at 4 ohms) directly so no preamp at this time. I hooked up my friends 5082 Adcom for kicks and the treble is good there, but there is no space or dimension to the music. Thus my thoughts on changing the amp. Its flat. He also has a VTL 2.5 preamp that helps by the virtue that it is a tube piece and helps plump up the mids while softening the highs (thus my thoughts of CJ preamp). However sticking a piece of equipment in between the source and amp seems like a backwards step.

Im dedicated to at most $3500 dollars to bring the system in line for the hights. Problem is I have nowhere near me that I can go to listen to the equipment before purchase so its all online for me, so I'd need to be able to puchase it that way. Im not a big fan of used but I could go there if necessary.

Some thoughts on amps:

Channel Islands d200 MKII
Parasound Halo 21

Preamp thoughts:

CJ ET-2
Rogue 99

What my thoughts on what the amp should do is be warm, solid state, not emphsize the highs obviously, balanced or unbalanced, and have at leat near if not more that 300w into 4 ohms. I've heard dampening is important with Thiels but not sure what the numbers mean.

Please any thoughts would be appreciated on my situation here.

My urgency in this is I have till May 17th before I need to tell Crutchfield to take them back.

Now I do really like the speakers and I know many people will tell me to do just that - they are so close to being "there"! But let's use that as a last resort on info here b/c I know I have that option.
last_lemming
last_lemming OP
639 posts
 
Mezmo,

I hope your right. I keep hearing about no "emotion" in class d amps, but every professional review, save one, and almost all people who personally own the Channels really seem to like them. I never 100% trust professional critics - just cant really tell where their true intentions lie with advertisers and all. Most of the reviews of the Channels are of the older D200's not the newer D200 MKii which evidently improves the whole product top to bottom. If it turns out there is no "emotion" to these amps that may not bode well for the Thiels since they can sound analytical. Add to that the fact that I will want to drive them directly with my NAD DAC it could spell disaster - though the NAD sounds very, VERY nice. But I'll have a coulple of preamps to throw on them just to see. I could buy a used ARC preamp or CJ preamp just to see if the tubes "add" anything, but one step at a time. haha
djohnson54
396 posts
 
You might try a McCormack DNA-1 or DNA-0.5. They can be found on the 'Gon for $500-$700 all the time. They have a higher input sensitivity since they were designed mostly for McCormack's passive preamps which should be a plus if you still want to drive them w/o a preamp. If you still have a bright sound, it won't be the amp.

Also, don't forget that you can face the speakers toward each other wired out of phase and play white noise through them to speed the break-in process.

Dick
unsound
7,329 posts
 
Everything Dick, posts is true, but IMO the McCormack amps tend to be somewhat forward, something that might not compliment the Thiels.
audionuts
74 posts
 
Chuck,
I did the same thing like you did with Thiel 3.6. Thiel and CJ sound wonderful although The best combination I had in my room years back then was Thiel 3.6 and MCCormack DNA-1 rev.A deluxe edition in mono block configuration.
djohnson54
396 posts
 
Unsound, I've never heard the Thiels, just what I've read about their characteristics and requirements over the years. However, I've never heard anyone describe the McCormack amps as "forward." I'm using a DNA-0.5 Deluxe with a pair of Merlin VSM-MXes and it sounds wonderful. On the other hand, I also don't run direct into the amp which I think would tend to push everything forward anyway.
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