[Jonathan]

I have speakers and amps that are just not ideally suited to each other; namely a pair of Thiel CS 3.6 speakers and some Quicksilver Silver Mono tube amps (90 wpc). I am trying to decide whether to buy new speakers to mate with the amps, or a new solid state amp to drive the Thiels.

I really do like the speakers, so (for now) I'm wondering if there's anyone out there in the NE Ohio area who has a high powered, high current SS amp who might be looking to get into tubes instead. I would contemplate a trade (in part or in whole) of my amps for yours. Again, the amp needs to be high powered and high current.

The "catch" is I would have to hear your amp in my rig first before deciding. I'm proposing a get together at my place. You could bring over some tunes, drink a beer (wine, coffee, milk, water?) and do some comparing. Let me know if this might be of interest. Thanks for looking.

Jon

[doug s.]

I have speakers and amps that are just not ideally suited to each other; namely a pair of Thiel CS 3.6 speakers and some Quicksilver Silver Mono tube amps (90 wpc). I am trying to decide whether to buy new speakers to mate with the amps, or a new solid state amp to drive the Thiels.

I really do like the speakers, so (for now) I'm wondering if there's anyone out there in the NE Ohio area who has a high powered, high current SS amp who might be looking to get into tubes instead. I would contemplate a trade (in part or in whole) of my amps for yours. Again, the amp needs to be high powered and high current.

The "catch" is I would have to hear your amp in my rig first before deciding. I'm proposing a get together at my place. You could bring over some tunes, drink a beer (wine, coffee, milk, water?) and do some comparing. Let me know if this might be of interest. Thanks for looking.

Jon

years ago, i heard thiel 3.5's - a much harder load to drive than 3.6's - being driven quite nicely in a ~16x22 room w/a pair of 60w quicksilver mono blocks.  i am surprised this isn't a good match - exactly what's lacking?

doug s.

[Jonathan]

exactly what's lacking?

doug s.

Hi Doug,

All I hear about the Thiels from others is how important it is to have a high current, high powered amp on them. Frankly, neither of the two ss amps I have owned (PS Audio HCA-2 and Aragon 8002) sounded nearly as good as the Quicksilvers, particularly on well recorded, smaller scale music (regardless of the genre). That said, both ss amps handled the bottom better. And although the Thiel midrange is as good as I've every heard in my system, I still miss a tad of high end extension and feel as if they're losing clarity and coherence on large scale music. 

 I guess I am curious to hear how a high quality ss amp would sound versus the Quicksilvers. Something like a Levinson, Pass, or Classe, with tons of power and high current capabilities.

[doug s.]

exactly what's lacking?

doug s.

Hi Doug,

All I hear about the Thiels from others is how important it is to have a high current, high powered amp on them. Frankly, neither of the two ss amps I have owned (PS Audio HCA-2 and Aragon 8002) sounded nearly as good as the Quicksilvers, particularly on well recorded, smaller scale music (regardless of the genre). That said, both ss amps handled the bottom better. And although the Thiel midrange is as good as I've every heard in my system, I still miss a tad of high end extension and feel as if they're losing clarity and coherence on large scale music. 

 I guess I am curious to hear how a high quality ss amp would sound versus the Quicksilvers. Something like a Levinson, Pass, or Classe, with tons of power and high current capabilities.

i would add electrocompaniet to your list.  but, it's hard to imagine any solid state amp doing better than tubes in the treble...  bass - for sure...

but, what i would really recommend is an active outboard x-over, a pair of subwoofers, & a decent solid state amp to drive them.  free the thiels & the quicksilvers of ever seeing any frequencies below 80hz or so, & see how much better they sound in the upper ranges.  besides, how much better bass you will be getting w/properly dialed in subs...  

doug s.