Cheap, good amplification for Thiel 1.5

default -- Mon, 09/07/2009 - 16:15

OK - So I blew my (modest) budget on a pair of Thiel 1.5s. Now I need to drive them. Since I currently have only a bottom-of-the-barrel Yamaha AV receiver (which will NOT be happy with the 4-ohm Thiels), I'm looking at a used AV preamp and stereo power amp off e-Bay. My proposed budget for amplification is about $1,200 TOTAL (preamp AND amp).
Options? In my budget (and needing both some power and current capacity for the Thiels), I may be looking at things like:
Carver, NAD, Rotel, Denon, Outlaw Audio, Adcom, or Yamaha
Would a warm-sounding AVR work with the Thiels if I sent the bass to a subwoofer and didn't ask the poor, wimpy AVR amps to drive below, say 60 Hz? Since my goal here is avoiding solid-state brightness at all costs, what say you gurus? Thanks.

Robert Harley -- Tue, 09/08/2009 - 14:04

With your budget, I'd look for an upper-end AVR rather than separates. Although separate power amplifiers often have more robust output stages than those of AVRs, I think you'll get more for your money with an AVR. Keep in mind that AVRs with THX certification must meet certain power-output requirements. The "THX Select" certification has relaxed requirements for output power; look for the full THX certification.

Boomzilla -- Sun, 09/20/2009 - 13:48

WOW - I never thought I'd actually get a response from the REAL Robert Harley - Thanks for your input! I've enjoyed reading your reviews for many years now in various magazines.

I'll take your advice to aude (the aural equivalent of vide?) the high-ticket receivers. Since I'll, unfortunately, be unable to actually listen in my home with my speakers, might you have any suggestions regarding any brand that might meet all of the following needs?

My requirements are many - I need 100 watts + to make the Thiels sound dynamic, I need 4-ohm capability to prevent the puppy from melting, I need sophisticated bass management to deal with the various center & surrounds, I need electronic room management to cancel out reflections and dips, I need USB hard-drive input and on-screen software to select media, and I need CLEAN sound with NO treble peakiness. That's a full pot of needs, even for a high-end AVR.

You're my only hope, Robert-Wan-Kenobe! THANKS!

A good sense of humor makes it ALL sound better!

Larry Ford (not verified) -- Sun, 01/03/2010 - 13:31

Does anyone know specifics of the Thiel 1.5 woofer?

Thanks

BRsound -- Sun, 01/17/2010 - 17:18

If you don't mind spending some 800 bucks more, you'd be very happy with
the WYRED 4 SOUND Integrated Amplifier, the STI-500 ( $ 1,999.00) with a
three year warranty.
It's POWERFUL ( 250 Watts into 8 Ohms / 500 Watts into 4 Ohms)
It's SMALL ( 17" Width x 4" Height and 14.5" Depth )
It looks nice.

I've got a couple of their monoblocks and they are pretty reliable.

Boomzilla -- Sun, 01/17/2010 - 21:09

Thanks - I'll check it out.

A good sense of humor makes it ALL sound better!

TomH -- Mon, 01/18/2010 - 20:55

FYI , the Denons sound pretty good but don't like 4 ohm loads. We have 3 in the A/V dept. at work, all have gone back for repair . They come back with the warning, " Use only 8 ohm speakers".

BRsound -- Mon, 01/18/2010 - 21:15

" Use only 8 ohm speakers "

Any amplifier who behaves like that should be sold at "TOYS R' US" !!!!
There are no real-life speaker whose load doesn't go to 4 or even 3,5 ohms.
It's a confession that it simply doesn't offer enough CURRENT to drive serious speakers.

At least could they be RECYCLED ?

A/V Receivers are meant to Home Theater's purposes basically.
We really can't demand a top-notch sound from them, but from
the flagship models, who cost as much as a good dedicated
amplifier and preamp...such as the duo Parasound P-3 matched
with an A21 amplifier.

ssettle -- Tue, 01/19/2010 - 22:18

Have you considered the Simaudio i-0.5 or i-1? They deliver 80wpc and 100wpc respectively @ 4ohms and won't break the bank. I've been doing a lot of listening to reasonable integrateds lately and these are particulary nice. The Naim Nait 5i is pretty good, but may not pair as well with the Thiel. Might also be a good idea to scan AudiogoN for some decent preowned stuff. Names like Arcam, Primare, Simaudio, Naim and maybe the new Vincent sv-236 mkii which is a hybrid integrated amp with gobs of power...and very well review by TAS to boot...
Just some random thoughts from an audio crazed mind...
Good hunting!
Steve

ssettle -- Tue, 01/19/2010 - 22:18

TomH -- Wed, 01/20/2010 - 18:41

Check out the NAD A/V recievers, lots of usefull features AND full rated power into 4 ohms.IHF dynamic power into 2 ohms, this is the stuff needed to drive real speakers at real levels without shutting down or other problems.Have fun!