I had always heard that Thiel and Levinson are a match. I had been running a Levinson 27 with my old Thiel CS3's. I recently picked up a pair of 3.6's and, with the 27 (100 watts), there seemed to be something lacking.
I just (literally yesterday) added a Levinson 333 (300 watts) to the 3.6's and it made a HUGE difference. With sensitivity at 83db, they need POWER!
Now, they are remarkably improved -- soundstage, detail, both in the highs and the bass, clarity, etc. If you don't mind buying used, like I did, the 333 is in your price range. You could probably even find one, like mine, still under warranty.
I had been looking for a 332 (200 watts) and had even asked Wes Phillips by e-mail what he thought would be the way to go, including some options for tube monos, like the VTL's. He thought the 332 with the Thiels would be, in his word, "super." I was lucky enough to find a 333 someone was selling, used, for the price of a used 332 and jumped on it. I called Madrigal, first, and they gave me the "in service" date for warranty purposes and checked to see if there was any history on it.
I highly recommend the Levinson, but, whichever way you go, definitely MORE POWER!
I just (literally yesterday) added a Levinson 333 (300 watts) to the 3.6's and it made a HUGE difference. With sensitivity at 83db, they need POWER!
Now, they are remarkably improved -- soundstage, detail, both in the highs and the bass, clarity, etc. If you don't mind buying used, like I did, the 333 is in your price range. You could probably even find one, like mine, still under warranty.
I had been looking for a 332 (200 watts) and had even asked Wes Phillips by e-mail what he thought would be the way to go, including some options for tube monos, like the VTL's. He thought the 332 with the Thiels would be, in his word, "super." I was lucky enough to find a 333 someone was selling, used, for the price of a used 332 and jumped on it. I called Madrigal, first, and they gave me the "in service" date for warranty purposes and checked to see if there was any history on it.
I highly recommend the Levinson, but, whichever way you go, definitely MORE POWER!