Speaker Upgrade, Vandy 3a, Thiel 3.6 ect


I am thinking of making a speaker upgrade. Unfortunately I don't know where to begin.

My budget is somewhere around 2 - 3 k and I am considering buying used.

I currently have Mirage OM-10s driven by a ATI 1505 in a HT setup. My room is problamatic for the bipolar design as one side is open and the other closed.

I don't think I will be changing amps anytime soon, I would wont something that would work well with the ATI, which I have heard is on the bright side. I may also try using the ATI to Bi-amp the front speakers.

I think the Vandersteen 3a Sigs and the Thiel 3.6 may fit into my range (used). What do you think about either of these paired with an ATI?

My pre/pro is a sherwood AVP-9080r but if a decide to bi-amp, I'll be using a Yamaha DSP-a1 as a pre for the front and use the a1 internal amps to drive the surrounds.

Anyone have any advice?

Thanks,

Mike
drobert79b96

Showing 1 response by bryhifi

Mike, I have the Thiel CS3.6's and love them to death but only after finding the right front end to drive them. I'd heard these speakers in Delaware with a Spectral Amp/Pre-amp combo in a rather large listening room..WOW,,did they portray the essence of accurate reproduction for the price they sold for new,let alone used! After listening to roughly 20 different speakers in the tri-state area I could not get past the sound heard from the 3.6's for $4200.00....BUT, heres the BIG BUT!!! I had a mediocre system at the time of purchase,(mostly NAD & ADCOM)and was very dis-pleased with sound for a fairly long time until I stepped up a level or two and started buying Krell and Levinson gear. Then it all started to sound right again,like I had heard at the demo.......MY point being that the 3.6's are amazingly good speakers if fed with good clean sources and powered by some pretty potent power amps. Otherwise they will sound very bright and or harsh with most music even at medium volumes.....Not the most Forgiving speaker at all, BUT a very GOOD speaker!!! I did listen to the Vandersteens and liked them alot for their forgiveness with sources but being a musician I was after tonal accuracy of brass and percussion. It did cost me a fair amount to upgrade my system to get the best sound I could afford but "used" Krell and Levinson got them sounding great....Thats my input on Thiel CS3.6's / Best of Luck, Bruce