What McIntosh Amp With Thiel 3.6 Speakers?

I'm not trying to beat up on Thiel - in fact you are quite right that they are very good about providing information on the minimum impedance of their speakers, etc. I wish more speaker manufacturers would provide this kind of information and would be as upfront about the requirements of the amplifier driving them.

My point was not really Thiel specific - but that in _general_ when you look at the nominal impedance it doesn't tell you anything, and many people will use that figure as a criteria in choosing an amplifier. You really can't do that... you need more information.

I want to thank everyone for providing some very worthwhile information about the McIntosh amp I should be using to drive the Thiel 3.6s. In particular, I would like to thank Hackmaster for his suggestions; given that he is a McIntosh dealer and familiar with this speaker/amp combination. It looks like there will be a Mac MC352 in my future plans. Again, many thanks!

One correction: The MC352 is not the smallest amp McIntosh makes that does have the autoformers. The smaller MC202 does have them as well, and delivers 200 Watts into any load of 2, 4 or 8 ohm. You might want to give them a try first. I do have a Mc Integrated MA6500 and drive Shahinian Diapason speakers, whih are a notoriously difficult load to drive. Even the Integrated handles them very well, with no lack of dynamics. I have listened to other difficult speakers, e.g. Dynaudio's new C2, driven by "my" MA6500, and by a MC202 and a MC352. The difference between the MC202 and the MC352 was very small.

Hackmaster - I am shocked at a McIntosh dealer saying that the MC352 is the smallest amp with autoformers! And the 652?? What the heck is that??? If it replaces the 602, very few would have heard it at this point in time. This is just amazing. I am constantly surprised at how many dealers know nothing about the equipement they sell. Oh well....

A couple of notes...

With respect to my post earlier - I stand corrected. Serves me right for posting a response at 2 AM! MC652 was a typo. It's obviously MC602. And yes the MC202 does have autoformers although it is the only stereo amp from Mac that doesn't have the autoformers physically exposed (though the presence of multiple outputs taps is an indication that it is autoformer coupled)

And the MC6500 integrated does not have autoformers - the 6900 does (though they are not exposed, as with the 202) That is the main difference between the two although there are some other subtle differences. The Shahinians are tricky to drive but nowhere near as difficult or demanding as the Thiel's. The Dynaudio's are definitely tougher than the Shahinian's but the Thiel's still draw more current across the bandwidth.
Nevertheless - I still recommend an MC352. I just think you would be underdriving the Thiel's with anything less powerful in terms of current. Yes the 202 may have autoformers but it doesn't have the "oomph" of the 352. You can tell easily just by lifting up the 202 and the the 352. Then ask yourself which one stores more charge and delivers more current!