Thiel 3.6, what will drive them best?

Tvad, interesting reviews that I haven't seen previously. One comment I find curious

aging B&K M200 mono amplifiers, rated at 200 watts each but certainly not current powerhouses.

. B&K rates them as 150 amps peak-peak, which is the basis for my statement. The biggest challenge I've presented them is Totem Mani-2s, which they drive very nicely, and I've no other basis for supporting refuting the rating. I don't presume B&K's rating is necessarily accurate, but it's has me wondering what the reviewer's baseline is causing him to make this statement.

Another amp worth considering in this price range is the Parasound HCA2200. Either the mkI or mkII can be found used in the $600-800 range. I have the mkI which I liked a lot, though I replaced it with a pair of M200's which I preferred. I think the differences are in the personal preference range and some my like the HCA2200 just as well as or better.

What qualities made you prefer the M200's over the HCA2200?

Thank you,

Ron

Ron,I have heard the Stratos Odyssey combination and Thiel
five years ago,the result is so musical,they are match made in heaven,the tonal balance is so hard to forget,If I did not end up with Diapason,I will buy 3.6Thiel.Because I do own the monoblock extreme odyssey.Since then I end up
using art audio concierto amp.I think its worth doubling
your budget,if you can.

Unfortunately IMO you will not find anything in that price range to drive them to their full potential as you put it. Thiels really need both high power and high quality power to be great. If budget is an issue then quality over quantity is better. But in your price range either one is going to be very difficult to achieve.

Honestly, I think you have a big dog that you can't afford to feed. Sure, you can keep the dog alive, but he'll never be all that he's capable of.
I think both the B&K M 200's and the Classe' amps will adequately keep you going. I ran the M200's on older easier to drive Thiels with no problem, but the 3.6's are a much tougher load. I had a friend run Dunblavy SCIV's which while still easier than the 3.6's are similar. It was amazing how much that system improved when he bi-amped with an additonal factory matched pair of M200's. Though he ran all 4 factory matched amps through the Dunlavy's pasive cross-overs, the sound opened up dramticaly when using 4 as oppossed to 2. Much more than I would have ever anticipated. Draw your own conclusions. If were in your shoes with Thiel 3.6's, I'd try to figure out a way to purchase the biggest Krell I could afford or find an easier load.