Aerial 7B vs. Thiel 2.4

IMPO, the last comment on the Thiels is likely unfair! DEPENDING LARGELY ON ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT, it's way too easy to take a speakers as revealing as the Thiels(that goes with Wilson's, Magnapan's, JMlab's, NHT's, and other neutral gear), and mix em with gear that will "push them over the edge" in terms of brightness!
I must have heard it a 1000 times over the years...speakers that walk the edge of "neutrality" in tonality as being called "bright", by someone who heared them in A SYSTEM(you can't judge speakers without considering the gear their connected to..and that includes wires!) at one time!
Anyway, I don't think it's a fair shake. I sold the Theils over the years, as well as owned the 2.3. I also had the 1.5's and SCS3's in my home at one time "for a try". And while I've also owned other gear, and have long since sold the 2.3's(for various reasons), I wouldn't call them bright speakers by any means! They were very "clear canvases" with which to play sound through. The 1.5's might have been a bit pushy in the lower/mid trebble, but marginal. The 2.3's were just "smooth" and extended, and clear of course.
As for the 2.4's, I've only heard them once. I heared them on some marginal gear however and the sound was a bit dull, but not bright! Infact, my first thought was they were a bit supressed on top. But I figured the gear/setup as the problem.
I'm sure Thiel wouldn't release "junk" or "lesser speaker replacements. But you never know.
My experiences with the Aerials, is that, yes, they were more intentionally laid back and "non-fatiguing" sounding. And I heard them on many occasions, in many setup's. I must say I was never offended by the Aerial sound. Infact, they always reminded me of the Vanderstein's, only more revealing and refined sounding.
However, as a home theater speaker, I would NEVER USE THE AERIAL's! Why?...because they are too laid back and soft sounding! They aren't desinged to reach out and "grab you", are recessed in the "pressence reigion", and are basically music speakers! That's my thoughts. The Theils aren't necessarily my first choice there either. But they are WORKABLE I find. In the right room(medium preferably) they do well (refering to the 2.3's, which I've experience first hand there). INfact, of all the Theil's, I though the 2.3's had the best pressence, and involvement for movies! But you still gotta set em up right for best performance and solidity of immage.
Another consideration is that the Aerials are a bit lowish in sensitivity. The Thiels also, but not as bad I think.
Don't quote me on this...it's just from past rememberence.
The lower sensitivity speakers need lots of help in the dynamic reigion, which doesn't boad well for a quality HT experience.
Anyway, I've designed a lot of high end home theaters over the years. And I personally would't chose the Aerials for my choices. I just think they don't offer the "strengths" of a good HT speaker. They're more typical audiphile laid back music speakers to my ears...others might differ.

Yeah I like a lot of the coments here. I just goes to show that you need to listen/TRY for yourself! To each his own.
I could easily see one persons taste/experience/preference in one dirrectio or the other.
I guess in the back of my mind, I have experiences with certain equipment/combo's, and setup's....and just take mental notes as I go along.
Either way, I agree with Tom Munro's comment about crossing these speakers over at 80hz to a powered sub for HT, yes!
Still, as certain as the tonality of the Thiels needs to be adressed, as well as the 1st order crossover situation/powerhandling/distance requirements/associated, for best sound/setup, I tend to shy away from audiophile speakers that are intentionally laid back sounding for HT dubties! This is the antithesis of what a good cinema (even THX) speakers is designed to do! I've heard simply too many speakers like this over the years that just didn't work well for EXCITING home theater pressentation. But, that's me.
I just liked the Thiels here, because I know what they can do for HT. But, some, like with the Vandersteen's popularity, like the more approachable sound.
Still, as for the comment from Sbank regarding "bright soundracks", you will find that a bright soundtrack will not be dulled by any means by a slightly more mellow sounding speaker! The things will still sound bright!
You can't tell me that the Aerials are dull enough on top that bright material will come across more smooth! These speakers are fairly accurate enough sounding transducers that they will let that "brightness" play right through as well as the Theils!
My solution to that is either "Re-EQ circuit" on the Pre/pro, or making sure you use forgiving amps and/or interconnects and such for your home theater needs mostly.
That way, when I 'm listening to music, I don't bother. But movies are all over the place sometimes...although not to he degree I think is being infered above. Most movie mixes are much more managable when transfered now. I can't remembe the last DVD I heard that was "overly bright/mixed". I think most that are comming out now are done well for remastering.
Still, when it comes right down to it, I choose neither of these speaker options for HT speakers. I go other routs myself. But if you favor music, then I understand the choices.

Back to the original point though, I can easily see where the Theils wouldn't be someeone's cup of tea, in fav of a speaker like the Aerials, or more approachable sound. You do need to take care with a speaker like the Thiels to balance the sound with the gear.
BTW, as "Sbank" commented..."DVD's are mixed bright to creat EXCITEMENT" is incorrect. If anthing, a DVD would be bright if it wasn't re-mixed well. A movie is mixed to be bright only for the purposes(when applicable) of playing through the perforated screen at the movie theater, for tonal correction!!!...not to create excitement or whatever!
Movies have been traditionally mixed this way for just that reason, and that's to commpensate for the fact that the speakers are hidden behind the screen.