New Old Thiel CS6 Speakers--Too Harsh


Hi All,

New pair of Thiel CS6 Speakers. First true pair of 'audiophile' speakers (...still might go back to my Kappa 7's and 8's).

Imaging and that 'holographic' sound is pretty good on the Thiels but not as good as the JBL 4312a's.  But again I am plagued by harshness in my system. It seems detail and excellent spatial performance just equates to brittle, harsh and painful in my room. I like to listen at rather loud volumes.

Frequencies that appear to be the problem are between 2khz all the way up to 16khz. If I EQ the system is listenable. 

The other issue the Thiels seem to have is out of phase low bass due to the passive radiator. Can anyone confirm this?

Here is my setup right now:
Modwright Oppo 105d (physical media and streaming)
Sonic Frontiers Line 2 preamp
Conrad-Johnson Premier 350 
14x17 room, on concrete slab carpeted with additional thick throw rug, heavy velour drapes over windows, bare walls and cd/record shelves, nothing on the ceiling.

What is causing the tizzy sharpness in my system/room?

So far the Infinity Kappa Series with its ribbon tweeters has sounded best in my room. The 8's are very impactful and tonally very complete. The 7's are close, not quite as impactful but have better imaging due to lower tweeter height. 

....and I don't want truth. I want beauty.

:-)

Thanks!


128x128brettmcee

Showing 3 responses by georgehifi

brettmcee OP
Is there a tube-based power amp that one could try to drive the CS6’s?

 Only if you can find one with at stable 2ohm transformer output tap that can output 100w from it.😉

Did you find out if the tweeter uses ferro fluid like a said way back, it WILL be your harshness problem if it does
As the ferro fluid will be almost turned to glue by now with age and the tweeter will be pushing **** up hill trying to move against it and giving non linear distortions.

Cheers George
34pm
@brettmcee OP


Btw your Bat is a fine amp for these CS6, and should be a great match with that load if working well, and not be the problem of your hard highs, unless there is a problem with it like the bias is out or caps need changing. (Is it equally nice and warm on both sides after an hour) this will tell you if the bias is OK.
But it’s probably the "ferro fluid" as I stated above if it has it and gone hard, go onto the Thiel forums and find out from the "experts" if they had "ferro fluid" in the tweeters many do and don't say it.

Cheers George
brettmcee OP
Old Thiel CS6 Speakers--Too Harsh

Brett it may almost surely just be the age they are now "if" that tweeter is ferro fluid cooled. It goes hard and make the tweeter nonlinear/distort and need to be changed. See here what I posted.
https://forum.audiogon.com/posts/1843203?highlight=ferro-fluid

Cheers George