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Thiel 2.4 and 7.2 versus 5i


Hi folks.

Thiel has been my reference speaker for quite some time.
Have heard the 2.4 in 2 different systems and can concisely state that they are indeed the next evolutionary step at the mid-price point in the line. Both systems were solid state (Musical Fidelity and Rotel) Can't wait to hear them with tubes which I prefer.

The incredible top to bottom focus of the 2.3 has been sharpened even more and the bass reponse has increased to a point that's amazing and nearly too much for me on certain recordings. I'd still take them in a heartbeat if I could afford them becuase the rest of the presentation is so complete, musical, addictive and accurate as all Thiel speakers tend to be.

In all candor, it sometimes puzzles me that this company never receives the consistent "very best of" grouping votes by many professional reviewers. Thiel = truth of signal. Period. Yes, they are considered one of the best in the world, but even if Wilsons, Rockports, Pipedreams, Kharma and other such exotics are as good or better then Thiel, I still feel that Jim's designs stand shoulder to shoulder with them in signal and build quality. Just because a speaker costs $70K doesn't mean they are better than something costing as high as $14K as the 7.2's do. Ear of the beholder I'm sure. This isn't meant to insult those who prefer other types of speakers but I have been sitting on this view for a time and wanted to share to get a conversation started which, on this website, has always been informative and interesting.

My question to longtime Thiel owners is what are the biggest differences that exist between the 5i and the iterations of the 7? Always wondered about that.

Thanks for reading and sharing the views.

D.H.
danhirsh

Showing 1 response by foreverhifi

foreverhifi
229 posts
 
I've sold Thiels for years, as with many others. I've owned lots of speakers as well, including Thiel 2.3's and 1.5's for my listening room. While I pressently don't have Thiel in my set up's, I always admired their neutrality, detail, and refinement of sound!...and overall top to bottom balance, build quiality, etc. Overall, to this day, I would recommend Thiel's to anyone,yes. Jim makes some quaility efforts indeed. The older generation Thiels I think really wanted Tubes throughout to balance the sound better. The later Thiels I think can get buy with a good tube preamp instead! The bass wins here, and the speakers are more flexible now.
Still, I've heard good things about the 2.4's, which probabaly improve on soundstage, edge refinement, and bass over the older 2.3's. I'd like to hear em soon. My experience selling the 7.2 was that it was an excellent speaker overall, a bit laid back in balance, with excellent top to bottom integration. They wouldn't play as hard and authoritative for rock as some, but they were a first rate effort indeed.
Infact, for HT, I've not found a better in the Thiel line than the 2.3's! I can't talk for the newer 2.4's or 1.6's, as those might be an improvment, I don't know.
Still, I'd wholeheartedly recommend Thiels anyday to anyone seaking higher sonic virtue.
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