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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 proberts887

proberts887's avatar
proberts887
14 posts
 
I can't wait to hear the 2.4's! I bought one of the first pair of 2.3s off the line and was very happy with them for four years teamed with an Air Tight ATM2 80 wpc tube amp and Air tight ATC3 pre. I had to muck it all up last year by thinking bigger must be better.

A year ago, I upgraded to the CS6s and was very disappointed. Much to my shagrin, the ATM2 could not drive the CS6s anywhere near their potential in my 5000+ cubic foot room, despite what some reviewers said. Many people warned me the CS6s would not "put out" with such a meager power amp as the ATM2. Say it ain't so!

After 10 months of buyers remorse and CD's that sounded better than vinyl (Fremmer - please don't read this!) I threw down for the new poor man's Krell (Bryston 14B-SST).

After a couple of weeks of break in, things began to sound better and more like I remember before the upgrade. Subtle deatils were back in spades and the soundstage opened up wall to wall.

The CS6s took to their new high power amp like a fish to water - very relaxed with power to spare. The only thing missing is the euphony of tubes. Call me crazy, but as good as the sound that I'm getting is, the system does not evoke the emotion of the 2.3s and ATM2. The current system is clearly more resolving than the latter, but emotion is what keeps me in the listening chair.

Perhaps I should take out the 14B-SST and add another ATM2 and mono them both for additional power. Or, more ecomomically, dump the CS6s and solid state gorilla and go back to the ATM2 and the new CS2.4s. Any thoughts?
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