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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
akaddict
51 posts
 
I recently compared 9(?) year old Thiel 2 2's and new Nautilus 801's at a dealer's, running on a Krell FPB600 w/ $8k Wadia 861(?) front end/pre.

1) Wow! I didn't know the Thiels could do that. I've decided to keep them for another year and upgrade the amp instead.

2) Somewhat in contrast to Ianbothan's comment, and in my wife's words, we felt the 801s were "bigger than life". Clearly much larger image than the 2 2. She decided she wouldn't be happy with the 801 or 804 in large part (pun?) for this reason. We didn't hear the 802.

3) I liked the humble old Thiels' stage better. It was deeper, and was more 3D, albeit behind the plane of the speaker. The 801 was taller and wider, but in the same plane as the speaker - kind of 2D.

This doesn't mean I like the 2.2 better than the 801. For example the 801s were simply stunning on orchestral music. Perhaps the answer is one pair of each .....

Anyway, I was amazed what a $1k used old pair of Thiels could do next to a behemoth like the $11k n801. And I've never felt the stage was unnaturally large.
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?
esroberto
6 posts
 
Sam, are you sure your Thiels weren't just out of phase? I've never heard a more natural and believable soundstage with any speaker brand, ever. I started with .5's, then moved to 1.5's and finally 2.3's, and I have numerous freinds here in Nashville who are recording engineers (I'm one as well), and none of them have been able to believe the startling clarity and pinpoint focus of my 2.3's. If you got the sensation of an 'artificial soundstage,' I think you'd be well advised to check either your speaker leads or your hearing.
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.
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,602 posts
 
The CS 2.4 is still relevant and an incredible loudspeaker.
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