Thiel 7.2 and the 3.7

Bad news gang. Got news from Thiel today and they wont have a pr. of the 3.7s available for me to listen to. Still looking forward to hearing the 7.2s in there system and touring the building. Sorry.

Gundam91, No problem at all.

From talking to Gary at Thiel the replacement for the CS7.2 is a long way off. I guess for that time the 3.7 is the top of the line offering.
The 7.2 is no longer......(except at my house where I hope they live forever)

Danhirsh, I own the CS7.2s and will be at Thiel next week to audition the 3.7. I will email you if you would like with a comparison of the two speakers.

The 3.7s have been at the Audio Alternative outside of Atlanta for around two weeks now. i have been working so much I have not had a chance to go in and spend some time with them. I will head that way tomorrow for a couple hours of listening time.

Danhirsh,
My wife and I got to spend a few hours with the 3.7 yesterday. Listened to some vinyl and digital and came to the conclusion that we will not give up our 7.2s and cash (selling them used) to get the 3.7s. They are very good speakers! Great soundstage, great bass, smooth as can be. But so are the 7.2s.
What we thought is that although each speaker has its strengths, neither is overall better than the other. They sound quite a bit alike.
We did decide when (and if) the direct replacment for the 7.2 (7.3 ?) does come out we will spend the cash and upgrade our speakers at that time.
If I did not own the 7.2s I would probably jump on a new pr. of 3.7s. I am going to go back in two weeks after they are fully burned in and take another long listen. The one area that the 3.7s are possibly unequaled by any price speaker I have heard is in the soundstage. The 7.2s are very good. The 3.7s are better.

The bass seems a little stronger and deeper with the 7.2. But the bass is very good with the 3.7. I listened to the 3.7 with both a smart sub and without one and the differences seemed more in a better soundstage with the sub than added bass presence.

Rtn1,
The cost of a pr. of 3.7s is $10K, not five. Also the 7.2s in the standard finish were $13.5. They are comparible and I can see some who are not great fans of the Thiels thinking the 3.7 are the best they have made. I like my 7.2s. If I owned any lesser Thiel I would probably upgrade to the 3.7s. They are very nice speakers.

I've been twice. These are the differences I notice between the two speakers. This is not to say (IMO) either speaker is lacking in any of these areas, just the differences between the two. The 7.2s have more midbass punch, are more detailed, and although I think the bass depth is equal on both speakers....it is a little more noticable quanity with the 7.2s.
The 3.7s are warmer, and I guess some would call them more musical.( I wouldnt) They have a smoothness that they didnt have the first time I heard them. A little less upper midrange energy than the 7.2s. (that can make life a little annoying at times with the 7.2s) They have more soundstage depth (for sure) and probably width, but not sure on this one. Which blows me away because the 7.2s are great in this area. The layers of soundstage with these speakers is really very, very, good.
They offer lots of detail, but are not as resolving as the 7.2s. Because of there warmer presentation I think they will be easier to get right than the 7.2s. The bass is better than I thought after the first listen. Almost the equal to the 7.2s. With a sub they surpass the 7.2s. I have listened with and without the giant smartsub. At first I thought I would add a sub if I purchased these speakers, but not sure now. I like these speakers alot! Cant wait to hear them with tube amps.

The 3.7s are in an all Ayre system right now. I have had my 7.2s in an all Ayre system up until recently. The 3.7s Are using VPI Scoutmaster with Dynavector 17D2 MKII cartridge or Ayre C-5XE CDP, Ayre P-5XE phonostage, Ayre K-1XE preamp and Ayre MX-R monoblocks. Cables are a combo of Audioquest and JPS.
My 7.2s have been with Superscoutmaster/17D3 cartridge, Ayre P-5XE phonostage, K1-XE preamp, V-1XE amp. Cabling is all Audioquest. I have also heard the 2.4s in systems very close to both of these and think I have a pretty good hold on the sonic differences.
In the future the shop will probably try Mac and VTL gear with the 3.7s, But right now they sound very good. I doubt they will mess with them unless they have an audition for somebody or something like that. They seem like they can sell themselves in the system they are in now. The room they are in is huge and they fill it with music.

Rtnl,
Owning the 7.2s (like you) and listening to the 3.7s on many occasions....I (like you also) dont consider it the successor to the 7.2 either.
Everything I have bought or upgraded since getting the 7.2s has been to compliment them. I dont see that trend here changing any time in the near future. They are the only audio gear I have owned that my wife has claimed final say on selling or trading.
However if I didnt own the 7.2s I could see me bringing home a pr. of the 3.7s and a smartsub to go with it, and being very happy.

Pegasusxls,
Without breaking the bank, the (used) Ayre V-1xe amp is wonderful with the Thiels.