Thiel CS6

They are fast like planars, but have a deep strong bass and create a large soundstage- especially with vinyl. Like my experience with planers, they disappear in the music. The downside is that they demand the best amplification, cabling and front end components that you can buy. Like Bundy said, they need space. I like how they look and the light oak color of the ones that I have (nearly) match the color of my tt. I like the symmetry of that. I am very satisfied with these speakers. I do not get the chance too often these days to hear other speakers but there is only one other brand that, if I had the means I might buy- might.

Hi, sorry about the delay. I haven't looked at this post in a while. My Thiels stand 9ft apart on centers. I have enjoyed my X-350 for 10 years now. I'd love to give the X350.5 a try. Maybe next year...

You will hear a big improvement when you put the spikes on. Imaging will be more focused and the sound overall tighter. That was my experience.

I use spades and I crank them down good and tight. Good to periodically recheck them with a wrench.

Bottom note on a piano- 27Hz. Freq response of CS6 (-3dB) 27Hz. You're not missing anything music wise; but if HT is your thing then a sub is needed.

Yes really. Don't confuse the range of human hearing with the range of music. Yes, I know a few pipe organs around the world can go down to 8 Hz. Again, if you want to "feel" sounds, eg. HT, get a sub. And brace your walls. I had some large speakers for 14 years that had a frequency response below 20Hz. I had a test disc with 16 Hz on it and it would shake the walls. The only things I heard in that range were footfalls here and there and thumps- especially live recordings. Realism? Maybe, but it took away from the music, I think. Even after 10 years of no longer having those big speakers, I have a couple of recordings where I brace myself for the thump- like someone bumping the mic stand- and I don't hear it with these speakers. I don't miss it either.

All that I am saying is the bottom of the frequency range for music is 27Hz or so. Below that is subharmonics. If one wants to experience the "feel" of music, like the feel of the 64ft pedal on a pipe organ, then a subwoofer is generally the best solution; unless you do not mind living with very large speakers.
Granted, the canon fire on my Telarc 1812 disc is not nearly as impressive as it was with my large, old speakers; but I can live with that.

"Most western music is written with the idea that the first octave begins at 16 Hz."

Not really.