I had a pair of 2.4's before my 3.7's.I think you can't go wrong with either the 2.4,2.7 or the 3.7's!i think the 2.4's do everything well!While I do like my 3.7's,I can't say they are many 1000's of dollars better sounding then the 2.4's I had?Maybe keeping the 2.4's and investing 1000's more on better electronics would have been a better idea?I have noticed that my movies are more cinema like with the 3.7's.My problem is that I mess with my system too much,and never really let it break in before I change this or change that!Im definitely OCD!
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Jafant,thanks!Its nice to talk to people who can relate to his hobby and that have similar equipment!I am using a xpa 5 with my 3.7's instead of my xpa 1 monos.I made the change because of ease of use for the family.While I don't think there was a big difference going from monos back to a 5 channel,I didn't a/b the change.Do you think you still get good sound from a 5 channel amp with the Thiels?
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I know Emotiva aren't the best,but I had to save somewhere because 3.7's were so expensive.While I wasn't thrilled with the amps,they were affordable.The Xpa 1 amps really sound better with my B&W 805 in the basement?I had a Adcom 5500 ,and both emos were better.I guess that's not saying much though!The only thing that's helps using the xpa 5 is that I don't listen too loudly.Ive never heard my 3.7's with a really good amplifier,haven't had one yet.
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I talked to a Thiel rep just after I bought the 3.7's.He told me how special the Les Paul Editions are and that he said to find the best amp possible for them!No Emos he said!I had already ordered the Xpa 5 a week before.Thinking the Xpa 1 s would be a lot better,I ordered them the next Christmas.They are really not bad for the price but played much better with my 805's.On good recordings my 3.7's sound great!On average to bad recordings not so much!My B&W's are much more forgiving!I do have a vintage Halfler 280 xl left over?Was thinking of trying it but only 140 per channel and no balanced inputs.Probably a waste huh?
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Les Paul edition speakers sonically the same as regular 3.7 's.The difference is that they were finished by Gibson,just like a sunburst Les Paul.Each speaker was signed on the back by Les Paul.Only 13 pair were made total.3 pair went to auction,leaving 10 pair left for sale.5 pair in sunburst,5 in tobacco sunburst.Thiel rep told me msrp was 18k.All of this and I'm using Emotiva? Unfortunately,they will have to do for now.I do like the idea of trying a class d amp with them?
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P.s ,Les Paul's came with factory outriggers.
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The add was mine!I had a lapse in judgment!At the time I was sick of b.s. offers and was ready to give them away!Im keeping them and would no longer let them go for that! I was ready to back to b&ws,not any more!I haven't ever seen another pair like mine yet!I think someday I'll leave them to my son.
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Prof,yes nothing but stories is what I got,wasting my time!I wanted a cash,local sale only and I'm sure that didn't help!Not everybody has 7k for used speakers!Also the finish is not for everybody!Not every wife what's Jimmy Page in the living room!Mine likes the finish and said not to sell them.Listing them for free on usmart was a mistake.I should has listed them here!
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I've come to terms with the 3.7's.Garbage in,garbage out.ive realized that not everything will sound good on them!They add nothing to the music.Sometimes there is very little bass,then I change the song and say where did all the bass come from!Its that dramatic.If its there they will play it,if not it won't.
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Prof,I had people from NY,Florida,SF,and Canada beg me to ship them.Add said cash and local sale,will not ship.finally someone with real money in Texas wanted me to ship them and I said no!I wanted cash in hand when they left my house!I guess that was too much to ask?If the got damaged,there isn't another pair.Maybe keep both pair,one upstairs and the other pair downstairs?👍
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Jafant,I'm right outside of Chicago.Thanks for complements.I really do enjoy audio and have for along time.I just wish I could have learned more sooner,would have saved a lot of money!My Thiels are the best and the worst speakers I ever heard!Every change,good or bad makes a difference!I still have noticed more of a difference changing preamps rather than amps.Im burning in new rocket 44 cables and a big sur off my dac,so I need to leave it alone for awhile.I started thinking about selling xpa 1's to go back to one amp?I didn't get the wow factor going to monos,but my 805's are really happy with them!
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Has anybody used a class d amp with Thiels?Ive heard technology has come along way.Thiel rep told me to look for an amp that doubles down,not limiting current.A lot of respectable amps still don't,but some class d amps do.Not fully doubling down is why he didn't like Emo amps,they don't.Xpa 1 is 600 at 8 and 1000 at 4, no 2 ohm rating,limiting current he said!
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Stereophile Aug issues reviews Emotivas new class h amps?An actual 2 ohm rating is given.Still doesn't double down though.Class h?Im having a hard enough time considering a class d.Are these really going to be the amps of the future?
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Jafant,letting your ears be the best resource is quite profound indeed!While listening to my 3.7's and my Xpa 5 today I was quite surprised how good it sounded!Mcintosh worthy,no.Similar to taking out the garbage-not at all! I need to stop obsessing about every last detail and start enjoying what I paid for!I think I need more music before anything else .I do believe everybody on this page already has great speakers!Enjoy!
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Oblgny,well said!Amen Brother! |
I guess my point was that I shouldn't obcess about my amp choice for now,I'm getting good sound for the time being.I have over 25k into 2 systems that I use often.I just have to be a little more thrifty with my choices as my kids are older now and costing more.I thought xpa1 s might be my free lunch,however they are not!I will in time, find an amp that doubles down.Anything else than that I've had already.I am disappointed with many main stream amps that come up short!
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Just got a pair of 1.6 for 500$ today to play with!Cant believe how good they sound!They had a few dings in the woofers I pulled out and now look presentable!Best 500 I ever spent!I think I'm going to use them for rears in my surround system.Man,Jim Thiel could build a speaker!
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Jafant,
I re-did everything again.My 3.7's are with my xpa 1 monos just for 2 channel now. My 805's I'm using for home theater .I had to find a use for the 1.6's so surround rears they are.My rear channel never sounded this good!I feel like I got my 2.4's back,only smaller which is good!Every squirrel finds a nut sometimes! |
I tried my Goldenear xxl sub out with my 3.7's this weekend just to experiment,the combination was remarkable!My setup is in the basement filled with weight equipment and concrete surfaces.Far from an ideal location,but safer from kids and pets!homemade sound panels have helped a lot!I really feel the sub blends well down there,filling a large area with satisfying bass.Getting good sound in my basement has been a challenge,but I'm slowly winning!Man Cave!
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Check out the picture of the tobacco sunburst 3.7's a guy has in virtual systems,recently added!Talk about a killer looking speaker!Never saw anyone own one of those yet!Very rare!
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marqmike,
Having owned both the 2.4's and now the 3.7's,I would save money and buy the 2.4's!While I do like my 3.7's ,I cant say they are many 1000's of dollars better?The 3.7's play larger because they are.I think some 2.4's with some good electronics can be quite a formidable system!I heard some of the best bass from my 2.4's with a McIntosh amp!
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Just wanted to say how well my 1.6's are doing as rear channel speakers!I replaced a pair of Magnapan mmgw with the 1.6's and the difference in amazing!I think now I'll use the mmgw's on the garage floor to catch oil drips when I change the oil in my Vette! |
Dhoff01,
Glad to hear your enjoying your Les Pauls,as I am mine!Like I posted on your system page,my setup with my Les Pauls is far from perfect!I had to move them in my weight room in the basement,away from my Doberman,to avoid any problems!I am getting enjoyable sound down there,despite all the concrete and steel.Most audiophiles would burn me at the stake for my setup now,but my equipment is safe and I’m using it more than ever!I also am using a sub with mine and it blends very well.I used to think using a sub was cheating,but now can’t live without it! Homemade sound panels really made a difference with all the reflection points I have.My basement sounds more studio-like now,if you can believe that? |
Jafant,dhoff01,
Thanks for kind words!I have over 20 acoustic panels that I made for the basement in reflection points.I also made bass traps for the corners.The more I added,the better the sound became!I realized I had to more my system when a gummy piece of rawhide was stuck on my amp!We all have too much in our systems to risk any damage.I love my Doberman but also my system!I have 805’s safely on a entertainment stand for home theater,upstairs now with my 1.6’s as rears.The 1.6’s aren’t perfect so I don’t worry about them too much-they sound great though!1.6’s are a great speaker!I had my system before the dog,but she’s part of the family now.Wife and kids are happy,I’m getting there slowly!
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Jafant,
Maybe it’s time for a YouTube channel,regarding all things Thiel?You have become an ambassador for the audiophile community! Always positive comments,I appreciate that!
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Beetlemania,
The Les Pauls you mentioned are mine.I was going to sell them to go back to B&W,but decided to hold on to them for awhile?Now I have B&Ws upstairs and my 3.7s downstairs.Working well this way!My B&W system is more for movies anyway.
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Jafant,
I tried a extra Nuprime class d amp that I have with my 3.7s for the heck of it,and was very impressed with the overall sound and the bass!I might want to sell my Xpa-1s and go class d.My 3.7s seemed happy with class d.Have you ever used a class d with your Thiels. |
With Thiel closed,does that make our speakers more desirable,valuable?Kinda like Trans Ams did when Pontiac died?
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Beetlemania,
I totally agree with amps and sources making a big difference!I like heavy metal bands and most of my favorites are not mixed well! My 3.7s do the best they can with what I feed them.Once in a while I’ll play a well recorded song and it’s a totally different speaker! I wish they would always sound like that!Somebody said that the 2.4’s are more punchy than the 3.7s and I agreed until I heard my 3.7’s with a class d amp with a high dampening factor(wow)!Blew me away!Thats the bass I wanted from day one!
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I mentioned before that I bought a used pair of 1.6 with dust cap damage.They still sounded great so I bought them.I was able to get most of the dents out,to look presentable.Most of the used 1.6 I have seen have some sort of dust caps damage?I know the grills don’t protect the drivers at all.Im not going to mess with the dust caps any further so I don’t damage them.I guess my point is why are so many of these speakers used as floor jacks instead of being taken care of?These were not cheap speakers new!Im happy I was able to pick up a pair of these in any condition!
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Jafant,
Hope your well and your system also!
Im using 1.6 as rear sounds.My theater has never sounded better since adding them.The cabinets fit and finish are top notch!Classic Thiel design!I plan to hold on to them.
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dhoff01
I hope our 3.7 Les Pauls are worth more than 6 k!😃
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Jafant,
i finally tried my subwoofer with left and right output instead of sub output.The results are amazing!Subwoofer blends so well with 3.7s,it’s like they are made for each other!Tightest bass I’ve owned to date!Could not be happier!Well,maybe?
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tmsrdg,
I was going to buy either a Rel or Svs.A local dealer that I trust recommended a GoldenEar SuperSub xxl.After reading Absolute Sound’s review of SuperSub,I took one home.Msrp was 2 k,dealer sold it to me for 1600 out the door,new in box.I really liked the Svs Ultra,but think SuperSub Is a little better!Ive had it for about a year,with nothing but good things to say about it.Using pre outs of preamp,instead of sub output made the sub come to life!Blends seamlessly with my 3.7’s.Absolute Sound said it was very musical,and it is!Im using one sub,right inside of my left speaker.A bass crawl test gave me that location.I think one sub is enough for me!Adding a subwoofer to my 3.7’s made everything more fun to listen it.I couldn’t imagine not using a sub now!Good luck with your sub search!Finding the right piece is half the fun!
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Jafant,
Yes,I posted my speakers for sale!As my daughter approaches college age,I’m looking to downsize somewhat.I may use my 1.6 in the basement?Im hoping to find the right person for them!They definitely are going to be different then what every body else has!I am original owner,have everything they came with! Wish me luck!
p.s. I’m still looking for a Jafant YouTube channel!All Things Thiel! |
Yes speakers are sold!I enjoyed them and now the next owner will too! I still have my 1.6 !
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