Thiel Owners


Guys-

I just scored a sweet pair of CS 2.4SE loudspeakers. Anyone else currently or previously owned this model?
Owners of the CS 2.4 or CS 2.7 are free to chime in as well. Thiel are excellent w/ both tubed or solid-state gear!

Keep me posted & Happy Listening!
128x128jafant
Smoking good deal on those 2.4s. I’d almost buy ‘em just for the spare drivers. 10-12 hour drive for me during winter, no thanks.
Andy - I can share information, but can't send drawings until Thiel Audio's bankruptcy is settled.

You are correct; the 2.7 and 3.7 have 3 separate drivers with electrical crossovers, unlike the 2.4 which is electrically 2-way plus the mechanical mid-tweeter xo.

There is no time compensation in those crossovers. The coincident alignment is achieved geometrically via the position of the coaxial midrange and tweeter.
I currently have a pair of Thiel 3.6 speaks powered by a pair of Classe Audio DR-8 amps I use in mono mode. In mono mode, the DR-8’s put out almost 600 watts at 4 ohms and sound very good with the Thiels. I also have a Classe DR-5 pre amp.

Just located a Krell KSA 300S amp local to me and toying with the idea of adding the Krell to replace the DR-8’s. Have not heard the Krell recently, but thought it would add more bass to the Thiels.

Does anyone have any thoughts on these two amps?



kdross
Good to see you again. There are  a few of you guys that enjoy those Classe' DR power amps. I have been considering a Krell FPB series power amp. I was considering a KSA series power amp until I was advised that it is best suited with a dedicated line plus a 30A breaker. Otherwise, the 300S is a serious power plant.  Happy Listening!
Keep that Classe, kdross.  I've run a Thiel/Classe pairing for over two decades now.  And you cannot better it.  Believe me, I've tried.  The electrical and timbral match is perfect.   The closest on tone was a big Threshold, but it lacked the dynamic headroom and full resolution of the Classe that these Thiels often demand.  The Krells are a little too iron-fisted with Thiels, which thrive on the finer tonal nuances of any good amp.  The legacy Classe amps present a slightly finer tonal palette on a Thiel than the Krells as you climb the octaves.  

One tip on the older legacy Classe amps:  Once you get about 20-25 years out, they really do benefit from a full recap.  After extended conversations with their service techs and customer service department, and upon their recommendation, I recently recapped my old CA series.  

Classe designers used exclusively Nichicons during that era, and all the capacitor families they specified in the early models have since been superseded by Nichicon with improved audio-grade versions.

It was about a 75 capacitor job.  I do my own work, so the total cost was only about $250 for the parts.  But once given about 100 hours to settle in, the older Classe is even better than new.  Everything improves up a notch, and absolutely nothing is lost.  It revived into a real sonic tiger, and a perfect pairing with the Thiels.  Jaw-dropping, actually.  Dynamics through the roof with spectacular tonal nuance.  Now it's good for another two decades . . . and I probably won't care by then.  Highly recommended.