Thiel Owners

duramax747

Thank you, this is very informative. 

I’ve been searching for speakers for over a year at this point. I narrowed it down to CS 5i and Infinity IRS Beta, and maybe Revel Salon 2. I say "maybe" because on principle I’d rather stay away from ported enclosures, but they got much praise that I would still like to seriously audition them.

I set up searches for all three, but the CS 5i and the Beta are rare as hen’s teeth here in the Pacific Northwest; and those outside the region are usually for local pickup only.

I would love to hear the CS 5i but unfortunately I won’t be able to take you up on your kind offer due to distance 🙂

devinplombier

Indeed the CS5i are difficult to obtain. To find them in your region of the US and with shipping cartons becomes even more difficult. 

They have plywood crates so cannot understand why owners would not have the crates other than the space they take up and they threw them away. 

When buying always ask this question "What amps did you use with the CS 5i"?

If they were cared for the amps would be massive with high current. 

I will share a purchase I made on a rare pair of CS5i.

I was not looking for a pair of CS 5i as I had a pair, but came across this pair in dark walnut. I emailed the seller and told him I wish these speakers went to a good home and ended it there. The seller started to communicate with me and his fear was someone would hook up an inferior amp to these beauties and blow the drivers and ruin these speakers he had cherished. 

We eventually struck a deal on price and I was going to own another pair. 

This gentlemen had the odacity to not honor our price but instead lowered his price substantially and white van the speakers to my place for free.  He stayed in a hotel from the day’s driving and arrived early the next morning. 

When he arrived he had the odacity again to offer to "set them up properly for me" and get this for free.

Well scratch my back with a hacksaw as I thought I was in the midst of a Twilight Zone episode. 

We started talking and come to find out his grandfather was one of the original Thiel dealers in the country. Thiel dealers would come into your home and set up the speakers, "properly".

Not only did I get a pristine pair of CS 5i with a campfire type story, I also received the plywood shipping crates and all the original accessories. The footers came in a case that were foam fitted with the manual.

When you come across the right seller for CS 5i he will take point in the conversation and ask the questions interviewing you to see if you are a candidate for these speakers. They are that special. 

When Tom came by on his Thiel journey I shared with him the story of the newly acquired CS 5i. He saw the crates which broiught him to a time past and I could see he was having a moment as he was beaming with pride. These were the shipping containers so I did not dare show him the speakers. 

He shared the story that the gentleman that brought the speakers was the grandson of one of their original dealers. He said he knew him when he was a boy at his grandfathers shop. 

We did not listen to this pair of CS5i but instead a pair of ultra rare Brazilian Rosewood. When Tom saw them he was telling me how he acquired this rosewood through the jungle of Brazil/Boliva. He went on to say this was real Brazilian Rosewood acquired legally as it is almost impossible to lay your hands on any today. 

This is another story but they were also white van delivered to our place for free which was over 850 miles of traveling. 

My point. If you find a pair of CS 5i there should be a story behind them and the seller will be very accomadating to make sure they go too a good home. 

This to me is the Thiel Legacy. 

ig316b,

Amberwood is a beautiful wood. Congrats on the CS6 as they are great speakers. They are easier to set up than their older siblings and share some of the same characteristics. Not as difficult to drive as CS5i or CS 7.2. Great find. 

I have a pair in Zebrawood. 

Regarding the McCormack DNA 0.5 I’ve talked to Steve and he informed me this is the amp to buy used to send in for upgrades. He is a complete gentleman that knows his stuff and has very fair pricing. I would take the plunge if budget permits. 

Again with the upgrades that will be offered I’m confident the CS 6 will compete with speakers today in the 25-30K realm. 

I heard three versions of Tom’s SCS4 workhorse. Each revision had further upgrades. When we listened to the final revision, at the time, I was scrathing my head in disbelief at this transformation. It was like a veil removed and I was permitted to enter the holy of holies.

When Tom told me this can be done to all Thiel speakers it was difficult to grasp.

Going from stock SCS4 to what I heard can also be done on my beloved CS 5i, CS 7.2, CS 6, CS 2.7, CS 2.4SE I was moving my entire stack of chips to the pot and say "I’m all in". 

duramax747

Thank you for a great story. Fingers crossed :)

Thank you for the kind words everyone.
duramax747

Thanks for the reassurance from Steve but I was thinking they sounded good already. My pair of 0.5's were finished to monoblocks back in 2012 to a Platinum+ edition and I have been very pleased with them. I'm only considering sending the back in to a little improvements like the gravity base if he still offers it. I still need to ask.
I might take you up on your offer for a listening session, we could do an aural exchange. I would get the opportunity to experience the 7.2's and you could experience the McCormack's, I have two pair of monoblocks, 0.5 Platinum and Stock DNA 1.0's.  One has the current while the other has the finesse.

If this sounds interesting to you let me know we can work out the details.

As far as the speaker and crossover upgrades I'm looking forward to the outcome. It's very intriguing.

Tomtiel

Keep the stories coming, I always like reading your insights about the back ground  development of these speakers as well as your future upgrades for these.