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!
I just succeeded in outbidding a few other folks on the site for a pair of original owner CS3.5's.
I actually had no idea my bid would be the highest and was shocked that I wasn't outbid.
Frankly speaking, I've stolen them. If there's another local NYer reading this thread I will part with them for what I paid which is absurdly below their true worth, provided they're picked up.
Truly amazing speakers - astounding at this price.
I'm keeping my 3.6's and seeking new amp/preamp combo. While my Simaudio is a very good piece I feel it cannot showcase what the 3.6's are capable of.
I'm in no hurry, nkonor. (That's the nice thing about owning them to test out, vs a limited home audition with one of them).
Keeping both is an option, but one I'm trying to resist. I tend to like one aspect of a speaker over another and not want to part with it for that reason, hence I build up a collection of speakers that have to be culled at some point.
At this point the only other speaker in the running (for which I had a home audition) is the Joseph Audio Perspectives. Given I'm looking for "smaller size profile with great aesthetics and great sound" the Perspectives fit that bill. But they are incredibly expensive relative to these second hand 2.7s.
But I do want to try to end up with a pair of the Perspectives at some point, money-willing. Neither the Perspectives nor the 2.7 give the scale of sound I get from the 3.7s so I may end up with a 2 speaker solution (e.g. maybe the 3.7s and the Perspectives, or the 2.7s and the Perspectives...I dunno...)
It would all be a lot easier if these Thiel designs weren't gone and hence scarce on the used market now. That puts a lot more pressure on my decision, as you know.
BTW, best wishes for whatever health issue you are dealing with!
I am happy that you have been able to take some time to decide the 2.7 / 3.7 debate. I know that there are more issues than speaker vs speaker. So; as earlier, I encourage you to take even more time if you are able.
It is obvious that a lot of members are anticipating your decision (including me) . Just curious.
Anyway in hell to keep Both? This would be my predicament.
Went for another MRI this morning; Need to consider another round of non invasive treatment , another surgery or just tough out more therapy.
On a better note: Solved my hum issue in left channel. Needed to switch from single-ended to XLR on ICs between Preamp and Amps. Dead Quiet, deep black background. More detail. Did not lose any of the traits of my Manley Steelhead. Just happen to have a Pass pre and extra set of ICs. Very happy with system.
Can finally focus on finishing room.
Just remember; whatever your decision. You'll play hell to reverse it.
jonandfamily, It's been a long time since I've heard the CS 1's. I believe they were a very steady 4 Ohm load of moderate sensitivity. All in all a pretty easy load for most amps, providing of course they are suitable into 4 Ohm loads. If one plans on using tubes, it's suggested to double the power rating. As I recall, they were of typical Thiel sound, but due to the limited bass, could sound more tilted up.
Summer is going well. Working hard but finding time to play and listen.
I never see Thiels for sale locally and now there is a CS1.2 pair asking $550 in addition to the CS1 for $225. I'm really curious to see how these sound in my reference setup compared to my CS3.6s that I have now and the SCS4s that originally sparked my interest in Thiels years ago.
There is a pair of Thiel CS1.0s locally for sale priced at $225 that are reportedly in good condition. I'm thinking of purchasing these just to have a pair of vintage, early Jim Thiel designed speakers maybe for a second system. Does anybody here have experience with these? Unsound, you have mentioned them in some of your comments. What do I need to look out for before making the purchase, other than the obvious? (surrounds, etc) . Thanks, Jon
All good here thanks jafant. Hope it’s a good summer for you also.
Oblgny I totally agree with you that it’s worth the rebuild fee and that’s exactly what I’ll be doing.
The nice thing about the Aleene’s repair is twofold really. First it allows me, or anyone else for that matter, to save up rather than have to unexpectedly cough up the money up front or load a credit card. That said, had the Aleene’s not worked so magnificently I wouldn’t have hesitated to send them to Rob immediately. Interestingly, Rob says that as the rebuilds are measured against a reference it isn’t necessary to rebuild both, but I’d just feel happier doing that.
The other thought in my mind is that presumably Thiel rebuilds won’t be around forever, so it’s good to know this nearly free repair can, in some cases, provide a solution to keep them singing.
Great tip. I actually sent my mids to Rob when I bought my first pair of 3.5's and figured the $600 I paid for the work was a good investment in what is a truly amazing loudspeaker. My nephew now has those.
A good while after after that I found another pair of 3.5's from a fellow member and Thielista for $350 - can't beat that with any stick!
Hi Fellow Thiel Lovers, Haven't been on here for a while, but I have been following the thread every Friday when the weekly email arrives from Audiogon. This is a wonderful chain of discussion with like minded audio folk. Great stuff.
Anyway I just wanted to update you all on how I fixed one of my 3.5 mid ranges after it had developed a slight tear in the outer cone rib.
Of course the first thing to say that, as peerless as Jim was as a speaker designer, those tiny mid-ranges in the 3.5 are really vulnerable to breaking in some way. They undergo quite a lot of stress in that otherwise stunning design.
I was listening at reasonably high volume, although nothing at all excessive, when I heard the dreaded rasping sound out of the right channel.
Next morning I composed an email to Rob asking him how much for the rebuild. Reply came back straight away, typical Rob of course, that it would be $300 plus shipping per driver. Now that isn't too out of the way, in the scheme of things, but I figured I'd like to get both mid ranges done simultaneously, taking me somewhere North of $600 of course.
So, I thought, what if I could effect a decent repair job, while I saved up to get both drivers done later in the year/early next?
I then remembered that I had refoamed some old Infinity 625's I keep for general use around the home and how brilliantly Aleene's Tacky Glue gel had worked in giving me superb adhesion at the foam edge/cone interface.
So, I fetched a tiny paintbrush and carefully applied the Aleene's to the pretty small fissure in the 3.5 mid.
Well, what can I say, it has completely solved the issue and I've done tests with my most bass heavy tracks, y'know the Kraftwerks, the Jamiroquais etc., and everything is back to being absolutely perfect and rock solid.
So I just wanted to pass this on, not as a way of depriving Rob of service work, but as a great way of giving the mid-ranges a bit more stay of execution before they have to be shipped to Kentucky when the piggy bank allows.
Aleene's is a pretty well known speaker adhesive solution and appears just perfect for those paper cones on the 3.5 mids. At around $3.50 for a bottle of the stuff, it's worth having some around for such eventualities. It's incredibly flexible and doesn't seem to react badly to any surface.
Much Thanks! for sharing your listening impressions. You are correct, in that, a tubed pre-amp and solid -state power amp is a magical combo. Over the years and my listening experiences, I prefer a robust ss power amp with a tube preamp. The CS 2.4 speaker is indeed special.
The changes from the last 2 months are coming together to allow my CS2.4s to reveal a new level of performance. Power is now an Ayre 5-VX Twenty providing 375watts per side. Previously my 100watt VAC tube amp sounded great but again this change combined with a new dedicated room makes me realize again that Thiels are special. Tube preamp with SS power is working well for me.
I started my obscession in 2011 when my son gave me a subscription for Stereophile in a school fundraiser. Little did he and my wife know what they started. I purchased an Exposure integrated amp and CD player based on Stereophile budget system recommendations and shortly after, made my first Audiogon purchase, my current Thiel CS3.6s. Since then, I have gone through numerous amps, preamps, sources, and cables....most of which were purchased preowned on Audiogon.
Several points to consider. The Thiels have stayed in my setup. All other speakers were bought and sold after a short time. Also, buying and selling preowned is much more efficient. The Thiels have sounded good with every setup including the little Exposure 2010S integrated at low-medium volume. Once I decided I liked the sound of Audio Research tube amps/preamps, I was able to slowly step up the ladder by selling, then buying better preowned components (I previously tried high powered Krell and Bryston).
I agree with the others. I have received a lot of advise based on reading reviews, but mostly on forums like this, and my decisions have been based on listening in my listening rooms under ideal conditions...i.e at night, with a dim room and a glass of wine ;)
take your time in selecting gear for your Thiel speakers. The hobby is not a sprint, but, a marathon. Get out to your local dealers/retailers and listen, listen, listen. Keep writing and posting your listening thoughts, impressions and advice. Have fun.
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!
I will verify that "any old amp" sounds good with Thiel. Subsequently, it's the Thiels that make a body crazy afterward trying to find the mo' better amps to appease the audio gods.
At the very least Thiels are addictive. While almost everything in my current setup has been changed the Thiels remain unchanged. I've tossed Musical Fidelity monoblocks at 'em, a CJ MF2200, Pass Labs X150.5, and maybe even a few others at 'em and the speakers stayed. (Even after a few switches - Maggie 1.7 and .7's, Von Schweikert VR-4's...) Thiel just does everything "right" for me even though my curiousity about other components is a weak spot.
Just for sh*ts and giggles I hooked up an old Pioneer SX1050 receiver this weekend to my 3.6's and ya know what? Damn if it didn't sound good. Love these freakin' speakers.
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