Thiel Owners

Conrad Johnson is excellent, as the company offers, tubed and solid-state gear! Something for everyone.

Happy Listening!

Happy Listening!

Ah, got it. 

Sometimes I wish I'd grabbed an early pair of 2.7s that were available to me, if only because they are a bit smaller and they had the ebony finish I coveted. 

Still, it's simply astonishing how well the 3.7s work in my small room.  In terms of "room problems," frequency bulges or nodes they are as perfect as I've ever heard in any speaker anywhere.  There is literally nothing in any track I can play that trips them up and calls attention to the speaker.

And, again, that's driving them with the CJ tubes.  Though I used to own a smaller CJ tube amp many years ago before the Premier 12s, and it didn't control the bass of larger speakers like the Premier 12s do.

As I may have mentioned earlier in the thread, I've also sometimes hooked up my tiny Eico HF 81 14Wpc integrated tube amp and, aside from the bass getting a bit overwarm, it sounded glorious with the 3.7s.

I have a set of 2.7's and reading your thread, made me want to experiment with tubes. I have only tried ss amplification.
I too, have a less than ideal room size and have stayed with Thiel's 2 series instead of 3 series because of this. 

robinbarbour,

Yes, why do you ask?

(The only thing that sort of temps me to replace them someday could be some VAC amps.  The CJs have been able to control every big or small speaker I've had, combining a tautness and punch with the CJ musicality.  It's a very hard combination to give up).

prof,
Will you still be using your cj premier amps? 

prof, I look forward to that thread!

Been I while since I posted in this thread, happy to see it still going!

A few things:

1. Has anyone noticed that the sales of the Thiel flagship 3.7 and 2.7 speakers has almost totally dried up???!!!

I’d decided I had to have the 2.7 or 3.7 soon after Jim had passed away and after Thiel changed hands to the new speaker design. So in early 2015 I had to go into the second hand/dealer demo market to get them. And there were lots available at that point. I missed out on some sales of the ebony finish I favored, so I grabbed a morado/red pair.

I’m glad I grabbed that pair when I did because having continued to monitor the market..I noticed that shortly after that they became very sparse in the second hand market - like I got in at the tail end of the fire-sale.  It now seems damned hard to come across those classic flagship models for sale anymore - specifically in North America. It’s like whoever owns one is keeping it! And owning the 3.7s, boy do I understand that.

2. That said...I may be selling my 3.7s - and if so I already feel regret! - due to a rather idiosyncratic set up that causes me some ergonomic problems. Basically, I have a smallish room that does double duty as my home theater and two channel listening room. So it’s already full of my surround speakers, and I have to drag the 3.7s in and out to listen to them. I’ve thought of some possible solutions to the issue, but none seem as good as just trying to find a smaller speaker to work with. This comes at a time when I’ve currently dialed the Thiels in to such a degree in my room that my mind is just blown by these things.

But...before I decide on whether I’m keeping them, I’ve started to seriously research and demo other more portable alternatives to the 3.7. So I’ve read a lot about and auditioned: Harbeth speakers, JM Reynaud, Audio Note, Audio Physic, Vivid (kind of, just quickly), and Joseph Audio thus far.

I plan to do start another thread with a detailed post about what it is like living with the 3.7s and my impressions of those other speakers. And if I’ve found anything worthy of replacing the Thiels :-)

Love, love this thread.
I have taken my 3.6s as far as they can go in terms of performance and I'd like to upgrade to Thiel 6, and then to 3.7. Thoughts please.
Also, the reviews of the 3.7s are all fantastic, but they don't seem to be holding their value as one can pick up a pair for less than a third of their retail price. These two points don't jive as far as I'm concerned. Can anyone explain?

Happy Friday! All-

Me as well- William,

upon my first Thiel CS 2.4 demo, I was struck by the proverbial "lightning"
Like you, I stumbled upon them at Soundscape in Baltimore MD.  They were in the used/demo sound room.  I was on a work assignment for 3-months and spent several days each week of that duration as I could not get enough of the "sound" that I was hearing.  Unreal.

Happy Listening!

Robinbarbour...

Yeah, pretty ridiculous the amount of changes, right?

So far as not having auditioned the 3.6's before buying them, all I can say is that I didn't have the opportunity to do so on my 2.3's nor the 3.5's.  Stumbling upon Thiel has proven to be one of the most fortunate happenin's in my audio life. 

I did a fair amount of reading about Jim Thiel and his work prior to my first purchase, and that's pretty much what got me.  I liked his overall sensibilities, and the various reviews I picked up here and elsewhere pretty much all contended the same opinion - great speakers at almost any price.  And since we're all now relegated to buying used ones only,  that sentiment resonates much deeper.  (No pun intended. )

My current spate of shifting equipment has not disappointed me - though it's been a tad ridiculous.  I am utterly confident that I'll enjoy them as I am utterly confident that whomever buys my 3.5's will as well. 

This Thiel kool-aid we're drinking is damn yummy!

Good to see you- robinbarbour

this is certainly the year for change, in more ways than one.
The 3.5 model has a strong following as well.

Happy Listening!

Another nice score! oblgny

the 3.6 model really has a strong following here.  Keep me posted and Happy Listening!

Good to see you again- zkga

Nice score!  Yes, seek out the Sound Anchor or original Thiel outriggers for your speakers.  The imaging is incredible w/ the newer CS series (1.5, 1.6, 2.4, 2.4SE, 2.7 and 3.7).

Happy Listening!

oblgny
Are you sure you want to sell that quickly? Have you listened extensively to the 3.6?
It's just that some like the 3.5 over the 3.6...
Wow - lot of changes this year in your system. Kudos to you for being so decisive! 

I finally located a pair of 3.6's in what appear to be acceptably good condition considering their age for $1450,  all including crating and shipment from Chicago.  Quite difficult to find in or around New York. 

My 3.5's are up here on the site, local pickup only.  

I'll be sticking with all Transparent cabling as I've been for the last few months. They're swell. 

Should arrive late next week. 

Woohoo!

So I picked up the 1.5's today...near perfect shape (8 to 9 by agon rating) and quickly set them up with a NAD D3020 and anticables (main systems are boxed up for a move) and streaming pandora through a Galaxy S7... even with this far less than ideal set up they image really well and seam very accurate, not at all bright or harsh. 

their normal diet will be fed by a Linn LP12 through an Ayre  P-5XE phono and a Coda CsiB (400 into 8ohm, 800 into 4) 

After 20 minutes I like these enough to know they're worth hunting down a pair of Sound Anchor stands (or Target?) for.... need to get the tweeter height up a bit.

does anyone have any leads on good stands for these? 

Thanks,

Thanks Jafant, there's a pair of birdseye maple 1.5's here in Portland that look to be in really nice shape for 575.00 going to check them out at noon.  

I've been free of the audio addiction for a couple of years (living on a house boat does not make the turn table happy!) but just got a new place that has rooms to support it.  My past speakers were Dunlavy SCIVA's (all time favorite) that evolved into the Vandersteen range (2ce sig, 3A sig, quattro) after a move to a place that didn't have the needed room size. I never really got on with the vandersteens and missed the dynamics of the dunlavy's.   I'm hoping to find the accuracy that time aligned and phase coherent drivers bring and get some dynamics and impact back. 

Looking for 2.4, 2.7's as well for a bigger room... 

Hey guys,

any experience/thoughts on Thiel 1.5's ?   Will they be enough for a 10X15 room? 


Thanks,
Greg

Happy Listening!

Sure- unsound,

I will be in a position to travel as soon as Summer arrives.
I do have my plan narrowed down to a tubed pre-amp and solid-state power amp.  I have heard this combo spread among several different Audio brands and really enjoyed the musicality and synergy.  This combo also jives very well w/ Thiel loudspeakers.

^ do you have short lists of contenders and yet to auditions?

Luckily, I do not have too many more items to audition or demo- unsound.

Happy Listening!

Happy Listening!

Good to see you again- Dave.

^Well, it does seem as though he's been shopping this thread for advice on amplification for his CS 2.4 SE's for over a year now.

Much Thanks! robinbarbour-
yes, this is a stone classic for sure.  I wish it were closer to me though.
I would never have an amp like this shipped cross-country.

Happy Listening!

jafant,
They are selling your amp on ebay! : )
This is one for the archives...I remember reading about someone that sent one of these to cj for update to modern caps they use today.
This is a very rare bird indeed.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/152478204813?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Good to see you again, robinbarbour.

Happy Listening!

Thanks robin I will give the PCS a shot. The MCS 1 is a killer center but it has to have the right supporting cast. Concur also on the inwall speakers, especially the front ones. My power points are ok, as they are more directional. With the mains, a show with YoYo Ma sounded shrill..Don't see many PCS, will try Ebay, even though I have already given them enough money recently.
I don't see anything wrong with trying 2.2's or 2.3's either...

michaeljbrown,
Have you thought about the Thiel PCS? Identical drivers as used in the MCS and less obtrusive. I used four along with MCS and Smartsub prior to my current system and sounded great.
I never really liked the in wall premise for surround sound - too much depends on placement for good sound and no options with in wall. 

Good to see you- michaeljbrown

 I am certain that Bob in Dallas is very grateful that he bought your CS 2.4 loudspeakers!  The 2.4 is the one model that started my love and passion for Thiel loudspeakers. 

I concur, seek out another pair of CS 2.4 or better, the CS 2.4SE and you will once again be musically rewarded.

Happy Listening!

Hey guys, I haven't posted in awhile, as I've been revising my separate HT system. Unfortunately, I sold my 2.4's to Bob in Dallas. I had the misapprehension that they were wasted as mains in HT duty.
Wrong.
I have Thiel power planes in wall right & left front, with Thiel MCS1 center and powerpoint rears; the sub is a Thiel SS1. 
But Now the center MCS 1 dominates the smaller powerplanes, so I was thinking to get some thiel 2 series mains, like the 2.2 or 2.3..The 2.4's are scarce, and expensive. Two more MCS1's would be killer, but are too high(over 3200 on ebay). I think the 1.5's are not enough, and of course my CS6's are firmly ensconced in my 2 channel system. They would be ridiculous anyway in my HT system. So, I figure the best deal would be 2.2's, which I had for over 10 years before going up to 2.3's and then the 2.4's.  Any ideas, guys?
Yeah, I know. Bite the bullet, admit I screwed up, and find some more 2.4's!

That works too! Jay

Happy Listening!

I don't know if "carefully selected" is an apt description. I looked up serendipity in the dictionary and a picture of my system was there ;-)

Jay

Right On! Jay,

I have been around Audio long enough to learn that a proper mix of cabling can work, if carefully selected.  Happy Listening!

Haha yes, interesting mix indeed but it works for me. I do plan to change them up over time and am partial to Cardas for the interconnects but love the Purist for my speaker cabling.

A Wilson may still be in the future for me but not in the immediate one :-)

Best,

jay

Good to see you-  jcatral14

I have been reading about Wadia owners not being able to get parts/service for their spinners? This is unacceptable, IMO.  Hope the company goes under soon.

While, I have not spent time w/ Sabrina, I did spend much time w/ the Sophia/Sasha models. Nice speakers that plays well (no pun) w/ tubed and ss gear. Look at the price one must spend, then, one must nail -down the correct gear and cabling (Transparent is the best).

I still preferred the CS 2.4, 2.4SE. 2.7 or 3.7 in Thiel over the Wilson.


Reading over your system- you have an interesting mix of Cabling!

Happy Listening!

Had been eyeing Wilson Sabrinas for the past year ever since I heard them at CES 2016 but now I'm not so sure.

My Wadia 850CDP recently gave up the ghost and can't be revived anymore :-( so I had to look for a replacement. Settled on a PS Audio PWT and DSJ combo and just got them last Friday. Installed them and WOW!!!!!

Not sure I have heard my 3.6 sound this good! :-D

Current setup:

PWT >HDMI(I2S) > DSJ > MIT interconnect (not sure what model) > ARC LS2B > Cardas Balanced > Classes CA-200 > Purist Elementa > Thiel 3.6

I'm really enjoying my system. Can't wait till the digital front end breaks in :-)

Maybe I'll use the funds for the Sabrina on a new Pass Labs INT250 ;-)

Have a good one!

Laughing...oblgny

R. I. P.  Chuck Berry...

Upon learning of his passing last night I began rummaging through my cd and vinyl collection in the hope of finding an album of his to spin in tribute. 

It wasn't long before I discovered that I don't own a single recording of his in my collection. 

Then I looked at the hundreds of albums I own again and realized,  oh yes I do. 

Thanks! for sharing- William.

Happy Listening!