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 realized last night that what I've been doing to better enjoy these speakers has been subtracting elements associated with them to let them perform their best.
It's been said that photography is removing elements, painting is adding them. Coming to appreciate the Pass for its articulate sonics after first appreciating the Thiels for the same, the rest has been incremental, looking for those small improvements the pair will reveal together. Adding better power, speaker, and interconnect cables, along with a power conditioner was subtraction, removing as much noise from the chain as my budget will currently permit.
Unsound's suggestion that I seek an additional bass eq for my 3.5's and have them modded into monos with balanced connects is another avenue heading in the same direction - a better, cleaner signal for them, and a very worthy investment in a product I find extraordinarily difficult to best.
The "less" a Thiel has to have tossed its way the better it will perform. Clean up the power delivered, invest in better cables, and you'll see the ghost of Jim Thiel smiling back at you.
the middle tier is a sweet spot for Transparent (both IC & SP cabling). Keep a watch for higher tiered products at used/demo prices (this is where you hit pay dirt).
TY- for sharing your thoughts. Keep the Transparent cabling in your rig, as you can always, move up their chain at leisure. A musical reward awaits you for climbing to a better cable/cord.
If anything with using balanced connects I find the Thiels to be responsive to anything in the chain. (With the exception of my Pass/BAT I have cheap-seats Transparent cables throughout.) The Thiel bass eq has unbalanced connects so...had to settle.
Funny story...I just purchased a pair of Dynaudio Focus 220 speakers for my girlfriend's new house. I had Dynaudio monitors before - in the same series. I hooked them up when I got them home for a test, and being able to use balanced connects with my amp/pre I was curious. Duh. I forgot to take the Thiel bass eq out of the chain and those Dynaudios sounded like crap! Then I remembered to remove it and use my balanced connects. BIG difference. They ain't no Thiels but the improvement was palpable.
As unsound previuosly suggested I am still looking for a second eq to have modded into balanced connects, one for each of my 3.5's, but that's a down the road endeavor.
Anyway, if this little 'speriment offered me anything it was, once again, bringing out the best in a colorless amp with balanced connects to a tubed pre. If it made those Dynaudios deliver better sonics I almost shudder as to what might be enjoyed with my Thiels.
I would be very hard pressed to go back to unbalanced connects for any reason. My Pass and BAT VK3i loved the temporary hookup. There IS a difference between the cabling that is almost immediately apparent. Balanced wins.
Wow. I haven't looked at "new today" classifieds in a couple of days. Have I finally found it????
I'm looking at tube preamps to match with my Krell fpb250 monos & Thiel CS6's; live_lemming how do you like your VK3ix pre? I have heard very nice things about that particular model. There is one on 'gon for 1700. I'm looking at well into the 2,000's for ARC or CJ's. I might point out to the Pass guys that I have had great luck with Krell running 2.4's and am pleased with the 250's on the big 6's..
i use Purist Audio Design, Venustas Rev1 for the speaker cable, Venustas Rev 1 for the phono cable and Cardas Clear Light balanced cables for everything else.
I will concur w/ you on the Parasound. These amps are very much relevant in Audio circles under the helm of John Curl.
I particularly, enjoy his older "HCA" series. Very powerful, robust SS designs. The newest integrated in on my must demo list for all of the praise it receives in the press.
It is good to learn that B.A.T. is a sonic match w/ both PL and Parasound!
Most important of all- which brand(s) of cabling are you using?
im glad to see another member running BAT pre with SS amp on the Thiels. I run a BAT VK3ix pre with a Parasound A21. I know that the Parasound isn't a fancy hi end name, but man this thing drives the speakers with ease without any obvious tonal issues.
I went through a few amps to arrive at the Parasound and it will be the next piece I may upgrade. All I know is that combined with my VPI Prime is does make some amazing sound.
Hello. I've got the normal CS 2.4's. I've read that to attain the SE upgrade (or at least most of it?). A couple capacitors are changed in the crossover. I'm am having a tough time finding the DIY post that gives the most current up to date and correct info. Would it be possible for one of you nice chaps to show a link? It would be much appreciated.
The Pass, like my Thiels, comprise the reference points for what is now easily the best system I've had. I simply can't believe I could do any better spending significantly more unless, of course, I could move up a notch or two with either. It's not fanaticism, it's that the law of diminishing returns would seriously apply.
The Pass does run warm, to the side of "hot" for some, but I'll say very warm. It sits centered atop my Salamander cabinet, so there's no concern about thermal buildup. I usually let the B. A. T. pre and the amp warm up for at least 15 minutes before listening, as doing so with the Primare/B. A. T. combo I had before definitely had positive effect. With the Pass it's just gravy.
I know that Pass is one of your amp considerations. For me it's the best match for Thiel. A colorless revealing speaker being driven by a colorless, uncompromising amp.
Yes only the CS 3.7 will stay, this system is short term because i didn't want the speakers to stay longer in their boxes. As you might know it's not good to not drive your speakers for a very long period of time as some components and filters could dry. That's what made me decide to put up this little short term system in my office to at least drive the Thiels from time to time. So your going for an all in one big CD Player like the Esoteric K03-X ? My future reference system will be as follow : 2 mono blocks, a preamp, a DAC with seperate server from TotalDac and a turntable probably from Bergmann.
jafant like i told you i have a very modest system to drive my CS 3.7 : Classé CAP-151 connected to a Hegel HD12 DAC with balanced Cardas Golden Cross interconnects. For the speakers i'm using my very old Siltech LS 4-120 speaker cables. HMS energia powercords. Streaming high res files from my PC with JRiver and Audioquest USB cable. All of the gear was bought used except the USB cable.
Are you going to have a DAC in your system ? if so which ones are you considering ?
One of the artists who's recordings marked the beginning of my appreciation for jazz, and the true art of the music itself. Having been a typical rock fan for most of my teens, it was through a wacky high school English teacher's stereo that I first heard Monk, Charlie Parker, Brubeck etc., learning anew that jazz is literature, poetry, an unbridled form of expression which found a home in my music mind and has since never strayed.
This is experience also began marked the beginning of my interest in hi-fi. I'm talking my English teacher's tube equipment and the pair of Dahlquist DQ-10's we listened through.
My my condolences to Mr. Brubeck's closest friends and family, my sincere appreciation for the body of work remaining for us to enjoy ad infinitum. A class act and a fine musician.
Thanks jafant, well yes we have quiet a number of good high end dealers here in France. I fell in love with Thiel speakers in 1997 thanks do a local dealer who sold me my first pair : CS 1.5, i still have them. Did you ever consider the Dartzeel CTH-8550 ? even though you prefer going the seperates route.
I really liked the Calypso Signature pre-amp. I am leaning heavily to Pass Labs. The hardest part is wether or not to go w/ a tubed pre-amp (Conrad Johnson, Audio Research or Aesthetix).
What do you have on your latest short list in terms of amp-preamp combo for your future reference system ? I'm also investigating on my side and was able to listen to the Aesthetix combo last week in Lyon, i think that is a serious option for Thiels. Hybrid solution might be the way to go at least to my taste. I will investigate on Ypsilon gear also, the Aelius II monos have very good reviews. Here is some reading if you want to learn about this company : http://www.theaudiobeat.com/visits/ypsilon_interview.htm
Patience, makes it all possible. I was fortunate enough to spend 3 months w/ the original CS 2.4 on a related work assignment. Additionally, I spent another 3 months listening to the CS 2.4 SE #50/51 under the same circumstances. Several days per week for the entire 3 months I listened to those models. That is how I came about my decision to purchase.
The hardest part of the reference equation is solved. Now, I can focus on the gear that will drive them. I am in no rush as I accomplish perfection.
jafant man i saw your pics of your beautiful CS 2.4SE not connected to any system... How can you look at them everyday and not beeing able to listen to music ? I know you are in the same boat as i am wanting to build a reference system with them, but meanwhile why don't you do like i did buy a modest used Integrated and a DAC to stream high res files via USB ? For a very small budget you could at least listen to your CS 2.4SE. I bought my CS 3.7 2 years ago and couldn't wait any longer staring at them and not beeing able to listen to them.
Thank You -jond for the positive feedback. I listen to music in my GMC truck w/ top Bose / XM radio system. At home, I listen to certain internet radio via B&W MM-1 computer speakers. I keep both tuned up w/ various tweaking/system tuning CDs for optimal playback. When I travel for business, I take a few well known discs w/ me as I visit dealers/retailers abroad.
frozentundra (Jeff), oblgny (William), dlcockrum (Dave), and other esteemed gentlemen of this thread. I have posted a few pics in the Virtual Systems section here on the 'Gon. Check out "Alabama Getaway". Happy Listening!
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