Thiel Owners

Can hardly await your impressions/thoughts on your new SOA amp.
oblgny- Happy Listening!

Thank You- Jon and oblgny for your steadfast contributions.
Happy Listening!

Thank You- Dave.
where do you purchase your SR cabling? Which shop has the best selection for demo?  Happy Listening!

Agreed All-

keep all discussions here as the intel will benefit the other readers. Chances are, they may want to change out cabling as well. We have an investment going on and wish to extract all of the 1 & 0's out of our music.

Do not forget the dealers/retailers shout-out, especially, the ones w/ plush showrooms/listening spaces to audition gear and cabling!

Folks...
Regarding "sidetracking" Jafant's intended subject matter - no problemo!  All the new posts pertaining to the possible improvements to be had are always welcome and championed. 

I've learned a lot reading the opinions and suggestions here, Keep 'em coming.  

Wow - some very informative posts here regarding cables and the CS5's power handling specs. Thanks to all. 

The Son of Ampzilla arrived via UPS too late last night so I couldn't hook it up. According to the seller and fellow member here it was serviced in 2014 and stored since. Typically, it arrived in as-described condition with ample packaging.  Gawd, I do like the people on this site. 

Anyway, my workload today is appreciably lighter than usual except for an appointment with my accountant to file my 2015 returns. No, I am not going to reveal them unless it's sufficient enough to fund a pair of CS5's!  

The GAS will be hooked up tonight. My cabling is all Transparent throughout, my Preamp remains the BAT VK3i. (pictures in the Virtual Systems section here if anyone cares to peruse)

The reason for buying the GAS?  Boredom. I find the Primare A34.2 to be well suited with my CS3.5's, but the GAS was under $400 shipped so...time for 'sperimentin'!

Crank it up folks, Thiels reveal!

dlcockrum.....I don't mean to propagate sidetracking the Thiel thread either, but I could use your experience with Synergistic cables since I do believe they are good match for Thiel speakers. If I need to move this to private messaging, please let me know. I have settled into mostly SR cables and I'm curious if you have any insight on any recommended changes, because I'm so happy with the sound, I'm afraid to make any changes.

Between my Thiel CS 3.6 and my Audio Research Reference 150 amp, I have SR Tesla Accelerators. Between the AR Reference 150 and the AR Reference 5 preamp (and from the preamp to my Modwright tube modified Oppo BDP105), I have SR Tesla Accelerator XLR interconnects. I have SR AC Master Coupler X-series power cords on the Oppo BDP105 and its Modwright PS 9.0 power supply. Both amp and preamp are powered with SR Tesla T3s (UHC T3 on the amp). Everything is plugged into PS Audio P5 Powerplant which is powered with PS Audio AC12 power cord.

I have been thinking of upgrading to a preowned set of SR Apex speaker cables for the Thiels, but I'm having second thoughts based on your post. Any thoughts would be welcomed.

Jon

Happy Listening!

Dave,

it is good to read and learn that SR cabling is a sonic match for Thiel.
These cables/cords are on my must-demo list!

Give a shout-out to the various dealers/retailers that you have worked w/ system building over the years.

Happy Listening!

Keep us posted- robinbarbour

dlcockrum  (Dave),

Very impressive system! It's good to see someone who has gone through various changes and get their input. I struggle with what direction to go and it's always good to see another's experience and final conclusion. (Never really finished is it?) 
I see there is a pair of the DR-9 amps for sale on another site for 2K, so this seems like an amp worth investigating...

Happy Listening!

Again, Welcome! aboard- Dave.
I am impressed w/ your contribution, especially, the cabling selection.
I am a "cable guy" first and foremost.

Good Day Dave,

nice to have you here. YES! any Thiel model can be discussed from the past, present or future. We all have a likeable vintage as can be read in this forum. 

Several gentlemen here enjoy the late 80's to early 90's designs.
Happy Listening!

How ya doing out there- oblgny?

1st weekend in October!

Happy Listening!

Happy Listening!

Excellent! oblgny

please, keep me posted as you massage the new SOA into your system.
I am very curious to learn how it affects your sound. Additionally, it is good to compare amps- Primare vs SOA.

Woohoo - I just purchased from a fellow member here a GAS Son Of Ampzilla which will be swapped in and out with my Primare A34.2 just for kicks.  GAS is one of those manufacturers I've been curious about for a long time, along with Moscode, Plinius, Crown, Belles, and Coda. 

The GAS is rated at 160 watts into 4 ohms which is ample enough for my 3.5's - especially since my listening level is conservative.  

The pre remains a BAT VK3i which I think is excellent as well. 

Should be fun...

As we gear up for another work week, hope you guys are enjoying the Music!

Laughing...
As we enter the Fall season I know that some of you will break out the tubed gear to accompany your Thiel speakers.  Happy Listening!

So not only is it unwise; it's unsound. BA DUM PAH! 

Thank you. I'm here all week. Don't forget to tip your bar staff. 

saffron_boots:

note the last sentence in paragraph 11:
http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/690thiel/index.html#OCgcjcgiVx3FrhzX.97

though not active, on point to some degree never the less:
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/thiel-cs5-modifications

@robinbarbour Understood.  What I was getting at was the form factor of the CS6. Obviously it would need a sealed chamber at the bottom to isolate the 12" sub from the 10". 

I was also thinking about the crossover considerations that Thiel already took into account when developing the specific PX02 that could marry an SS3 to a CS6 (if it even exists). Maybe start from there, and figure out if freqs are augmented rather than crossed over, and the impact that has on the main driver and its radiator. 

Hope you guys are having a fun and music filled Thiel week!

Happy Listening!

Until i got my 1st taste of the CS 2.4, later on the CS 2.4SE (my reference)
I did not think much of a passive Bass radiator? After hearing these outstanding speakers, I was "hooked" and  a believer!

I think the reason for active is to couple drivers directly to the amplifier and get rid of crossover components. Also a passive radiator shares same compartment with the woofer and is coupled together by the air pressure, so I don't think two active woofers of different designs would work. The SS3 amp is designed specifically for bass reproduction with specific Thiele/Small parameters in mind and proprietary to the drivers.
Though nut to crack, but good luck! 

Cool project- saffron!

if you decide to do it, keep me posted. Happy Listening!

Does anybody know whether Jim Thiel ever played around with the idea of an active loudspeaker?

I've wondered about frankensteining something in the CS6 form factor, consisting of the CS3.7's crossover, coax, and woofer; and the PX02, SS3's amp and 12" subwoofer replacing the passive radiator. 

Goofy i know, but was thinking that if Vandersteen was actively doing it (pardon the pun), whether it would work...

I need  a pair of the C's 2.4 as I bought a ss2.2 suggest has cs3.7 as a front and C's 2.4 as surrounds will be looking

TY- spenrock

I have spent some times w/ Classe' separates, but never their integrated amps. Same w/ Krell. There are so many good choices.

Most like the newer Krell Vanguard. I do not know if Classe' still builds an integrated or not?  Cabling is the most important and often forgotten facet, as it ties an excellent system, together.

It's been a long while, but I think the Krell amps were KSA-50, KAV-500 (bridegable multichannel). The Krell KAV-300i (integrated) was used with my friends 3.6s for many years, and he liked the setup. However, last time I saw them, he was using the Classe CAP-151, which he likes better.

Shorter auditions with Classe amps were the CA-100, CA-150 & CAP-2100 (int). 

Cabling, I don't know what my friend used. Myself Polk Cobra, Oyaide (sorry don't know the model. Very quick, but perhaps a little light in the bass), DIY twisted and braided kinda like Kimber.

Thanks! for sharing- spenrock

can you tell me and the guys here about the Krell and Classe' amps used by you guys?  Cabling is the most important factor as well. Happy Listening!

Just stumbled on to this discussion.

I have a pair of 2.3s, and my friend 3.6s.  As people have said, good clean power with the ability to effortlessly drive 4 ohm (2 ohm ideally) speakers will make a dramatic difference. When matched well, the Thiels are really special.

We had some success with older Krell amps and almost any age Classe (as others have noted). The Classe's really match well, being able to really grab hold of the lower frequencies, giving tight, articulate, but full bass. Even an older Classe CAP151 integrated was a great match with his 3.6s in a modest size room.

Someone mentioned that NAD doesn't match well. Hmmm... that reminds to try my NAD M2 (digital power dac) with my 2.3s that are in storage because my listening space is a little small at the moment. The NAD M2 completely blew away my Peachtree Nova 125 amp with the bookshelves currently in my system.

Agree, Thiels really perform way beyond their price point. Buying older models in good condition is value beyond belief.

Much Thanks! Jeff

the PL and Rogue Audio products are real "sleepers" and can compete w/ the big guys like ARC, CJ...etc.

IMO, Pass Labs is the best solid-state at the present.

Jfant;

I went to Chicago to listen to Pass Labs, a while ago,and also listened to a PrimaLuna Integrated with SonusFaber Olympics

The PrimaLuna was very, very smooth and velvety with nasty rock albums that I brought along as reference. 

If integrated is an option, I would highly recommend a look at PL.

i listened with ARC stuff, too
PL was much better to me, CJ like

jeff

Agreed unsound,

Thiel offers a 10-yr warranty and frequently honors another or 2 nd owner
on its loudspeakers.  This type of commitment really "seals" any deal for me.

Happy Listening!

Many Thanks! nkonor-

you raise an excellent point of view, in that, older power amps are still very much relevant. So long as some tech can replace caps and other critical parts as they die off, very relevant.  Happy Listening!

The 3.5 midranges with their paper surrounds occasionally need to be rebuilt. I've had both of my pair rebuilt by Thiel once gratis 10 years after the warranty ran out, only had to pay for shipping there. I sure miss Shari Graham and the non pareil  Thiel customer service. Not bad for  25 year old speakers.

Within their power range those Forte 7's were wonderful!

I used a pair of Forte model 7 monos to drive the Thiel 3.5s (75w - pure class A ( Still have them; wonderful sounding amps.) Then switched to a pair of Spectral DMA 90s run as bridged monos (200w)
Had more than a few conversations with Kathy; after 8yrs, Kathy sent a letter along with the midrange driver saying that my warranty was up and that I would have to pay for replacements. Sold them shortly after.

And ears!  Happy Listening!

$300 is nothing, if it means extending the life of your speakers.

This is the most important aspect of owning Thiel speakers.
As we see so many companies dumping customer service, it is good to read and know, that Thiel has our best interest at heart.

Welcome! nkonor-

what power amps were you using to blow so many drivers?