Thiel Owners

PS SIDENOTE...

Just to illustrate how very cool this site can be and how useful this particular thread continues to be,  I have to relate a short back story on my purchase of the 3.6's from Saturday Audio Exchange in Chicago.

Within a day of purchasing them I received a message from a fellow member who is fortunate enough to reside within an hour's drive from the store.  He spoke with the owner who related to him the pair's previous ownership,  further offering that they were in better condition than "as pictured" in the classified,  adding that I was getting a fine pair.

Unsolicited.  Out of the blue.  One Thiel owner to another.

Man,  this kool-aid is addictive.

Very nice! oblgny-

after 22 years in the same space, you will know which configuration is best.
Happy Listening!

Way to go! William,

very good of you to give a shout out to (The) Saturday Audio Exchange.
This place has a niche' for obtaining and acquiring Thiel speakers as I see their ads on a frequent basis.

Happy Listening!

oblgny 
We will wait in anticipation for your first impressions! I myself have not had the opportunity to hear he 3.6 and was always wondering of comparison to other Thiels since rated so highly by Stereophile mag. All different drivers and no eq, so not same as you have been listening to.
Maybe best of all - No break in period! Immediate enjoyment after positioning... : )

More kudos to the guys at Saturday Audio - the speakers were over-the-top well packed, almost to the point of overkill. 

Save for some very minor slackening of the grill cloth and some signs of being moved on the bases they are in perfect condition.  Not even a hair line scratch on the cabinets.  Can't find a flaw.  Amazing good condition. 

First impression?  Believe it or not I find them to be slightly more emphatic with the low mids and bass,  the highs are excellent. 

Heck, they're Thiels. 

My reference tunes were all there - I even listened at a slightly higher volume than I normally do and I felt the air move with the bass like I hadn't with the 3.5's. I also find the bass a little "tighter" than the 3.5's, but "real" and uncoloured,  as were the 3.5's. 

I have no doubts that the Neo will be capable of driving them without stressing since my listening level is very conservative. All in all thus far I would offer that these certainly have a more sonic presence than the 3.5's, the sound seems to find a space about 2-3 feet in front of them. 

 $1099 plus shipping of $350 - maybe my best purchase yet new or used. 

More to follow with extended play over the forthcoming holiday weekend!

oblgny,

Your first impressions of the 3.6s sound just like my first and last impression. I'm a bass player (1977 Fender Jazz Bass) and I have never heard a speaker or speaker/sub combo that gave me such a "real" and uncolored bass sound while maintaining the precise mids and highs.

You say the sound is in front of the speakers. I have my 3.6s about 3 feet from the back wall faced straight forward without toe-in and I hear the sound either at or behind the speakers.

Great deal for that price. I got mine for $1200, but was lucky to have an Audiogon seller only 90 miles away so no shipping. It still amazes me that I spent less on my speakers than any other component in my setup.

I look forward to more impressions over the next days!

jonandfamily...
 
$1200 seems to be the price around where the 3.6's hover - and usually in lesser condition than the ones I just got.  That figure was pretty much my budget, or at least what I was willing to spend. When these came up I simply said "what the hell, stop waiting around  for the perfect storm" and pay the $&?!:@ shipping!

It's comforting to know that my ears are somewhat in tune with a musician's, especially when my ability to play an instrument has been at best a futile pursuit. I could lose my left arm and not miss it. 

That being said, I have fancied myself something of an artist for all of my life, yet another pursuit that has found me earning a living doing something else. When my girlfriend hears music she dances, when I hear music I think. She starts singing along, I listen to the interaction between players, wondering where the tune is heading, often amazed at the difference between where I'd be going and where they went. Good stuff. 

My first pair of Thiels were the 2.2's, and I was spoiled henceforth since then. I started buying here in 2013 and, goodness gracious, haven't been a sane person since. I discovered Thiel here, Pass Labs..the list is still growing.  With each addition and the subsequent subtractions I've appreciated more and more the difficulty in manufacturing a vision. I don't know a mosfet from a misfit, but I know what I like. 

I've gotta shut this off now - early morning busy day tomorrow...

If you email Thiel through their website with your serial numbers, they will tell you the day they were produced. My 3.6s were completed on 5/22/1996. It's a testament to their quality that they are in such good physical and mechanical condition after 21 years.

Thanks! for sharing- jonandfamily

20 years is a long time for a pair of speakers. I certainly would like to hear your system anytime.

Happy Listening!

Happy Friday! ALL -

I'll be discerning the date of manufacture the next time I look to swap cables or something, to move these 107 pound Easter Island totems right now is just too much to ask of my back at the moment!

By far and away the midrange on these vs the 3.5's is significantly different,  the treble is perhaps slightly less "etched" as well; mind you that neither opinion is anywhere close to being a negative.  Voices in particular are almost startlingly lifelike - just listened to some Simon and Garfunkel as though hearing some things all anew. Methinks the slightly larger cabinetry - 7 inches taller, 4 inches deeper at the base, might have something to do with the midrange emphasis over the 3.5's. Obviously, the drivers and crossover difference does as well. 

As did the 3.5's, the 3.6's absolutely excel with jazz.  I like trio and quartets for the most part. I've been digging deep into Monk as well.  

I'm thinking monoblocks already...

Kidding!  Enjoy the weekend!

Enjoy enjoy your new speaks!  My fav thiel, I also have CS6 and prefer the 3.6 for all the reasons you mention.   

Cabinet, Drivers, Crossover and NO EQUALIZER. Speaker position will reward you.
Monoblocks will do more than you hoped for.

Nokonor...  

Yeah. Even though the eq was relatively unobtrusive physically, just having one more cord to plug in kinda bugged me - but the sound was impressive nonetheless.  If I had the space to store them I would, you know, "just in case..."

Plus the 3.6's give me more latitude in finding a suitable integrated without the eq which often can't work with one - I like the setup   

Thanks! for the update- William.

Happy Listening!

Good to see you- pops, nkonor

Happy Listening!

Additionally,
I dig Jazz, especially, the Trio and Quartet setting!

Happy Listening!

Thiel 1.5, Prima Luna tubes, OppoSE, Nordost & Anti Cables- paradise. Hope to have 3.6 (or 2.4) some day, while waiting for a donation of Quads.

Good to see you-  Ifssbn1

how do you like the CS 1.5 w/ Nordost/Anti-cable combo?

Happy Listening!

Guys any of you going to the Munich show next month ?
I'll be there friday and saturday.
If some of you are going and want to meet let me know.

oblgny,
Wow, your statement of THIELS are Maggies with more bass... that's a very sage comment. When I worked for him, we discussed design in depth many times... he would say, Electrostatic/Panel speakers were the best... that sound, (cabinetless) was his goal. Man, you really nailed it.

Larry

Larry (irsky),

Do you mean you worked for Jim Thiel?

I had a conversation with Jim at a CES years ago and we got into his motivation regarding speaker design.  He told me that he'd originally been very enthusiastic about panel speakers (stats and ribbons) because of what they did so well.  But ultimately he concluded there were some inherent design limitations that he couldn't see getting past, and that though he felt box speakers were not quite at the level of planar performance, there was more potential to be exploited in future designs, so he went with box speaker route.

I have to say that Jim was certainly right.  To my ears the limitations of panels remain to this day, especially electrostatics.  That is a certain weightless lack of air-moving quality that, though transparent, doesn't excite the room.  It's like watching musicians perform in another room, as it were. This is just were good dynamic speakers excel - Jim's designs being a perfect example - of bringing forth that density and presence in the sound.   This I think is behind the comments we often hear about Thiels being like "maggie's with bass."  It's not just the bass region, but Thiels produce a transparency and tonality quite like maggies, but with the air-pushing presence through the whole spectrum.

thieliste-

enjoy the show!

Happy Listening!

Good to see you- Irsky

did you work for Thiel?

Happy Listening!

Right On! prof

Happy Listening!

Man, I'm feeling mighty pleased with myself here...

First a musician relates that my description of Thiel's bass reproduction was an accurate description of it, then another post says I nailed it when I stated I find Thiels to be Maggies with bass...THEN he goes onto relate that Jim Thiel also appreciated what panels do so well. 

I think Jim Thiel nailed it, as well. The two brands of speakers that have literally stopped me in my tracks have been Thiels and Maggies.  
Only.  I started with CS2.2 with Thiel, and the MMG series from Magnepan - in either instance once I hit the play button I had to spin around. I could barely believe how good they sounded. 

Obviously I opt for Thiel for many reasons. First, the bass, the clarity, the mids and highs that panels excel with and that Thiels leave nothing to be desired. 

I only wish that the "new" Thiel company could find this thread and find something in it to make them see that abandoning Jim Thiel's vision
is a woeful mistake. 

Great thread, great posts folks!

Fellow Thiel lovers like you, William, makes it possible to have a flourishing thread here. All of you guys are doing an awesome job sharing ideas, experiences and listening expertise.

Keep up the outstanding work!
Happy Listening!

I'm enjoying the thread this evening; It looks as though a lot more 3.6's were sold than CS6, as I don't see many in this forum who have the 6's. At present I'm listening to Cannonball Adderly through my CS6's powered by Krell fpb 250 monoblocks. The bass /vocal blend in "Cannon Reloaded" is jazz club real. I've had all the bigger Thiels except the 7.2's and 3.6.: and I am fine with that. My CS6's will pass with my estate. In fact, I may just bury them with me. When the wife is away, how loud and late will I play!

Absolutely! michaeljbrown

Happy Listening!

Happy Friday! All -

michaeljbrown...

It may well be that a lot more of the CS3.6's were sold than your 6's,  but could it also be that people are way more reluctant to give them up?  The only reason I sold off my 3.5's was to offset/fund the purchase of my 3.6's which,  as you can imagine,  was one of my better audio moves on the last few years.  The fellow member who purchased the 3.5's from me drove from Massachusetts to pick them up - and these were to be his second,  perhaps even backup pair lest his current 3.5's need repair.  Thiel folks are a stubborn lot,  ain't we though?

My Audiogon/Thiel addiction has had me checking out Thiels for sale virtually every day for the past couple of years.   There's still a pair of 5's up for sale that have been there for well over a year,  a pair of Cs5i's came and went on eBay,  then came and went again with no sale - at least to my knowledge.  With the legacy models being extraordinary bargains unlike any other brand,  I'm quite surprised that a secondary market hasn't proliferated.  There has yet to be a single person who has heard my system that isn't impressed as hell with the Thiels.

For now I am happy as a clam with the 3.6's,  and they,  like your 6's,  may find a mention in my will...I'll be cremated,  but not the speakers!

jafant...

A little update on your personal quest?  

jafant,

+1 on update?

oblgny, nkonor ...etc.,

I plan on a few trips this Summer to demo gear. More to follow.

Happy Listening!

Just an FYI guys...There is a set of 2.4's on eBay.
Atlanta and local pick up only, but perfect condition.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Thiel-CS-2-4-Floorstanding-Loudspeakers-pair-Walnut-/222483512083?hash=item3...

I've had a pair of CS .5's for years now and I still love them.  Currently driven by AR Ref 75.  You might think of that as a mis-match, but I don't think so.  Sounds so sweet.  I heard these just after they were released when Bay Area Audio in San Jose had a showroom.  Paired with an AR amp (neither the owner nor I can remember which one) and it was one of the best audiophile listening room experiences I've ever had.  I couldn't afford the amp back then but I bought the speakers.  Many years later I finally was able to afford a super nice AR amp and now the combo is in listening room 1. 

If you go over to Thiel's facebook page there's far more interest in older Thiels than in recent models.  Lots of pictures of systems with real Thiel speakers and people talking about how great they are.  Virtually no interest in the current stuff.  It may have been impossible for the company to improve on Jim Thiel's designs and they may have needed to go a different direction but it's clearly a bummer for a lot of people. 

Happy Listening!

miyu...

I don't find your AR/Thiel setup a mismatch at all. In the past I ran a couple of AR preamps, an LS2, then an LS2b, and an LS 3, and I found each to mate exceptionally with my Thiels. 

My listening levels are conservative to say the least.  My CS2.2's were played with a 35 watt per channel integrated amp - the beginning of my suffering from a chronic, then undiagnosed, case of severe audiophilia.  There is no cure, besides, the disease is fun. 

Remaining high on my list of manufacturers that seem to have an affinity for Thiel are Acoustic Research, Balanced Audio Technology, Pass Labs, Threshold. Of these my top choices are Pass and AR.  

I'm currently digging my Simaudio 340i integrated with my 3.6's, my quest to "dumb down" from all the wiring and procedural complexities encountered with separates. So far, so good.  

Turn it on, turn it up!

The amp currently employed for my Thiel 2.4s is a 100 watt per channel VAC PA100/100 that was upgraded a few years ago. With the choice of an 8, 4, or 2 ohm speaker tap off the transformers this amp performs amazingly well and with Audience 24AU SE cabling the system sounds sublime.  My curiosity is getting the best of me about more power and this has led me to arrange a home audition of an Ayre VX-5 "twenty" starting this afternoon for a couple of days.  Should be fun.

miyu...

I agree with oblgny. The AR/Thiel setup is NOT a mismatch. I think there is a misconception that lower powered tube amps can't drive the Thiels. I have driven my 3.6s with the AR VSi60 and the Ref75 with excellent results. I am now very satisfied with my AR Ref150. I have ventured into solid state Bryston and Krell amps, but I have come back to the tubes and I have no plans to change.

Man, I had some good listening last night...Nicky, Ruth and Heather's voices on The Wailin' Jennys "40 Days" album is absolutely stunning. Their voices are so distinctly focused on the soundstage and blend so seamlessly!

@prof @jafant Don't believe I'm doxing him, but Larry was Director of Sales, and Marketing at Thiel Audio ~2000.  He's mentioned the positions in other threads on here.

With respect to the 2.4SE numbers: according to Rob's memory they made ~200 of the 300 run.  The paperwork is lost which is why the number is inexact.  Sounds like everything went to hell, with the closing of the original Lexington, KY location, and the laid-off staff walking out unceremoniously.  Also, it doesn't appear the speakers were "buttoned up" sequentially either, which could lead to the situation of my pair (181, 182) being the last to leave the factory and yet, not be the highest numbered ones.

I wonder if it's worth putting together a Signature Edition Registry, to see what numbers are out there, and their location?

Cheers,
Warren  

Thanks for the info saffron.