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!
Nothing! Just my pair of 3.6. I want to get an integrated tube amp, Cardas Clear or Cardas Clear Beyond for cables, and something to stream with. Budget is 10-12 grand CAN. I don't buy new. Future will be CS6s, but not now.
Used to have clear beyond cables, Classe 400 watts, ARC PH8 phono, ARC REF 3 pre, Clearaudio Performance SE table, and a Stradivari cartridge. Looking to build a new system anchored with tube amp.
After using the CJ 60se in my 1.6 house system, I think the Classe "voiced" the speakers, not the tubes feeding the amp feeding the 3.6.
Love CJ, but will 45 tube watts be enough? How about 75? Will I need 200 tube watts?
Nice reply from prof on your CS 2.7 v. CS 3.7 query. I will second, the CS 3.7 with more Bass output. Reason being the CS 3.7 commands a larger room, the owner can employ a larger Power Amp, achieving greater low end energy.
Good to see you here again. I concur, the CJ Classic 60se is a very fine Amp to drive Thiel CS 1.6 or CS 1.7 loudspeakers. What gear and cabling is in your system currently? Nice space 20x20x8.
I used to have a pretty great analog system driving a pair of 3.6s. I was powering them with 300 watts SS. I had to get rid of that system, except the speakers of course. In the meantime I was listening to a pair of 1.6 driven by a Conrad Johnson Classic 60se, a tube amp. It was a glorious match. I know the philosophy was tube preamp and SS amp, but I now believe it is the amp, the last thing in the chain, that "voices" the speaker. l have read that tube watts are entirely different than SS watts, but I thought I'd ask the gurus to weigh in.
How many tube watts do I need to drive 3.6, and later 6s, to very loud levels. Garage is 20 x 20 ft with 8-foot ceilings.
Ironically, that’s a question. I sought to answer myself, but I’m not sure I ever truly answered.
When I had both the 3.7 and 2.7 at the same time, I found it they were very close in terms of the sense of bass depth. Although I could tell that 3.7 went a tiny bit lower, and had a slightly bigger sense of overall scale.
After I sold the 3.7 s, I was generally fine with the frequency range of the 2.7, but I finally did try and integrate a couple of subwoofers. I had two JL Audio 110E subs, a terrific CR1 crossover, and a Dspeaker Anti mode for room correction in the bass.
The difference was actually pretty subtle subjectively in terms of extending the bass and what it added to the sound. I would say, yeah, it added, perhaps a bit more scale and dimensionality. But I don’t really I didn’t like this slight change the characteristics that the subwoofers brought to the overall sound. Plus I found at least my room 2.7 sounded more punchy without the subwoofers. So I sold them.
Ultimately, if you upgrade to the 3.7s what I think you’ll get is a little more reach in the bottom, but not a lot. But also some greater scale to the sound in terms of imaging and sound staging, and slightly more refinement overall to the sound. The bass is a bit more linear, The mid range and highs a bit more suave and refined, and the 3.7 speakers disappear a little bit better.
@profregarding 2.7 vs 3.7 is the latter that much better in the bass? I'm looking at either upgrading to 3.7 or building custom subs. This will be to fill out the bottom in large scale orchestra and organ works.
I installed PowerPlene 1.2 speakers in a conventional 2x4 wall cavity (studs 16" o.c.) without problem, though my sheetrock was 5/8" thick, not 1/2". Long dimension of the speakers are parallel to the studs. I don't think the additional 1/8" is a big deal but YMMV. They've been installed since 2016 without problem.
Good to see you here again. Stay tuned until one of our Power plane experts chimes in to address your query. We have a few fans/owners of the PP on The Panel.
What other gear are you planning for your retirement home? Feel free to post and save pics for a Virtual Systems page. That would be very educational.
Hey all, I’m in the process of building a new retirement home and have two Thiel Powerplane 1.2 in wall speakers that I want to install to use in a two channel system. I read the Thiel owners/instruction manual which states that you don’t just want to mount them to drywall alone due to vibration possibility. I contacted Rob Gillum and purchased two metal support templates that fit between 16” center wall studs. Looks like a good solution for support and so that the drywall people can cut the correct hole.
I guess my concern is that the studs are 2x4’s which in reality are 3.5 inches wide and the speaker dimension for depth is 3 and 7/8. Now, the drywall itself is a half inch which should bring the width to 4 inches. It’s cutting it close, but my assumption is that it should fit….anybody out there that has mounted these and can validate?
I plan to do a “dry fit” before running speaker wire, but thought I would ask.
I'm sorry to say that I do not. I've invested considerable time and effort trying to find/locate that information, to no avail. I do have a new lead via access to some of Jim's back-up files. I'll let you know if I can crack that data.
I have and love my 3 working SmartSubs, but have only heard about the Integrator second-hand.
I haven't given up hope, but the original information seems to actually have been thrown away by the first New Thiel crew.
A pair of CS7 showed up on USADM. They seem reasonably priced at $2.5k, if you happen to be in Nashville TN that is (local pickup only).
One wonders why anyone selling high-end speakers online would only show 3 vague pics of said speakers, none of which even gives a glimpse of the drivers.
Good to see you here today. Been a long time- I hope that you are well and still building those wonderful Racks-and-Stands. Thank You for the tip on SAE in Chicago.
over on U.S. Audiomart there are (2) OEM CS 2.3 coaxial drivers avail. Located in HI from a former Thiel dealer/retailer. I hope this pair find the next good home.
I usually use symphony orchestra music Beethoven's symphonies or Dvorak's "New World " 9th symphony by the Chicago Symphony with Fritz Reiner conducting. I will also use David Crosby's first album to listen to the chiming guitar sounds and how they linger and fade away .
If one feels that your Thiel's are to bright then the adding of a .01uf cap on the tweeter solves the problem , the violins now reach the highest levels without sounding bright or brittle , the hall sounds larger than ever , and this was done after installing Mills resistors and Clarity Purity 15uf caps on both the tweeter and mid crossovers .
Can you talk about the presentation and sound after adding those Cardas .01uf capacitors? Feel free to cite your fave musical tracks that saw an improvement "upgrade".
I agree with you about the grills off and I too wish the woofers were black ,
I'm not sure if an aluminum baffle frame would be an improvement but since the woofer and the baffle are the same as the 2.4 ( of which many more were built ) maybe someday the dream will come true .
A while back I had tried adding resistors in series with the coaxial speakers , they didn't sound good . Tom suggested tring a bypass capacitor on the 1uf bypass capacitors on the tweeter and the mid speakers , I found a pair of .01uf Cardas capacitors and installed them on the tweeter I can highly recommend this "upgrade" . I only did the tweeter because I think these were the last 2 capacitors for sale since Cardas stopped making their golden ratio caps a while back (bummer) .
Thanks for the tip. I researched High Performance Stereo in FL around the time they started advertising these two pairs. The online feedback was not particularly confidence-inspiring: it painted a picture of a business where a knowledgeable audiophile would be comfortable doing business in person, but online buyers reported horror stories that sadly sounded all too credible.
PayPal protects online purchases to some extent, but may require goods to be shipped to a third party after settlement, at buyer's expense. That would be an issue :)
Over on eBay there are a pair of CS5i Scan Speak woofers being offered in Asheboro NC area. I hope these drivers and loudspeakers find the next good home(s).
Scratch that- you do not have a message option on your account?
For your consideration- there are (2) pairs of CS5i loudspeakers offered by High Performance Stereo in the Miami FL area. Walnut finish plus Wood crates for shipping. Keep me posted on buying decision.
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