Thiel speaker model range
I'd hazard a guess it might be due to Asian market considerations. In Chinese the number 4 is claimed to sound like the word for death. It is thought best to be avoided. Some buildings in China skip the 4th floor, just as some western buildings skip the 13th floor. The Thiel 3.5 was the last Thiel to use a bass boosting equalizer, but certainly not the only model. I believe all the 3 series preceding and some of the earlier, smaller models did as well. |
Saffrpn_Boots, excellent post is invaluable. I wish Audiogon provided a "sticky" option for it. Just as an FYI, it's not really a complete list, as the pre CS series, SCS models, sub woofers and post Jim Thiel products, etc. are not included. The typically most sought after models all seem to be there. For those not familiar with Thiel's and are seriously considering them, it would behoove them to search for the minimum impedances and phase angles as well. Though most Thiels have a very steady impedance, they don't typically just dip into, but rather often spend much time into those rather low minimum impedances The designs with co-axial drivers also often present challenging phase angles as well. |
https://bluebook.audiogon.com/brands/thiel-audio ...is basically a list of (true) Thiel's until just shortly after the founders passing and subsequent sale of his company's name (his own surname). Later and current Thiel's , with very different designs and made in a different factory are considered by most Thiel enthusiasts as; Thiel's in name only. To their credit, the current Thiel owners are still offering service for Thiel's legacy models. It gets a little more complicated after that. For the most part as one goes numerically up; the first digit will typically suggest that the speakers tend to have gotten bigger (though not always) and more expensive during their own time of production . Numbers after the decimal points offer a chronological advancement within that series. Whether an older higher series (1st digit) or a later, perhaps more recent (after decimal point (when available)) lower series is better, is open to debate. The evolution of a series could be modest or fairly As to what's better is open to debate. On an absolute performance basis alone, I think many Thiel enthusiasts might offer the CS 5i, CS 7.2 and CS 3.7's as Thiel's best offerings. Other Thiel's might offer better value or just be better suited for different rooms, budgets, circumstances, or just personal preference. Though the Thiel's share a house sound (or perhaps share less of one?;-)) the power requirements vary enough between series and even generations within series, that it would behoove one to pay attention to the specific models under consideration. |
