Thiel CS 3.6 mid-range problem

Hey Glenn,
Not sure what the rules are on selling to other members on the forum, but I may be purchasing the set that I am looking at in Cincinnati.
To be honest with you I'm really needing to think about buying the set. The price is right for the pair but I went and auditioned them for an hour last night and am excited, yet a little confused about the Sound from these big Thiels. I kind of thought that they sounded great on some of the jazz fusion tracks I played, but some of the rock just sounded too clinical. They sounded kind of bright and 2 dimensional somehow. I couldn't quite put my finger on what was dissatisfying me. These were playing through really expensive McIntosh tubed separate components, positioned properly in the room, with really expensive flat speaker wire, etc. I did try playing some mp3's off my iPhone into a Naim DAC and they sounded good, but to be honest, I didn't find it as stellar as I was hoping for. Perhaps I will make another trip to listen some more.
The ones I'm looking at are teak and the wood isn't the prettiest I've seen but its mostly in good shape. Your birdseye maple ones sound way cooler. Can I ask what your asking price might be?

Masi,

I listen to mostly rock and have had Thiel 3.6 for over 10 years. They need big SS to really open up, I am sure you have heard that plenty. I use Macintosh 501 mono's and have always had tubes in my preamplifier. If anything 3.6 can be a little dry but the preamplifier adds a little bloom and body. If they sound clinical then clinical is most likely upstream, they reveal the good, bad, and ugly.

In the right system beginning with power all the way to the speakers they

are the best speakers I have heard anywhere near their price point. That's why I have had them so long! Feel free to e-mail if I can offer any more insight...

Masri, I would sell them for a figure generally suggested by the Audiogon bluebook and would add the cost of Thiel's refurbishing the bases (I don't think that will be much) if you want that done.

I would sell them thru Audiogon. I don't want to break any of the rules, especially since everyone on this web site has always been uniformly honest, and everyone seems to do their utmost to make sure that transactions are easy. However, I would be interested to know whether you might be interested, and if so, whether you would want the bases fixed. I could make a decision whether to purchase the 7.s's within about a week. Glenn

Your problem is not the same as THIEL's.
The mid range driver 'blew', in my humble opinion, as a result of the incredibly wide band width asked of the THIEL Mid Range driver. The crossover point AND the dynamic askance of that driver conspired to make it's output 'greater than it's ability'. This is not a surprise of most people who follow this kind of information.
Larry

I had a pair for 8 years powered by #333, ARC preamp, and #37 Transport + Sonic Frontier DAC. Used them also as the front channels in a hometheater setup as well. Never had any issues.

If you like these, I would recommend getting a pair of bases from Sound Anchors. They improve the bass quite a bit.

FrankC