Any opinions on Thiel speakers?

Timothy Smith
Timothy Smith Posts: 764
edited August 2013 in Speakers
Any member opinions on Thiel speakers?

I heard a beat up set of CS 1-something series and was unimpressed.

Recently hear a pair of CS 2.1's hooked up to very nice upstream equipment and was astonishedat how great they sounded.

Borrowed a friend's 1.2's last week and liked them but did not love them. Nowhere near my $75 Meadowlark Kestrels, Dahlquist DQ-10's and DQ-20's or Quad 11's which are current favorites.

Now I have a chance to buy some CS3.5's.

Seem's like my experiences with Thiels are all over the map.

Any opinions for current/past Thiel owners, or folks who have listened to them and have an opinion?

Thanks!
Norh ACA-2B tube pre, Sumo Andromeda SS amp. Magneplanar MMG speakers, M&K MX1250 Subwoofer, Pro-Ject RM1.3 Genie TT with Sumiko Pearl MM cart., Keces DAC, Cambridge Audio Azur 640c CD player
Post edited by Timothy Smith on
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  • cstmar01
    cstmar01 Posts: 4,424
    edited August 2013
    Tim, can you demo the 3.5s before you buy? I have a very old pair of thiels and while very very coherent they lack really any bass to them and I run them with a sub when using them. Paired with the right gear I also like them but do have a bright top end.
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  • Timothy Smith
    Timothy Smith Posts: 764
    edited August 2013
    cstmar01 wrote: »
    Tim, can you demo the 3.5s before you buy? I have a very old pair of thiels and while very very coherent they lack really any bass to them and I run them with a sub when using them. Paired with the right gear I also like them but do have a bright top end.

    Thanks,

    Do your old Thiels have metal tweeter? What model are they?

    The ones I am looking at supposedly do not. I almost always find metal tweeters bright/fatiguing.
    Norh ACA-2B tube pre, Sumo Andromeda SS amp. Magneplanar MMG speakers, M&K MX1250 Subwoofer, Pro-Ject RM1.3 Genie TT with Sumiko Pearl MM cart., Keces DAC, Cambridge Audio Azur 640c CD player
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  • Moose68Bash
    Moose68Bash Posts: 3,843
    edited August 2013
    My wife and I auditioned a pair of CS3.7s before I decided to mod my SRS1.2s. I was not impressed, and that was one of the reasons I decided to mod the SRSs. I'm not sorry I made that choice.

    They were undoubtedly good speakers, but did not IMHO offer sufficient benefits to justify the investment.
    Family Room, Innuos Statement streamer (Roon Core) with Morrow Audio USB cable to McIntosh MC 2700 pre with DC2 Digital Audio Module; AQ Sky XLRs to CAT 600.2 dualmono amp, Morrow Elite Speaker Cables to NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers. Power source for all components: Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One with dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel.

    Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One.

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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,085
    edited August 2013
    Thiel is one brand that I just could never get next to....same with Vandy.

    I see why people like them....and I see why people don't

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • xsmi
    xsmi Posts: 1,798
    edited August 2013
    I LOVED the CS 3.6. I heard them mated to a McCormick DNA-1, amp. ARC LS-16 MkII and a Creek CD Transport with a Theta Pro basic III DAC! There was NOTHING lacking in that combo. The electronics were very laid back with the more forward speakers and it was a match made in heaven.
    2-channelBelles 22A Pre, Emotiva XPA-2 Gen 2, Marantz SA8005, Pro-Ject RPM-10 Turntable, Pro-Ject Phono Box DS3B, Polk Audio Legend L800's, AudioQuest Cable throughout.
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  • -Stanley-
    -Stanley- Posts: 44
    edited August 2013
    I used to own a pair of 2.2's. I thought the bass was pretty good but didn't care for the mids. The highs were just ok. I was mostly unimpressed with the vocals. Haven't heard the 3.5's but they are supposed to be a jump up. For the same money you may be able to do better. Depends on what kind of deal you're getting.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,002
    edited August 2013
    TroyD wrote: »
    Thiel is one brand that I just could never get next to....same with Vandy.

    I see why people like them....and I see why people don't

    BDT

    I'll join that parade.....same here, with both brands.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,655
    edited August 2013
    TroyD wrote: »
    Thiel is one brand that I just could never get next to....same with Vandy.

    I see why people like them....and I see why people don't

    BDT

    Add another one here. I am with Troy and Tony.
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,970
    edited August 2013
    FWIW... the ones I've heard (and, sorry, I cannot quote model numbers) were rather aggressive relative to my tastes.
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  • Mystery
    Mystery Posts: 2,546
    edited August 2013
    Never heard Thiel but Vandersteen 1 I have are probably in top three speakers among the ones I have.

    Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
    Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze.
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited August 2013
    Interesting the distaste for both by the same listener.While both brands are part of only a small group of companies that ascribe to the minimum phase /transient perfect crossover theory they have quite different presentations.In my limited experience Vandies were a little on the laid back side of neutral,kind of bland ,while the Theils tend toward the analytical forward side.If you like one you might hate the other.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,002
    edited August 2013
    Eh...not so much a distain for them, just not my cup of tea. Neither are B&W speakers, doesn't mean their bad though. Now take Thiel and Vandy's totl speakers.....your going to get a different presentation than the lower lines. Which in reality, same can be said for most speaker makers. Still not my bag, but doesn't mean they can't float another person's boat.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited August 2013
    tonyb wrote: »
    Eh...not so much a distain for them.
    Distaste not distain,but any who I just found it interesting since the general trend I have encountered in discussions elsewhere is that they were so disimilar that most liked one or the other.
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  • cstmar01
    cstmar01 Posts: 4,424
    edited August 2013
    Tim I have a really old set the cs2.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited August 2013
    TroyD wrote: »
    Thiel is one brand that I just could never get next to....same with Vandy.

    I see why people like them....and I see why people don't

    BDT
    It's a rare moment when Troy and I agree on something , this is one of those times.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    edited August 2013
    Depending on the price of the Thiel, I would suggest looking at the legacy line. On the used market the focus or even the sig. Here is a set in IL of the sig III for 1300 http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/ele/3920305579.html

    I think if they are around the same price, you might like them better. The image fantastic, better mid & highs to me vs, the DQ10 or 20. BTW I like the DQ better vs the Theil.
    Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,667
    edited August 2013
    erniejade wrote: »
    Depending on the price of the Thiel, I would suggest looking at the legacy line. On the used market the focus or even the sig. Here is a set in IL of the sig III for 1300 http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/ele/3920305579.html

    I think if they are around the same price, you might like them better. The image fantastic, better mid & highs to me vs, the DQ10 or 20. BTW I like the DQ better vs the Theil.

    damn nice speaker for a damn nice price....
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