General Asylum: REVIEW: Thiel Audio CS 2.4 Speakers by nighteyes0

Model:	CS 2.4
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$3900
Description:	3 way floorstander
Manufacturer URL:	Thiel Audio
Manufacturer URL:	Thiel Audio

Review by nighteyes0 ( A ) on November 15, 2003 at 10:45:36
IP Address: 68.193.99.117

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for the CS 2.4

Just got the Thiel 2.4s in my system and for what it's worth to my fellow inmates, I thought I would provide my early impressions. First, these are fully broken in, as I bought them from an owner who had them for four months and didn't like them. Price was right and compared to a pair of two-year-old demo Aerial Acoustics 7bs I was considering from a local dealer, these speakers were the better deal for more than just the price difference. Obviiously, the Aerials and Thiels are very different sounding speakers, so they are not an even up comparison and I was torn between the sound each would provide in my system. Suffice to say, I went the more transparent route with the Thiels. My system: Pass Labs X250, Cary SLP 88 tube rolled with Raytheon VT 231s, All HT truthlink ICs, HT Pro 9 Plus Monowire speaker cables. Sources are Aries 2 TT with Dynavector 20XH and modded MH CD 25 used as transport into MF A3-24 DAC. Speakers are 26" from side walls and 46" from front wall. Listening at 8' from speakers which are slightly toed in. Reference CDs: 20 bit Kind of Blue, Cassandra Wilson's New Moon Daughter. Analog: Lucinda Williams' World With Tears.
I was impressed by the incredible resolution of the 2.4s. On KOB's So What, at low to moderate low volumes, I was able to hear more distinctly the bass finger work. The drums were more alive and in your face and Coltrane and Adderley's sax work were more dynamic and clear without being harsh on the high notes. Miles was dead center and his trumpet had a dreamy quality. I also have the Classic Records LP reissue which should sound even better. I found the music to be more engaging. On Wilson's CD, the first cut, which is my reference track. there is a lot going on. There was a strong sense of the instruments placement across the soundstage without smearing. Wilson't voice has more depth giving the impression that she is in the room. The low frequencies were tighter, bongos on "Solomon Sang" were clear and deep. The speakers seemed to disappear, letting through all the information on the CD. On analog, Williams' voice comes across with all the emotion of her music in Those Three Days. Bass drum is tight on the bluesey "Atonement."
Summing up, I found the speakers to be remarkably transparent, but not as unforgiving as led to believe. Perhaps, that's due to the tubes and cables in my system. Yet, I heard more information than ever before. Bass was full and an unexpected surprise. Again, this could be more a function of my room size. Since I rarely crank the volume above 80 dbs, I'm not really too concerned with room ineraction. My room is well damped anyway. One caveat, I have not listened to any of my hard rock recordings, many of them which are almost unlistenable in this system. Good for the car. I will post a follow up when I pick through my rock selections
Finally, if you are looking for an honest speaker system and value the music the way it was recorded, these are the speakers to get.
Al

Product Weakness: Speaker needs lots of high quality power. Not for the sqeamish. Speaker is not for everyone. Does not mask any of the shortcomings in recordings or poor sources. Must have high quality front end to benefit from the speaker's transparency. best with Tube/Solid State components.
Product Strengths: Transparent. highly resolved speaker with tons of low level resolution. Good balance throughout frequency range. Good bass. Musical and engaging speaker.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Pass Labs X250 250W/Ch
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Cary SLP 88
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Aries 2 Black Knight
Speakers:	Thiel CS 2 and 2.4
Cables/Interconnects:	Harmonic Technology Truth Link ICs/Pro 9 Plus Speaker cables
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jazz -- Kind of Blue, Cassandra Wilson's New Moon Daughter
Room Size (LxWxH):	14 x 12 x 9
Room Comments/Treatments:	carpeting, velvet drapes, book cases
Time Period/Length of Audition:	2 hours
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	BPT 2.5
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Speaker needs lots of high quality power. Not for the sqeamish. Speaker is not for everyone. Does not mask any of the shortcomings in recordings or poor sources. Must have high quality front end to benefit from the speaker's transparency. best with Tube/Solid State components.
Product Strengths:	Transparent. highly resolved speaker with tons of low level resolution. Good balance throughout frequency range. Good bass. Musical and engaging speaker.