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Hi all,i'm most likely picking up a pair of these this weekend. what are all your opinions on them? how do they compare to the 04a. i'd assume the 03a are better being they are a 3-way with a 12" woofer.
i mainly have more vintage speakers like JansZen and Bozak, but my other "modern" speaker is a pair of KEF Calindas. which speaker, the 03a or the Calindas win "the shootout"?
Follow Ups:
I ownwd a pair of these speakers in the early 1980's (my first "audiophile" set of speakers). I assume you know that for optimum results (i.e. mostly bass response), they require the use of an active equalizer (comes with the speakers) between the pre and power amps. After living with them for a few years, I got frustrated with the sizzly high end so I actually swapped out the tweeters with a different one with somewhat lower sensitivity. That change did improve the top end a bit but it launched me on my own speaker design and building quest that led me to showing my Shannonbrooke Model 1's at the 1986 Chicago CES. Sold some pairs of that speaker (a full range, time and phase coherent design using 1st order crossovers)and another less costly model before giving up (could not devote the time to the hobby with a full time job and all). Today I listen very contentedly to my new pair of Vandersteen 3A Sigs.If you do pick these up, please post your thoughts. I'd be interested in seeing how you think they compare to today's speakers. My verdict - too bright for real music!
Mark
active eq? like the old mcintosh speakers?hmmm, we'll see. but i'm not expecting it for my $60 investment. bright, huh. i've heard that the 04a was very groovy and warm. i would have expected the same from the 03a. well, then, i bet you HATE the newer Thiel speakers then! my friend has some CS2.2. OMG, i thought they'd attract bats ;-)
I'm not familiar with the McIntosh speakers you mention but the Thiel 03A's came with a small, active (i.e. 120 volt needed) eq box that is intended to go between pre and power amps (or in a tape loop of a receiver/integrated). I know that it helped get a better bass response from the speakers and it may have done something in other parts of the frequency spectrum but I don't remember (too long ago!). Without the eq box, the speaker will have less than stellar bass. You should ask the seller if he has it. And yes, if anything, Thiel's have gotten even worse in the brightness sweepstakes. I could not live for long with any of the recent Thiels I've heard.
Mark
the ML-1c, 2c,4c all had active eq in the 70's.i'll ask the seller, but i can try my friends mcintosh eq if necessary. probably where theil got the idea.
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