Home Speaker Asylum

General speaker questions for audio and home theater.

Maybe you have a point but...

196.3.50.254

The Thiels I have heard that sound fantastic were the ones NOT using the coincident drivers (The CS1.5, 2.2, and of course the 3.6). All three of these models (and the new 1.6) are very neutral with a damn near perfect midrange. The only speakers I have heard with a better midrange than a CS3.6 are full-range electrostatics and some ribbon designs. I heard the 2.3 and thought that it was also pretty good but not up to the 3.6 standard (which I think was Jim Thiel's crowning achievement which is why it is still in production more than 10 years later). I have also heard the 7.2 and thought it wasn't up to the 3.6 level of sound either. Thiel seems hell bent on making this coincident thing work I think mainly because it makes his crossover much simpler to construct and one of the main concerns about his previous efforts was this complex crossover interfering with the sound. However, if the "cure" is worse than the disease then a rethink on his part is in order. I used to own Dynaudio speakers (both a kit and the Contour 1.8MkII). I also heard the S5.4 and 3.4 recently and thought that they were not so good as the previous contours (they sounded lifeless over the whole audio spectrum, I was surprised because the new Confidence are very good). One of the most convincing demonstrations I ever heard was a THiel CS3.6 with Mark Levinson reference gear (it was the introduction of this speaker in 1993 at Chicago CES). I will never forget how utterly lifelike the sound was. Being new to audio at the time, I thought maybe that was why I was so impressed. Then I heard them 9 years later in an acquitances audio shop with new Theta gear (Dreadnaught and Casablanca) and was again very impressed even though I have now heard the best and most expensive in the world. So maybe this is a case of Thiel throwing out the baby with the bath water or maybe Krell isn't all its cracked up to be and the Thiel is just showing you how many warts it has?? Having experience with both lines of speakers I choose ribbons but if I wanted a dynamic speaker the CS3.6 would be at the very top of a very short list.


This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
  VH Audio  


Follow Ups Full Thread
Follow Ups


You can not post to an archived thread.