Hi Guys - I’m excited to report that I’ve become a card-carrying member of the CS2.4-owners’ club. Picked up a nice pair a few weeks ago (2006 production in Cherry finish) and have been doing some serious listening and comparing them to my 21-year-old CS3.6s.
I’d previously reported that my 3.6s need work, but they’re still listenable and I think I’m able to "listen-through" the problems since I’m so familiar with them.
This is the first time I’ve had two sets of speakers at the same time and I’m liking it. After listening to both models, I’ve come to some conclusions. I know this isn’t news to those who’ve owned and already compared both models, and I know a lot has already been said in this forum about these comparisons, but I’ thought I’d add a little of my own perspective after my admittedly short time spent comparing both models.
Bottom line for me: Both models share obvious Thiel strengths but each excels in a different way, so deciding on which to keep will be tough. To my ears, the 2.4s provide better definition and superior imaging. They’re tighter in the bottom end and I hear small details with the 2.4s that are difficult to hear on the 3.6s. If I switch to the 3.6s after listening to the same song on the 2.4s, I can then hear the details that the 2.4s more easily reveal, but those details pop out on the newer model and the placement of individual instruments and voices is more pinpoint on the 2.4s.
On probably 90 percent of music, the 2.4s are satisfying and a real pleasure listening to. But there’s a big caveat: the lack of that bottom 1/2 octave on the 2.4s may be a deal breaker for me. Listening to vocals, jazz, Blues on the 2.4s is just sooo good, but...listening to John Rutter’s Requiem (Reference Recordings) on the 2.4s is just disappointing. Switching back to the 3.6s, and getting that last 1/2 octave of bass, the feeling of those low organ pipes and sense of space that the lower half-octave brings is just so superior on the 3.6s. The larger speakers have a sense of ease that the 2.4s just do not provide on that type of music.
So - since I don’t want to do subs, I’m torn between two speakers.
I was somewhat disappointed to learn that Tom T. is working on crossover updates on other models prior to starting work on the 3.6s; I think crossover updates on the 3.6s have the potential to increase the resolution and be really significant on this older model, but it seems like it will be quite some time before the updated crossovers are available.
I’m thinking of updating the caps on my 2.4s (per Rob G.) to get them sounding their best (short of rebuilding the whole crossovers) --and then enjoy those until the update for the 3.6s is available.
So I think I have a plan to go forward - but am still anxiously awaiting that 3.6 crossover update!
Best ...
