Thiel Owners

Hi all, I'm looking for some advice on a Thiel purchase and hope you all can help me out.  I auditioned a local pair of CS6 yesterday and really enjoyed them- very natural sounding, room filling, detailed.  They had a ML23.5 in front of them.  I noticed on songs with sparse instrumentals, when bass was going I could hear some buzz coming from what I believe was the midrange on one speaker.  I'm attaching a link to a sample here.  I really liked the speakers and don't see them often near me, should I still get them, or steer clear?  What would a fair price be?  Would you recommend getting the 23.5 as well?  A friend told me about Rob, so I sent him an email last night to get his take.  Appreciate your thoughts on these, thanks very much!!  https://imgur.com/DFZFIEV 

Vintage50 - I will second the info Tom Thiel gave you.  I have two sets of pointed spikes, one set from the 3.5 and another from a 2 2.  Both these spiked sets are 2" long and 1/4" in diameter.  So apparently Thiel was using "standard" spikes for several of their earlier models.  Incidentally, one set is the "naked" straight spike, the other has the "collar" and grooves Tom mentioned .... both are exactly the same 2" x 1/4".

Offering a third to Harry's second: All the early spikes are the same. Thiel "invented" spikes in the late 70s for the 03. If others were using spikes at that time, we didn't know about it. Remember, no internet. They were all the same 1/4" x 2" with free 1-1/4" available by request for hard floors. I don't remember when we added the friction O-ring and grip grooves, but then they all became that way. The exception was the 1989 CS5 (? and probably up-market models after 1995?) The CS5 was too top-heavy (and therefore potentially dangerous) for three-point support. We replaced the recessed plinth with a full-footpring base with 4 threaded pins on the corners. That pin is ø 5/16"x18 tpi with 4 wrench flats for adjustment with the included 1/4" wrench. Zero clearance, tight tolerance fit keeps the cabinet from squirming. The holes in the hardwood base are also threaded to supply resistance and obviate the need for a lock-nut. Fun with minimalist elegance both for these threaded pins as well as the normal slip pins where 3 points defines the plane and requires no adjustment.  

The Audiopoint was introduced in 1989. Around that time we made available the smooth barrell pressure fit brass point for select Thiel models. I checked today there are zero available.  Reference in time at my first home in '79 I used hardened steel points sold thru Linn dealers. I used these on Time Aligned  speaker prototypes developed by Ed Long. I remember Harry coming over for a listen.Soon after came the aluminum  TipToes from the Mod Squad.  Tom

coop_301

Welcome! good to see you here today. We do have a few CS6 fans and owners on the Panel. Stay tuned until one of those guys chimes in to address your query.

Mr. Rob Gillum at CSS will be a great resource and can provide additional guidance on your purchase decision. I look forward in reading more about your musical tastes and system plan.

The ML 23.5 is a stone classic power amp. At it age, it could probably benefit from a tune up. A great ML resource is  Pyramid Audio in Austin Tx. 

If on the west coast, George Meyer AV in Los Angeles is another great Audio resource.

Happy Listening!