Thiel Owners

tmsrdg - patience is the key.

The 3.7 is late model classic Thiel. Its ’needs’ are far closer to ’wants’ than earlier models which have far more real problems, upgrade potential and far more head-count in the field.

But to address your question, there will be a multi-pronged development and delivery. Each model will have its own upgrade protocol. Your 3.7 drivers are ’settled’. Your crossover will have some user installable upgrades. Specifically some of your Yellow Styrene 1uF bypasses will have replacements by way of custom Reliable multi-sectioned caps, in either aluminized or all-copper, as well as various non-inductive resistors. At some later date those upgraded parts can be re-used in a new serpentine XO layout, either inboard or outboard.

This first-offering upgrade will also include a set of wavelaunch films which can be applied by an adept user / or via some other arrangement - as yet unknown.

Similarly a new internal wiring harness will be available to be routed through the existing soft tubing, possibly with additional hold-downs. The new cable has less structure and depends more on mechanical support from the cabinet.

These examples are illustrative of future vision. At this time we are starting with training wheels with the SCS4, either extant, or new higher-grade specimens. Lessons learned there will be applied to next-step offerings, addressing older models with larger problems, such as replacement drivers and generally more room to grow. CS1 through 5 models will get early attention, starting with the CS3 / 3.5.

This information is a peek behind the curtain. There is ongoing work being done and many moving parts.

Cheers, Tom

tmsrdy,

A pair of CS 3.7 are on my list to purchase. They have to be in very good condition and within a reasonable driving distance for me to purchase as shipping is not an option with the high risk of damage.

With that said, as upgrades are being made I can test what Tom mentioned on a pair that I hope to get and can report back.

I already have SCS4 monitors, CS 2.4, CS 2.4SE, CS 2.7, CS 6, and CS 7.2, and two pair of CS 5i. I feel I possess a reasonable representation of Thiel owners regarding speakers.

I am also getting a pair of CS 1.6 from a former Thiel dealer. What passion they still have for the Thiel brand. I have spoken to a few and their zeal is infectious.

I bought a pair of CS 5i, in upgraded walnut finish with original plywood crates, spikes with case, and manual all in pristine condition. He drove them to the facility, which was a fair distance since he got a hotel to spend the night. He offered to set them up for free.

Oh by the way the delivery was free also. He had cost with gas and hotel. However, finding a good home for the CS 5i was more important to him than his cost to deliver them.

Truly an exceptional human being. I mentioned this story to Tom and he asked who the dealer was. When I told him he laughed and said I remember him when he was a little boy working in his grandfather’s shop and seeing him when I’d go there.

Hearing stories such as these reenforces the commitment Thiel had/has to their customers and dealers.

When I was speaking with the Thiel dealer, he said with other speaker brands he carried, his customers constantly upgraded or moved on to other brands. Thiel owners were far less likely to do that. They had/have a loyalty to the Thiel brand.

These are not my words but the dealer’s.

This and Tom’s visit has pushed me to fast tracking this dedicated listening room with the modifications needed after Tom swept the room when conducting his testing.

I guess I will put all the speaker models in a hat and pick one out each day and that will be the speaker I listen too. Or maybe Tom could devise a diffuser wheel that can be spun in the room, and get better sound,  that will select a speaker when it stops spinning. 

Okay now I'm just showing-off.

Using Thiel’s motto- what we will do "For the love of music".

@Duramax747, That's quite a collection you have there! I look forward to more specifics regarding your room treatments that you'd care to share.

unsound,

Allow us to get her make-up on before we reveal to the public.

I'll leave describing the room concept to Tom as he was the designer of the room. He asked what perimeters he had to work within, as far as footprint,  and he went at it from there. 

I will say when first introduced I was confused in its non conventional approach. But if you want to get to the fruit you need to go out on a limb where the branches are their thinnest. 

I proceeded to demo the old space which had 8 ft. sheet rock ceilings. It had tile floors on a concrete slab so not an easy demo. I came into work earlier @ 3;00 am and performed my moonlighting gig before I had to leave to conduct my day job duties.

I will go more into construction details when I post images of the room and after I perform my "To DO" list of modifications.

I will say the focus for the room was not to hear/or the ill effects of 2-3rd reflections at the listening chair. No side wall dampening was ever designed. Tom and I both agreed on a very dynamic space for the Thiel to clear her throat and show us her range.

Our first round of testing we concluded we did not need any side wall acoustical treatment.  In fact within the first hour of our listening Tom and I both agreed the .500" thick natural wool rug between listener and speakers should be removed. It was and it oped up even more. I will reveal more later but will say the floors are a significant part of the room. I had just socks on while listening so I could feel the floor. It was not moving the slightest. 

I wanted to push the room, especially with the CS 5i, and load the room. We were playing a very unique track with kettle drums and other various percussion instruments. Bass was in the mid 20hz with some of the track and Tom thought we were in the 98-102 db range. As I stated if room was going to fail I wanted Tom to be there and hear it under serious load. Even under this extreme circumstance the  floor was rock solid stable. 

Another item checked off the list that did not need any revision. 

The rear wall is where we really deviate from a conventional room. With our back to that wall there was absolutely no reflection that smeared the sound coming from the wall. 

Another really cool feature is the built in Bass/diffuser traps in front wall corners which measured incredibly well. 

They were not constructed on a bench then installed. Instead we constructed them in the room and built them into the building's framework. 
I'm glad I had the foresight to take that 15 minute Home Depot workshop seminar. The measure twice cut once part was particular insightful. 

The pair took a considerable amount of time to construct and assemble that I did not anticipate. 

When Tom arrived I had to ask him how long it took others to build these devices into the framework of a house/building as I felt like they had gotten the better of me with the man hours devoted to their construction. I was looking to be validated dam-it.

Tom looked at me straight in the eye and said - No one dared to move forward with such an undertaking before until you. (Paraphrased). I felt like this was a pull my finger moment that an older brother would pull on you. I bit.

When I was making the bass/diffuser traps I thought to myself I am going to pay tribute to the man who establish the standard as to what a book matched veneer speaker should look like. 

When I was making the panels I decided to do the same and match each panel in Bass/diffuser with it's sister. When completed the panels are 18ft apart center-to-center and they look like they were sawn in half to mirror one another. 

I felt a certain satisfaction so I did not reveal to Tom. I was going to surprise him on his visit. When I thought the appropriate time presented itself I mentioned to Tom what I did. Again he looked at me and said " I noticed that when we first sat down and started listening to music". 

@duramax747, I look forward to more, especially images. That you were using CS 5i’s is of special interest, as I’ve been a long time admirer of that particular model.