Thiel Owners

I dunno I’m off loading the classe and 3.6 till I find a cs5 or 7 that can be shipped

What are the best thiels for a 20’ long and 15 ‘ wide room

trevor - something is wrong. Please read the Stereophile reviews of the 3.6 and PCS to get a feel for the particulars of the bass. Then let's wade into why yours aren't performing properly. My limited experience with the 3.6 does not include bass shyness.

I mean they’ should be getting plenty of power with my classe. I have read the reviews and I’m getting opposite results from the pcs and 3.6

I’ve double checked everything and I see nothing in reversed polarity.

Maybe you should get updated crossovers and upgraded drivers over here 😉

It is uncommon to hear that 3.6 is bass shy. At the same time, I do not doubt Classe, however, will not rule it out entirely.

This is what I would do if I encounter the same situation - first, check the physical conditions of every driver, woofers, and the surrounding rubber. Look out for some clues of deterioration or cracks. Next, monitor and observe the behaviour of the woofers, especially with a bassy music track. Look out for driver excursions. It should look tight and fast, with minimal or zero "lag". If all is looking just fine as "how it should be", next pair the 3.6 with another power amplifier, and again continue to monitor and observe the behaviour of the woofers.

I have no other amp and all behavior looks normal. Condition of the drivers are magnificent with not even a slight scratch.

I will try the classe on my pcs tomorrow to see if I have the same wall pounding bass from those things. Any more bass and I’m bound to get complaints. There’s no way this doesn’t disturb the downstairs neighbor.

tomthiel

PM sent.   Happy Listening!

thoft - a polarity test may be in order. Use a 6 volt ’lantern battery’ or a 9 volt with great care to only touch and release the terminal briefly. Put + to + (red) and each driver should move forward. You’ll have to feel the tweeter, but the mid and woofer motion will be visible.

Also, has anyone been inside the 3.6s?

No. These 3.6’s have been sealed since their conception in shipping out from the thiel shop according to the owner. I have no reason to not believe him because there is no marks.

I reversed polarity and got nothing

It’s the classe. It doesn’t have the bass slam.

Or just in general the power to dish it out I guess? All I know is my pcs have no where near the bass they had after I connected them to the classe.

Update it’s the luxman being passive making this an issue.

Isolating the issues increases understanding. Success sometimes follows.

thoft - please explain what you mean by 'I reversed polarity and got nothing'.

I'm addressing learning whether all 6 drivers are going positive (pushing air) when they are fed a positive DC pulse from the battery.

I mean it didn’t improve. I can’t use the lux as a pre amp because the classe doesn’t like it. I’m getting far more dynamics using my arcam irdac 2

I have a pair of Thiel CS6 that have warped woofers and most likely need replacement.  Are the 10" woofers used in the Thiel  SS2 the same ones used in the CS6?

I’m gonna say the likelihood is probably not so Dave 

dave43

Welcome! Good to see you here today. Stay tuned until one of our SS2 experts chimes in to address your query.  Otherwise, feel free to consult Mr. Rob Gillum at CSS for replacement/service needs.  I look forward in reading more about your Musical tastes and system.

Happy Listening!

Thanks Jafant.  I figured it was a long shot.  The CS6 are single owner speakers and I've never seen Thiel woofers that warped.  Not sure what happened.

I tried to contact Ron but apparently his site is no longer active?

Rob.  Autocorrect!

dave43

Thank You for the update. i have this information on Rob;

rob@coherentsourceservice.com   (PH) 859.554.9790

Happy Listening!

tomthiel

Is Rob in the process of changing or updating the CSS website?

Can you provide and number/way of Contact?

Happy Listening!

Another number/way of Contact: corrected.

jafant - I also get a dead link, but I haven't heard any news. I'll post when I reach him. Rob will know the answer, but I can offer speculation.

No. Not the same. The CS6 woofer is a reflex design which has different T/S parameters than the sealed woofers in the SmartSub. 

I've never seen a warped basket in a woofer. First time for everything.

tomthiel

Thank You for addressing  dave43's  query. Yes, do update us on Rob (CSS).

Happy Listening!

Thank you tomthiel and jafant for your help on this.  I tried to post a pic of the woofers but having issues doing so on this forum.  

Rob's Coherent Source Service is back up this morning.

tomthiel

Thank you for the confirmation on CSS. Good to read that all is well there in Lexington KY.

Happy Listening!

dave43

Keep me posted on your Consultation with Rob at CSS.

Happy Listening!

Magnet shift may cause the wrinkle or dent in the cone. TomD

Magnet shift may cause the wrinkle or dent in the cone. TomD

dave43

I agree. It is easier to make a Virtual Systems page.

Happy Listening!

theaudiotweak

Yes, a magnet shift can certainly cause damage to any loudspeaker. No doubt that Rob at CSS can remedy this situation.

Happy Listening!

Anyone out there wanting to hear a comparison between a so-called isolation platform versus a direct coupled platform may want to experience this video.

TomD

THE PROFOUND IMPROVEMENT AMPLIFIER STANDS MAKE - YouTube

theaudiotweak

Thank You for the link/post.

Happy Listening!

Sure thing. Also great for speakers.  Mikey posted plans for a platform shoot out for speakers too. TomD

Happy Friday! All

tomthiel

I read an article talking about a modded Oppo 105 player by Bill Thalmann.

I would be interested in learning about the specifics. Perhaps Bill offers "mods" to other Oppo players?

Happy Listening!

jafant - I'll check that out. I'll be visiting him early October.

Update, tried another pre amp from a friend and it makes a huge difference 

tomthiel

Excellent. Is Bill working on any of your Gear?

Happy Listening!

jafant - Yes. Remember the Classé DR6 and pair of DR9s? They've been incubating at Music Technology for a couple of years. He finished the preamp, including the phono stage in pretty high fashion. We used a lot of ClarityCaps including some CMR series-wound potted caps in critical applications. He has kept the DR6 to use with the DR9 and CS3.5 equalizer upgrade projects. So, I haven't heard it yet.

The DR9s are presently being worked on with a goal of pickup on my visit in October. But, the long roll-out of ClarityCap's Purity line might keep that from happening. We're doing something fairly radical with the DR9s, by committing to bridged-only to allow one channel as plus and the other as minus for fully balanced operation - which allows other optimizations and removal of front-end signal path circuitry. Serious hot-rodding. 

The 3.5 EQ is coming to life. Jim Williams' Audio Upgrades optimized and upgraded considerably for a tight, clean, quiet result. Bill is going farther with his own magic. In October I'll get to compare cost/performance of various elements. Bill's backlog / critical need customers, etc. have stretched out these projects unimaginably. But, we're getting close to actual results. I wish/hope Bill takes on one of my Adcom GFA555 power amps. I'm enamored with them from JW's upgrade and wonder what Bill might bring to the table. He 'does' that amp, but his calendar is presently closed for new work - we'll see.

tomthiel

Excellent! Yes, I do remember your purchasing those Classe' products. I can recall a hobbiest that offered Classe' upgrades years ago in the various Audio forums. Good to read that Bill offers critical upgrades as well. I know that you are excited to see his work in action. I can hardly await to read about the impressions and thoughts. Do Bill have a sound room at his Operation? Interested in the gear he uses to test all Electronics.

Happy Listening!

tomthiel

Thank You for the JW updates as well. Isn't this a great hobby? !

Happy Listening!

jafant - it is a great hobby. For me, audio has been at the core of my work-life. In addition to Thiel Audio I've consulted for other manufacturers, made and upgraded stringed instruments, produced concerts, and worked with musicians in various ways to upgrade their performances and recordings. I'm a sound guy. My musical recording and playback equipment have been valuable and enjoyable tools. Most of what I have and use I have had and used for many decades. I upgrade and replace carefully as advancements become available.

The Classé gear has been with me since around 1990 when we bought it for Thiel Audio. It was replaced by Bryston, Conrad Johnson, Mark Levinson and Krell with a parade of temporary gear for comparison. The Classé was bomb-proof and very 'smooth', but lacking in ultimate resolution / detail. I lived with that for a very long time. I had tried some unsuccessful layman's upgrades, but it was your introduction to Bill Thalmann that led me to go big time. I'm looking forward to what he does with these pieces.

Bill's soundroom is pretty rudimentary; it's a place within the large shop with 3 walls to define a physical space, with some aspects of an acoustical space. Although not a normal, enclosed, controllable playback room, on the plus side, the 20' ceiling and 50' (more or less) back exterior wall make a non-reverberant space which is problem-free. We can hear what's going on very well, but I don't know how it would perform as a space to enjoy playback.