What's wrong with Thiel?

Since no one has mentioned this, I figured I'd toss it out and read the responses.

Looking back a few years at a Stereophile review of the Thiel CS6 (March 1998), Stereophile reports problems with its first pair of speakers, confirmed by Jim Thiel. Does Thiel go to every buyer's house to personally ensure that the speakers are right? Knowing he doesn't -- and that defective speakers get shipped -- should be enough to scare potential buyers away.

Furthermore, Stereophile reports problems with the midrange, saying it lacked "ultimate clarity or cleanness." John Atkinson also wrote, "There was a feeling of reticence in this region, described by one visitor as a 'hooded' quality, that I couldn't eliminate no
matter how much I fooled around with placement."

So while there were major problems with the midrange (of the replacement pair of speakers), the most important portion of a speaker's response, Stereophile highly recommend the nearly $8,000 Thiel CS6. That should tell readers all they need to know about the integrity of Stereophile.

If you want a phase and time coherent speaker, buy either a Vandersteen or, better yet, a Dunlavy. You'll save a lot of money and get a better speaker.

9rw thanks for the unbias imput. Just his understanding of Thiels. Take it for what it's worth to you. My point is that the 1.6's are a 2 way with a 6.5 inch woofer going for $2k+, that's way out of line. "wheres the bass?" Onto the 9rw's note. Yes if a speaker has problems in the mids, THE most critical region, and at a woooopping eight grand!, we've got problems, big ones! I expect close to perfection in every area for that money.

I'm sure that other manufacturers send out items that aren't up to snuff occasionally. I wonder how many of these other manufacturers would be so quick to admit it, and how many would have the outstanding customer support Thiel has to rectify it. Some people don't have the room to support deep bass but still seek quality sound for that room. Thiel offers different speakers for different applications. I've seen much more expensive speakers than the Thiel 1.6's that offer even less bass. Yes the Dunlavy's and the Vandersteen's are worthy of comparisons, but that doesn't necessarilly make them a better purchase for a given application.

While i don't know the specifics of the situation, i do know that the original Dunlavy SC IV's actually ran the midrange drivers down below their point of resonance. As anyone that has ever tinkered with speaker design knows, this is a BIG "no-no" if there ever was one. Mike aka "Magnetar" from AA had a pair of these and that is how i found this out. From what he told me, he had a "lot" of communications with Dunlavy about this and none of it was pleasant. Sean
>

I thought Ronip is interested in the CS2.3's. What does that have to do with the CS6's and whatever midrange problems JA remarked upon? In any event Thiel has excellent customer service and a 10 year warranty.