Thiel Owners

oblgny, The spikes for the 3.5's are intended to couple the speakers to the floor where appropriate(!). These early Thiels were provided with two sets of spikes, one set was blunt tipped for direct contact with hard, firm flooring and the other set was pointed in order to pierce through carpeting to make contact with firm flooring. The spikes when inserted into the speaker bases hardly protruded, and not intended to be used just to elevate the speakers. In fact, Thiel suggested not using them when the speakers would be placed on flooring that might vibrate with such coupling. Thiel used to offer the replacement spikes for a very nominal fee.   

The Thiel CS 6's are less sensitive, the minimum impedance nearly half that of the Theil 3.5's, and the Thiel recommended more power for the CS 6's (100-400 Watts per channel) than the CS 3.5's (50-250 Watts per channel).

UNSOUND - I have always been curious about these power ratings. Are they taking into account impedance at the higher rating? For instance with the CS 6 is the higher rating due to lower impedance swing?

I've always assumed the recommended power was based on an 8 ohm load since that's how amps are normally advertised. It was up to you and your dealer to recognize that you needed one that doubled down at 4 and 2 ohm. 

robinbarbour, While that would seem to make sense, I can't confirm or deny that to be true. Please keep in mind that while up until very recently one could find many attributes that Thiel speakers shared, Jim Thiel got there through various means. With the speakers under consideration, the 3.5's and 6's used eq'd sealed boxes or passive radiators, different box volumes, and perhaps most importantly different drivers and at different price points.