Thiel Owners

jafant
When I talked to Rob ( last year ) at Thiel he had informed me that the veneer on the SE cost $1,000 a sheet !
Thank you for sending the e-mail because I have a feeling the Thiel will not want to get involved.

Prof 
Great finishes , I guess that my memory is getting old,
when I was looking at the prices of 3.7s there was a pair of special
finish by Gibson guitar !
The only ebony speakers that were on e-bay when I bought mine
was 1.7s , I almost bought a pair but because of the bargain price ,
but then another 3 pairs of 2.7s became available
Since I had a pair of black 2 way speakers that were given to me by a a friend and former Thiel 3.5 owner nkonor ( Norb ) about 25 years ago 
and a few upgrades later , I wanted 3 way speakers that weren't black .
As you can see I keep things for a long time 
I think that the 2.7s will be my last pair , unless I win the lotto.
Just finished my Sunday Classical music day.
Now for a little jazz to end the evening .
Rob

Thank You- for the follow up w/ Rob at Thiel- vair68robert.
Happy Listening!

audiojan...

Leaving Thiel is a frustrating task, albeit one that I've personally managed to do a few times simply out of curiousity if nothing else. 

Obviously for sonics I definitely recommend Maggies - they still command an attraction for me that is as hard to fathom/explain as is my appreciation for Thiel.  They do so much right that the "shortcomings" many people express about them are negligible. The only aspect to kvetch about is, of course, Maggie's "Easter Island" physicality - they can dominate a space with their imposing dimensions.  I've had .7's, and the 1.7's and loved 'em both - both times returning to Thiel, 3.5's referenced here, twice. Thiels are indeed Maggies with mo' bass. And that's a compliment. 

I can also recommend Von Shweikert, another brand that I've found to be relatively close to Thiel, but with a lesser degree of the midrange punch that Thiel delivers. I've had VR2 and 4's, with the 4's being a closer match. 

Meadowlarks. Like Jim Thiel, Pat McGinty also had a penchant for coherency and time alignment and his speakers absolutely deliver superior sonics.  Used, they're just an incredible bargain. I gave my gf a pair of Kestrels a few years ago which we listen to paired with a Pioneer SX850 receiver - the little two-driver imp really impresses to this day. 

Obviously all of my Thiel purchases have been from the used market, 2.2, 2.3, three pairs of 3.5, and now, FINALLY the 3.6. The Maggies I've mentioned I purchased new. It's impossible to argue the return-on-investment that used Thiels offer. Can't be beat. Nope. Can't. 

I just swapped my Simaudio Neo 340i for a B. A. T. Integrated because I think my 3.6's would appreciate the extra current/wattage that the 340i couldn't deliver. (Neo 200 into 4 ohms, the B. A. T. 300 into 4 ohms.)  With the 3.6's I found it necessary to add a small sub - the 3.6's were so "Maggie-like" with regard to bass reproduction that I grew frustrated. The bass from the 3.5's was indelible at all listening levels whereas to my humble ears, the 3.6 seemed to abandon it. This small REL T7 managed to make me keep the 3.6. 

PS:  I'm awaiting delivery of the BAT VK300XSE. Dual mono/phono stage/tubed front end/factory recertified for 5 years. I'm almost pinching myself. 

In fact, I am. 

Good to see you- oblgny
I am interested in reading about your thoughts/impressions on the B.A.T. VK300XSE.  Is your local shop a dealer/retailer for B.A.T. ?
If not, where did you find this integrated? Agreed, nothing wrong with extra current on tap.

Happy Listening!