Thiel Owners

Prof,

Just curious what kind of sub you have and the steps you’ve taken so far to integrate. I too had a tough time, and still tweak my settings/position occasionally. Always interested to see the steps others take when setting up their subs. 

I also saw saw that thread and had the same immediate concerns. Any idea on the approximate costs for the replacement parts?

dhoff01,

Thiel spare parts costs, sent to me quite a while ago from Rob: 

CS3.7 coax - $525
CS3.7 woofer- $400
CS3.7 Passive- $200

The 2.7 speaker parts are, as I remember, between $50 to $100 less per part.

Sub integration:

I haven't had a chance to do much at all since my work started again.
I'd only received a pair of JL Audio e110 subs - the only size that will fight where I need them to go in my room.  Though fortunately the 110s are high quality with stellar reviews.

I first hooked them up "REL fashion" running speaker wire from the Thiel  2.7 terminals back to the sub high level inputs.   Did some mild tweaking, ran the 2.7s full range, dialed in the subs around 40 or 35 Hz.

It really changed the sound of the system.  Obvious gains in low bass, and the sound became fuller, more dimensional, more precise imaging relationships, and more lush.  It also because more rolled off and softer sounding, like my amp had been reduced in power.   So it was some gains and some set backs. 

JL tells me they really recommend against that type of connection and, like many subwoofer aficionados will tell us, the real gain in performance is to be had by crossing over the lower frequencies to the subs, relieving the main speakers for cleaner sound overall.

I've read enough reports, reviews and raves about properly integrated subwoofers to think there is something to this and I'm therefore willing to give it a try, despite my previous disdain for subwoofers.   So I plan to buy the JL CR-1 crossover which apparently makes dialing in subs a dream.  I will also likely try some DSP for the sub signal, running the sub signal through something like an SPeaker Anti Node.   This would digitize the low pass signal in order to do room correction.  I'm thinking I can handle that idea because it would be in the domain where my ears are far less sensitive.  All the upper end goodness would still be the analog signal from my CJ amps/preamp. 

Will see how it goes, but it's going to be a time consuming and pricey experiment.

If all works well, I may end up getting most of what I liked about the bigger 3.7s and more.  (I already like some aspects of the 2.7s over the 3.7s even without subs).

There is a Thiel Smart Sub on E-Bay. The late Jim Thiel built them for his speakers. Heard them years ago. They are the perfect solution. 

Oh man, I took a look for that Smart Sub on ebay and came across an auction that was literally ending in 20 minutes for a Thiel SmartSub SI 1 Integrator!

Those were said to be masterful for blending Thiels and Thiel subs, and rarely come up on the market.  My bidding finger got very itchy and I did some quick research.  Apparently they were only for use with Thiel subs and I have the JL subs.  The SI 1 went for a steal, about $800.

Makes me wonder if I should have bought one of those Thiel subs I thought about on audiogon over the years.

However, the Thiel subs are too tall to place where they need to go under my projection screen so it would have had to go behind the sofa.  Ultimately the two JL subs aligned behind my Thiel speaker are likely the best way to go anyway.

hi guys,  great reading and thanks to all.  this is my first time posting on this thread but wanted to add my 2.7 cents so to speak.   i have owned every generation of the 2 series since 1986.  2.0,  2.2,  2.4,  and now 2.7.   Each upgrade was well worth it but i doubt i will go the 3.7 route since a new REL SHO/5 sub seems to have really given me what was missing.  i think the biggest change in the speakers was the move from the 2.0 series to the 2.2.   that first generation was anemic by comparison.   so over 30 years later i still love these speakers and hate what has happened to the company.  I have a  backup coax as that seems the most vulnerable as i have had to replace two so far.   never had issues with the older series.  anyone here had issues with these drivers?   Thiel and Rob replaced the two bad ones under warranty but i purchased the spare one.  Expensive but it beats buying a new speaker which would take a lot of dollars to equal these babies.  May even buy another coax.   the woofer and the passive drivers have not been an issue.

  I do have a set of sound Anchors that i used with the 2.0 and 2.2 series if I recall.  anyone interested can write me about them if they would like to purchase them.  I used Mapleshade platforms under the 2.4's,  but with the outriggers on the 2.7's,  i use them on the floor directly.  my amp is the incredible PS Audio BHK 250.   Best amp i have ever used and it will work great with Thiel speakers. thanks again.