Thiel Owners

It seems the site ate my detailed response.
In summary, just be careful because you don't know what you don't know. Thiel (Lexington) parts selection was rigorous and knowledge-based. Don't assume you can get a whole-system improvement by throwing more money at it. Compare notes among ourselves. I will share what I find out in my upgrade efforts.

Jim chose ClarityCaps SAs at that time, all things considered. CC replaced those with ESAs and now CSA's. I'll look closely at them. Mundorf recommendation came from Madisound based on wide comparative evaluation and user feedback.  Dave Garretson is known among you as a trusted source of good information. Use him. Be very careful of unknown recommenders. Rob Gillum will make knowledge-based decisions.

I will share the results of my PowerPoint 1.2 upgrade as it develops. Can photos be posted on this forum?

It seems the site ate my detailed response.

Aww, bummer. Sorry to lose what must have been some great info. Re: Mundorf recs from Madisound, were those for Thiels?

I don't know if you can put pics in this thread but you can in the user systems section. Also, audioasylum allows pics.

There is this wonderful website with a long list of capacitors and their subjective "flavors". Excellent source to choose a "seasoning" to experiment.
http://www.humblehomemadehifi.com/Cap.html

Thiel has worked with Madisound since the 1970s, so they know that we want unflavored, technically accurate caps and resistors. I went to them for advice for my PP rebuild and they recommended Mundorf as the "winner" in their customer experience. Mundorf has a deep range of solutions and I have not yet chosen mine along their continuum. Thiel routinely bypassed good Solen PolyPropylenes with a smaller value of Styrenes. Styrenes are very expensive due to manufacturing losses; they have been replaced by higher-performance PPs. We coveted, but never used in my time, Teflon bypasses which are extremely clean, neutral and stable over a wide current range. If I were hotrodding an upper end Thiel, I would consider a Teflon bypass in the tweeter feed.

My "lost" post included a note about hookup wire. I have seen people "upgrade" Thiel hookup wire. I don't buy it. Thiel (lexington) hookup wire is 99.9999%, long crystal, teflon jacket, 3 twists per inch. I've never heard or measured better from any boutique / branded wire. The only thing I am considering, because I must increase my lengths for my outboard crossovers, is Paul Spelz's AntiCable 3.1 for hookup wire. It is high-grade copper with only enamel insulation, similar to our six nines coil wire. Dielectric absorption is the problem. Teflon is great. Less coating is even better.

Thanks for the added info, Tom. I will wait to see what Rob Gillum offers. I don't have time to pursue this now, anyhow. Just toying with the idea. If Mr. Gillum doesn't offer a DIY kit, I will probably start with the woofer feed given that my 2.4SEs already have Clarity Caps on the coax.

I have seen people "upgrade" Thiel hookup wire. I don't buy it. Thiel (lexington) hookup wire is 99.9999%, long crystal, teflon jacket, 3 twists per inch. I've never heard or measured better from any boutique / branded wire.

I trust your experience but I think I would at least try Cardas if I had the time and money.