Thiel Owners

ronkentI can offer my perspective on the outriggers query. During my initial then critical auditions of the CS 2.4 and CS 2.4SE loudspeakers, my ears found that the CS 2.4 can go without the outriggers (carpet over slab). The CS 2.4SE exhibited a subtle overall sweetness from top to bottom with the outriggers (carpet over slab). I did listen to both models over 100 hours each prior to making my decision about which speaker to purchase.I figure that coupling plays a factor regarding the CS 2.4SE. Perhaps Tom or Rob can share a little more insight?Happy Listening!

thanks guys for the input

I forgot that the new crossovers would be outboard. That would almost certainly rule them out for me.

Tom Thiel is planning both as options. The outboard versions are likely to be more tricked out. Internal mounting is space limited and reduces the options for big capacitors and so forth. From the pics I’ve seen, the CS3.7 has one or two 100 uF electrolytic caps and something like four 75 uF ’lytic caps. Upgrading all of these to film caps (probably Clarity CSA) will need a lot more space and it seems unlikely that you could simply replace the ELs with film without also changing the layout . . . and taking a bite out of the cabinet space. Still, Tom is planning an upgrade path for those who don’t want to go outboard.

^^^ Thanks for the added info.  

Indeed, the inboard and outboard options are different beasts. Space / layout constrains parts selection inboard. Making progress every day.

Regarding spikes . . . my knowledge is rather primitive, since all my work was long ago, before any commercial products were available, so there is plenty I don't know. I'll tell what I know. We found hearable and measureable time-domain slurring caused by recoil-swaying of the "unanchored" speaker cabinet. The woofer moves the cabinet in amounts which are very significant to tweeter frequencies, especially their transient attack/timing/phase behavior. Over many years' experience I found the presentation to be more focused with spikes. And transient tests measure more cleanly when spiked. As usual, there are other considerations. Speakers on carpet usually sound smoother, mellower . . . more polite, "nicer". I judge that mellowness to be caused by subtraction of transient detail. And another thing: direct coupling to a wooden floor can cause coupling resonances in the under-structure, euphonic-harmonic and/or dissonant, which are not stimulated with the insulating carpet or isolation-type feet. Another note is that spikes that are not locked down can absorb energy via motion losses between the threads.

There are so many particulars and mitigating circumstances that I hesitate to comment. But you asked, and my comment is that rock-solid stability at the micron scale aids the speaker in its job of transient replication.