Thiel Owners

OK, i have finally read this entire thread and have learned a ton.  Big thanks to jafant for the initial "I just scored...", and the handful of regular contributors, you know who you are and what you've added.  And of course tomtheil, wow, all the insight!  Being new at this, I can't contribute much other than questions, and of course, as requested, some favorite tracks.  Reading through the thread prompted me to pull up many that I had yet to play on my new set-up (James Taylor, Dave Brubeck, Everything But the Girl, Fleetwood Mac, and more), and helped me find a couple new artists (Kim Richey, Bill Frissel) so thanks! 

Here are some recent tracks I currently have in heavy rotation - "Shark Smile" and "Mythological Beauty" by Big Thief;  "I'll Still Destroy You," "Carin at the Liguor Store," and "Dark Side of the Gym" by The National; "Scrimshaw" and "Last Rose" by Anna Meredith; "Bodys" by Car Seat Headrest; older favorites that keep getting played are First Aid Kit and Spoon's album "They Want My Soul."

Ob, Used gear offers great opportunity, with some cautions. Most gear, including Thiel speakers use electrolytic capacitors. Even very high quality E caps have a projected life of 25 to 40 years. Rob says he has never seen a Thiel outright cap failure, but nonetheless, their performance deteriorates with time, causing migration of crossover points and slopes, or a vast array of parameters in amps. Some old gear becomes non-inspiring due to this performance deterioration. So, you might pick up used, under-performing gear on the cheap and have it re-capped for like-new performance, or upgraded for better than new performance.

In your room, you might consider Conrad-Johnson or other tube gear. Pay attention to its damping factor and bass management. Tubes can be very sweet.
 
Best of luck with your system rebuilding. 

And here's a question - I have the CS2.3s, and of course much of the discussion on this forum focuses on other models, but I assume based on specs alone my 2.3s are fairly similar to the 2.4s, meaning hopefully much of the discussion is still pertinent to me?  The corollary here is that I don't need to run out and get 2.4s, and when/if I start getting itchy to replace the speakers, I should think about CS6s or the acclaimed 2.7s. Are these good assumptions?

welcome thosb.  from my experience as a Thiel owner (since 1985 and 5 different pair),   i would not go from 2.3's to 2.4's as it probably is not worth the effort,  though i had the 2.4's and they are terrific.  wait and find a pair of 2.7's as that would be a big jump in sound quality.  

thank Tom for the input on the PS amps.  I use the stereo 250 and it is a killer amp in so many ways.   from all i have read both here and in the audio mags,   i think PS and Bryston are probably the top two "affordable" solid state units, while the new D'Agostino amps are supposed to be incredible but high dollar.  Not familiar with tube stuff as much,   but i know VTL is great gear and might be worth looking into.