Thiel Owners

catalysis...

Thanks!

No doubt my next round of appropriating equipment will have a MUCH shorter list of possible brands - Pass and Thiel topping it depending upon locality, finances, etc.  Though it pained me to let my stuff go I did so knowing it wasn’t the finale, simply a temporary setback. 

It’s almost refreshing actually.  A clean slate is a good thing in many ways.  I’m 61 now, soon to turn 62, so the years I have ahead of me are far shorter than the years I have behind me.  Not a whine, just a fact - and time too constricted to burn through equipment as I have for the last 5 years.  In no particular order...
Thiel (4), Magnepan (3), Audio Research (2),  B. A. T. (2), Placette, Von Schweikert (2), Vandersteen, Modwright, Sony Hap, Oppo, Marantz Turntable, McIntosh (2), Musical Fidelity (2), Project Turntable, Primare, Primare Phono, First Watt, and more cables and connects than you can swing a dead cat at...

Sane or insane?

l recommend evaluating any amp (for Thiel speakers) by its ability to sustain a 2 ohm load. 

I’ve had great success driving my Thiels with Ayre. I used an AX-7e to drive CS 1.6s and am now using an AX-5 Twenty to drive CS 2.4 SEs.  The 7 is rated at “only” 60 W into 8 ohm and the 5 at 125, both doubling into 4 Ohms but neither has a 2 Ohm rating from Ayre. Both play plenty loadly for my tastes and room. I did get the 7 to clip when I pushed my Vandersteen 2s, which are considerably less efficient than the 1.6s. Still, that was at SPLs exceeding my personal comfort zone.

I guess I’m suggesting  a strict 2 ohm rating for Thiels might exclude some otherwise great amplification that will work just fine. Perhaps this should be model-dependent. Looking at the CS5 measurements, i probably wouldn’t mate an AX-7 with those!

oblgny

Only 62?   Ha!   You still have 25 to 30 years ahead of you to enjoy your music through a good rig. 

Just be selective, as retirement funds may not equal what you have been able to spend previously for changing out components. 

Just remember that the cost vs desired performance for audio equipment isn't a smoothly-increasing line on an x-y plot. It has a sharp elbow at about the 95-97% point, and further minute increases in perceived enjoyment can cost megabucks. 

Learn to listen to the music for enjoyment, and not for nit-picking the upper midrange sounds between 901 and 902 hz.

Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.

Hello everybody!....glad to read all yours opinions and experiences matching Thiel speakers, sources, pre and amps.
I just ordered some Audyn Q4 capacitors to replace all the electrolytic one originally installed on my CS 3.6, in detail, four 100 uF/100v and one 66 uF/100V each speaker. I have read some very good impressions about this brand so my choice for Q4 MKP foil capacitor, they are 400 Vdc and tolerance within +/-5%.  I know that they will be much bigger than the originals but I already planned to install them outside of the XO board using some short pure silver wire to do the connections.
After twenty years of duty for these caps I expect to listen some improvements and no longer the need to worry about that electrolytic.
I'll report here the result once the job is done.

Happy week end to all fellows audiophiles.

Silvano