Thiel Owners

tomthiel

A most excellent discussion between andy2, prof and yourself. Thank You for more backstory and historical markers that made Thiel Audio a reckoning force.   Happy Listening!

Memory is an odd thing . . . often spotty and sometimes inaccurate on details, but very true to the major themes, people and events. I am appreciating the opportunity to re-access these memories from a very difficult and productive period of my life. Thank you.

prof - I just visited a pair of Brazilian Rosewood O2s that I inherited from my dad's estate. When I get them here from Virginia, I'll draw the schematics and conjure an upgrade. The O2 was before we discovered 6-9s wire or film caps. Simple second order 2-way XO that fit in one hand. The cabinet might need some bracing, and the grille frame an inboard bevel wedge - it was a plain square frame . . . perhaps felt on the baffle.  No end to the fun.  The O2 was designed for the newly emerging audiophile dealer to sell against Polk and Advent. I think those retailed for $150 / pair in 1977, which would be $500 in today's dollars.

tom,

I like my 02s so much I’ve been considering having them re-finished (their old finish is a bit blah, faded, and doesn’t match our room at all).
I don’t know if it would be possible to actually have a veneer of another wood placed over them, or whether it’s just a case of changing the stain colour.

BTW, as a fellow philosophy nerd (more via self-education and interest over the decades - it wasn’t a major), it’s nice to see you had a background in philosophy. Epistemology, ontology...I’ve been in the debate trenches with those subjects many times.  Tough nuts to crack!


It’s both my practical, and philosophical side that leads me to defend certain empirical virtues that often don’t seem too welcome in the world of audiophiles. (And I certainly count myself as an audiophile).

prof - your philosophical base leaks through. Isn't it a joy to pursue things as far back to first principles as we can? Kierkegaard - Heidegger were my focus.

Reveneering with any clamping method would bow the panels inward and not work well. But you could use pressure sensitive adhesive backed veneer.  A more likely solution would be to strip the finish (Lex is nitrocellulose lacquer, I believe Heinl is also) with citrus stripper and then scrape, sand and refinish to order. The veneer started out at 0.025" thick minus production sanding of about half that thickness. So be careful.

And keep up the good work. You might expound those emperical virtues you referenced.