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Taming bright Thiels

I have been attempting for months to find a way to tame the brightness on my 2.2's. Ended up with a crudely simple short-term solution after much tube and cable rolling and equipment fussing (System is Theta separates, ARC LS2b preamp, Rowland 1 amp, Harmonic Tech cables).
I experimented with taping thin material suspended in front of the midrange driver to produce roughly a couple decibels acoustical attenuation in the 1Khertz to 3khertz region from each channel. (I experimented with 1- and 2- ply tissue, cotton cloth, etc.)
What a magical difference. My wife immediately asked for a listening evening, something she hadn't done in over a year.
So I wrote to Thiel (many times) and asked if a low-value resistor wired in series with the midrange driver would have the same effect with less likelihood of side effects.
While they responded to every query promptly, they absolutely would not give any information on any possible modification of the speaker to attenuate its overly bright character.

Anyone attempted such a modification? Results? Caveats?
hug
michaeljbrown
146 posts
 
Power and current. I under powered my 2.2's, 2.3's and 2.4's until I added a Krell fpb 300 to the 2.4's.
Best sound I've ever gotten, not bright at all. Didn't need to add a tube pre, but I did and it sounded nice, but quality power and current solved all the problems I've ever had with Thiels. The speakers are a bargain, but you have to have power and current or you won't like them. There is no cheap fix. 
I once traded my CS5i's (don't buy a pair unless you can afford a Krell fpb600!) for some huge Altecs powered by some little Quicksilver Mini-Monos. They sounded nice. I listened for a year, then got CS6's with Krell 250 monos and returned to the big, detailed Thiel sound. 
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,468 posts
 
I've always found Thiels to be great with the proper components attached.  Flaws will be exposed.   I suggest something other than your speakers to be the offenders.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,468 posts
 
I've always found Thiels to be very good speakers that expose the flaws in the chain.   I would look elsewhere for your warts.
michaeljbrown
146 posts
 
I need to add "Quality" power to my post. A quality (not cheap) amplifier with power and current. Krell, Classe, Pass, Mark Levinson, etc.
I had an EAD PM 2000 which sounds really nice as well, even though it doesn't quite double down. I sold my rig to a friend, consisting of a PM2000 and Thiel 2.4's, and I walked in his place the other day and I thought, "Damn, that sounds good! " 
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,602 posts
 
michaeljbrown

I am looking forward to next your next system and contributions over on the Thiel Owners thread here.  Happy Listening!
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