Thiel Owners

jafant - thanks for inviting me over from AVS

rosami - I echo your comment about what I've found in this thread, scanning back just a few pages. Great people, great info! As to your comment about your amp being "only" X watts...I have come to agree that quality can easily trump quantity. In my 2 channel set up, I drive KEF Reference 3's with a Pass Labs INT-60 which is "only" 60W into 8-ohms, the first 30 of which are Class A. Lemme tell you, the sound is extraordinary, and capable of volume far beyond levels I enjoy listening! 

Tomthiel/folks in general - I see a lot of posts about changing the crossover in the 3.6's, but haven't found a post detailing how and why doing so is better..? Not arguing the point, just asking as a new guy. Please be gentle :)  

In one theater I use a pair of 3.6's, the larger center...can't recall the model...MCS1? and 4 Powerplane 1.2s, all driven by Krell. 

In another, I use 3 PowerPoint 1.2's for L/C/R, and 4 Powerplane 1.2s. I'll refrain, for the moment, of saying what I use to drive them, though the answer may surprise and anger people :D

Anyway, would be interested to hear (ha!) what the upgrades might yield.

anthonymoody
Welcome! aboard. Good to see that you found us here. I believe that you will find this thread helpful and informative. There are a few gentlemen who own the 3.6 loudspeaker and other vintage Thiel models.  I look forward in reading more about your Audio journey, musical tastes and system.
Happy Listening!

Anthony - You would be well served to survey this long thread for background. The short answer is that I spent a chunk of my life co-developing Thiel Audio, and I want the tens of thousands of supporters to have a better option than jumping ship after the company's demise. I am developing XO hot-rod kits for select models which will upgrade their performance beyond original while replacing the age-sensitive electrolytic caps with permanent foil types. It's a labor of love and this group is performing various teaching, learning and beta-test functions.

I solicit your observations and input regarding your PP1.2 LCRs.

Welcome aboard.

Thanks gents. 

Tom - that's so phenomenal...I figured from your handle that you'd been part of Thiel at some point, but wow - that's really great. Would love to learn more about the upgraded performance. How would you describe that performance? (I will indeed read further back in the thread...there's a lot there!)

My PP 1.2 LCRs...let's see. This is the second HT I've had them in (moved house some years back and took the whole set up with me). They're really remarkable. I've never really used them as 2-channel monitors because I've always had a separate, dedicated 2-channel rig elsewhere, so I can't comment on their performance as such. But, they provide an amazing HT experience. Crisp, clear dialog, reference levels but never an ounce of fatigue, great at localizing sound when called for in the soundtrack, great at blending/disappearing when a broad soundstage is called for, and of course take up no floor space and don't call attention to themselves on the ceiling above my display. I've had them in a wide, deep room, and currently in a narrower, shallower room. Nary a complaint. Paired with a James sub...can't recall the model, but a beast of a thing with I believe a 15" driver. Weighs a ton. Shakes the house. 

In the 1st iteration and much of the 2nd iteration until recently, I drove the Thiels with a 7-channel Theta Dreadnaught (3 of the 200wpc modules, 2 of the 2x100 wpc modules) fed from an Integra pre-pro. The Theta is a monster, but we recently chose to rationalize and prioritize space and aesthetics in the room (I should probably list the Theta for sale). We're down to 3 sources (a TiVo, an AppleTV, and an Oppo UHD player) vs. 6 until recently, and...drum roll please...driving the speakers is a Marantz 8012 receiver.

This may cause outrage, or accusations of being deaf (possible), but, not only would I say that there's no compromise in the Marantz vs. the Theta + Integra, I would say it sounds *better* though in fairness the Marantz has a really great room correction system whereas the Integra had none. And, the Marantz has the latest codecs whereas the Integra did not. So, not entirely apples-apples, but there it is.

Better how? Dialog intelligibility is even stronger, and the sound seems warmer (though was never bright before, so maybe I just like warmer). It's also a simpler set up which helps the family...no triggers getting out of sync, fully up to date front end electronics, etc.

Now, the PP 1.2's are not the "legendarily difficult to drive" 3.6's, so maybe that's why they play so nicely with the Marantz. But in a lot of ways they're my favorites precisely because they're so great but essentially invisible. 

Anthony - your experience with the PP1.2 mirrors mine. The image is so surprisingly dense and 3 dimensional. Part of it is the virtually invisible solid aluminum cabinet with its small launch. And a big part of it must be the unobstructed ceiling propagation wave support with no floor bounce or furniture. What a trip!

Regarding upgraded performance. Please read the back-story. We're re-engineering with today's technologies with greater budgetary freedom than a new product would permit. We expect greater ease and precision along with increased dynamic freedom. Still vapor-ware, but making progress.