Thiel Owners

Oh and not that I am keeping score, esp bc quality is more important than quantity with these threads, but I take some pride in knowing this thread now has more high quality posts than the Tekton Double Impact thread - nice! 

And it was nice to see some of posters here recommended Thiels to the guy with $5000 to spend on new speakers.  Which brings me to my next question for those that have the experience - how do Thiels sound compared to Vandersteens?  Seems like there are many dedicated listeners for both, wonder how they became so attached to one or the other?

how do Thiels sound compared to Vandersteens?

I personally have listened to a pair of Vandersteens driven by some very high end tubes amps at an audio show and I have to say they sound magical.  It's something that I could never forget.  I currently have a pair of CS2.4 in my living room and I have to say it's not quite what I've heard with the Van. at the show, but the amp I have is not some high end tube amps.

I like the Thiel CS2.4 very much but everything considered, I would recommend the Van.  since it's still in production and for most people, I think would be better.

how do Thiels sound compared to Vandersteens?

I have heard Thiel 1.6, 2.4, 2.4SE, 3.7, and 7.2; Vandersteen 2Ce Sig II, 3A Sig, Treo, Quatro, and 7 (the 7 is a true top shelf speaker and it *should* be with that price tag). I have lived with Thiel 1.6 and 2.4SE, and Vandersteen 2Ce Sig II (and am pretty familiar with 3A Sig).

Comparing the Thiel 2.4 to Vandy 2/3, the Thiel has tighter, better defined bass but the Vandersteen has deeper extension. The Thiel has slightly better resolution and transparency. Some have opined that Vandersteens are "warm", "forgiving", and "laid back", Thiels are "bright", "ruthlessly revealing", and "forward". IMO, those are great exaggerations, if not entirely inaccurate. I find both brands quite close to neutral and very musical. For my sonic priorities, I prefer the bass articulation, midrange resolution, and overall transparency of the Thiel.
And with my upgraded crossovers, I think you would have to move up to the carbon driver Vandersteens to match/exceed the clarity, resolution and transparency I'm getting.

Thiels and Vandrsteens, having owned a few models from both manufacturers, sound similar in tonality, but the main difference in my experience is that Thiels are more dynamic and forceful. Perhaps they are less compressed? Vandersteens are more polite. Both are worth owning; they are the only two speakers I've ever been happy with. Currently, I own a pair of 1Cs and CS 2.4s. The 2.4s are significantly the better of the two. Previous models owned include 2CE Sigs and CS7s and CS6s.

Good info thanks!