Thiel Owners

Thanks jafant. 

 This 30 year old Thiel CS3.0 vs LS50 is an experiment for me to try to understand how good the older Thiels are compared to newer highly regarded designs like the LS50. I was also trying to determine what I could get away with in my smaller room with respect to bass. I don’t want to jump the gun because I haven’t spent enough time comparing the two but let’s just say that I’m shocked by how good the 30 year old Thiels are. There’s a good chance I’ll look for another set of used Thiels if I can’t fix the CS3.0s. BTW, the CS3s sound really good with tubes and so did the 3.6s.

Take a close look at your mid-range drivers. Seeing any cracks near the surround edge? The replacement mid-range driver currently under testing for the 3.5 may also work for the 3.0

Switching the crossovers will tell you if it's a crossover or driver problem.

utrak
My pleasure. I would think that a 30-year old pair of loudspeakers is going to require some kind of repair/servicing? If possible, closely inspect the cross-over network and drivers. Keep us posted with any findings.
Happy Listening!

Utrak - I can offer a broad-brush intention: more than a dream, less than a plan. Rob of Coherent Source Service and I are working on upgrades for various classic Thiel models. The CS3.5 is now on the list, and the CS3 is likely to come along as a hybrid solution. Those designs are similar to each other and all drivers of both models are obsolete. We are looking for replacement drivers to work in both models with appropriate XO tweaks.

To your situation, cap failure is not likely. Thiel used long-life caps and we know of no age-related cap failures - not yet, probably soon. But, drift is likely. Heat-related (over-driving) cap failures are known - you can see the burned caps and replace them.

I suggest you contact Rob at CSS to work out a strategy, since our Classic Upgrades are not yet real, and there are bridges to cross before they come to market.