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Thiel Owners

Guys-

I just scored a sweet pair of CS 2.4SE loudspeakers. Anyone else currently or previously owned this model?
Owners of the CS 2.4 or CS 2.7 are free to chime in as well. Thiel are excellent w/ both tubed or solid-state gear!

Keep me posted & Happy Listening!
128x128jafant
jafant's avatar
jafant OP
19,818 posts
 
tomthiel

Nice catch!  Happy Listening!
arvincastro's avatar
arvincastro
121 posts
 
Hello everyone! It’s been a while since I last posted, but have enjoyed keeping up on the discussion and am so very impressed at the vibrant community of Thiel owners and fans we have here!

I need some advice:  I have been looking to add a second Audio Research D240 MKII solid-state amp to my system to go along with my ARC LS7 tube preamp and PH3 tube phono preamp.  Having 2 D240 MKII’s in mono configuration would bring the rating to 480 watts @ 4 ohms per channel.  

Having said this, knowing that my CS 3.5’s have some history of blowing the mid-range drivers when driven hard, is this a case of having too much power? I don’t tend to listen too loudly, but wonder if having more power would lead to better control, dynamics and bottom end. Or am I getting this already with my single amp’s 240 watts? I guess what I’m asking is, are monoblocks worth it?

Thanks for any feedback....I really value the experience and knowledge you all share here!

Hope you are all doing well,

Arvin
jafant's avatar
jafant OP
19,818 posts
 
arvincastro
Good to see your return here. Hope you are well and enjoying the Spring season. Hang in there until one of our 3.5 experts addresses your query.
Happy Listening!
ronkent's avatar
ronkent
371 posts
 
arvincastro,   you can never have too much power.  almost all damage is  done by over driving an amp and causing it to go into "clipping".  so do not worry as more power is better power.  cleaner and less distortion. 
unsound
7,329 posts
 

ronkent is right on!

The 3.5’s recommended power was 40-50* (depending on vintage) to 250 (and even 300 in some circumstances) Watts per channel. Those recommendations were based upon standard 8 Ohm amplifier ratings, with the understanding that with quality ss amplifiers those power numbers would double with the halving of speaker impedances.

So with the Thiel 3.5’s 4 Ohm nominal/ 4 Ohm minimum rating, you’d be well within Thiel’s recommendations for the 3.5’s. With the extra demands the 3.5’s eq makes on amplifiers, I think the extra power would be more welcome with the 3.5’s than with most other speakers with similar sensitivity and impedance loads.

*Interestingly enough the early models had a sensitivity rating of 88 dB and a minimum recommended power of 40 Watts per channel, and with later models Thiel spec’d the sensitivity to 89 dB but also increased the recommended minimum power to 50 Watts per channel.



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