Thiel Owners

My thought has always been that the core system should be as accurate as possible but allow for an alternative when you want to listen to something that is hard to tolerate without some softening.  In the past I've run two paths, one using the balanced and the other the RCA jacks.  I ran the RCA path through a tube buffer that would warm the signal up a tad.  It let me easily switch back and forth just by using the source switch on the preamp.  I'm sure there are people who will have a problem with there being two sets of interconnects hooked up but if they're short I don't think it's a problem.  

I think the way to go if you want to manipulate the signal a little bit is to get digital eq.  I'm 100% on board with the speakers being as accurate as possible.  Accuracy is a difficult enough to achieve without trying to somehow modify the sound to have a particular character.  

Tomthiel, 

Your baffle modifications sound very interesting. I'm excited to see exactly what will be implemented and what the sonic effects will be. I'm planning to keep my CS2.2 speakers and willing to invest in effective tweaks/updates that make a great speaker even greater.

While waiting for my braised brisket to cook, I went to the "Speakers" topic and went to the beginning, hoping to find threads about AR3a speakers.    Found this:    Not much has changed.

Thiel 30 April 2000 thread:

"Looking for advice in driving Thiel 2.2s. I love the clean, detailed sound they provide with $10,000 amps, but my current gear (mass-market junk) doesn't cut it. Advice? I need both an amp and a preamp, and am willing to spend up to about $3500 total."

R. I. P. Ginger Baker.