Thiel Owners

For those 2.7 fans or owners here’s an old, obscure review of the Thiel 2.7s in a Chinese audio magazine:

https://review.u-audio.com.tw/reviewdetail.asp?reviewid=628

Will require googletranslate. Though I found using the Chrome browser, which offers automatic translation, worked very well. There were very few reviews of the 2.7 (TAS, Secrets Of Home Theater, and an italian one), so finding another is fun.


I love the finish on that pair in the review!  Looks like the same pair, possibly, as the one sent to Secrets.

brayeagle - thanks for the links to the iconclast cables.  I went and spent some time there.  The thing I found most interesting was their claim that "time of arrival" was the missing critical factor, and the main driver behind their decision on how to construct. Way back in the 80's-90's Monster Cable introduced their M1000 series (and later similarly constructed M400's) using three layers of differing wire and construction, with the claim that this equalized "time of arrival". 

I tested the early M1000's against a few other cables (can't remember which ones) in the same price range and the M1000's beat them hands down.  I loaded up on used M1000's and M400's over the next decade and have used them ever since, with results that reveal every iota of change in gear behind them.  Before you rush out to buy any, however, let me add that their cable construction was shoddy and by now probably 50% of the RCA plugs have had to be replaced.  And since the cables are thick this is not always easy.

dsper - you are ahead of me as well on your Thiel/digital journey.  Have you thought about a DAC with tube based output?  Also, if you haven't, check out the "taming digital glare" thread and think about all the possible ancillary improvements like power supplies, conditioners, cabling, etc, many believe this all makes a difference with digital and although I have a ways to go, so far I agree.  Also agree with prof's comments above re continuing to recheck speaker placement, including tilt.  Finally, and there are many on this thread who have better more experienced ears than me, but from what I have heard in my journey so far, "live" comes from tube based amplification.  

Not to turn this into a ss vs tube discussion, just sharing my opinion.

@sdecker
FWIW, the CS2.4SE did away with the 1 uF bypasses on the coax feeds, ie, full 14 and 28 uF in single caps rather than 13+1 and 27+1. I am aware of a third-hand report that a 1 uF bypass can have a deleterious effect on SQ (supposedly better to go either higher or lower values for bypass caps). I don't have any information on whether this is related to Jim Thiel's decision to do away with the bypasses. But, clearly, he preferred the sound of 14 and 28 uF Clarity SAs over the original 13+1 and 27+1. CSS apparently has 14 and 28 uF SAs available although the ESA are supposed to be a step up from SA.

My modded boards have 14 and 28 uF values in single Clarity CSAs, the 14 uF bypassed with a 0.1 uF Multicap RTX and the 28 uF bypassed with a 0.22 Multicap RTX. The bypasses improved the "jump factor" and added, maybe, a smidge of resolution.

Buying these parts from a retailer, I would probably get 10+3.9 uF (and a 0.1 bypass) and 18+10 in 630 volt Clarity. Maybe CSA for the bigger value and CMR for the smaller value (for maximum SQ) or all CSA (to save money and space). Jantzen Alumen is said to mix well with Clarity, also.

Regardless, I highly recommend replacing the 2.4 resistors with Mills MRA-12s. You can replace the sandcasts on all boards for about $100. Money well spent. Sonic Craft carries all the correct 2.4 values although you have to mix and match from among the older Mills and newer Vishay-Mills.

Anyhow, thanks for posting about your ESA upgrade a few years back. That gave me courage to try my own mods - and I'm super happy with how it turned out.