Thiel Owners

I have a pair of 3.6's that are now 25 years old (nothing I heard in all this time makes me want to retire them) and I am concerned about old age issues. Have any of you had problems with the drivers?  I am wondering if it is a good idea to take apart the tweeters and clean out and replace the ferrofluid. Or better yet, does anyone sell the rebuild guts?

Thanks

GS - you might call Rob Gillum at Coherent Source Service about this matter. Tinsel leads do eventually fatigue, and Rob has replacement moving systems on hand. The little I know about ferrofluid is that there are many types and quantity is critical. I don't see advantage to preemptive repair. I'm still using mine from 1989 CS2.2 prototypes with thousands of hours on their odometer.

Let us know what  you might find out from Rob about FF replacement and other issues. 

I am presently working on that tweeter via faceplate surface and diffuser  modifications. That tweeter was Thiel's first ground-up design which was for the 1988 CS5 (with trickle-down to 2.2 and 3.6).

Gs I owned a pair of 3.6s that I purchased new  in dec 92 I loved them!! last month I bought a pair of cs 7s (not the 7.2s) all I can tell you is if you can get a pair you won't be disappointed!!! They are like the 3.6s but  even better more detail more bass I hear things I never heard Before!!! They do exploit my equipment  upfront!! Just a thought FWI  

Andy2, glad to see that more people are getting familiar with options to have linear phase. The steepness of the slope had an impact on the pre ringing, as has the frequency of the filter.

Although I've always believed in first order filters, I was somewhat skeptical of the "time-phase coherence" part and was not sure if it does make a difference.  After converting two of my speakers xovers and making them "time-phase coherence", I am starting to become a firm believer in the advantage of "coherence".  I am not sure what my mind is saying, but my ears definitely are hearing a difference.

There is something in the sound that just more "natural".  I guess that's the best adjective I could use.  I would hesitate to use the word "better" though because people will have their own "belief", but I am comfortable with the word "natural".  

In my previous speaker design, although they also sound "natural", with "time-phase coherence", there is an extra "ease" as if the music "flows" better.  Since I work on my own speakers, I was able to compare two identical speakers (same cabinets, same drivers ...), one with and one is without "coherence", and I prefer the "coherence" version.    

gs5556

Good to see you again. Follow Tom's advice and consult Mr. Rob Gillum at Coherent Source Service (CSS).  Keep us posted on your situation regarding the 3.6 loudspeakers.

Happy Listening!