Do Thiel Audio CS3.7 Rock?

I also toyed with the idea of adding a couple of subs, possiblly Velodyne DD-10, as the Esoterics do sound good on simpler music.

I finally heard a pair of 3.7s at RMAF last month, driven by Rowland electronics. They sounded excellent to me. Although I recognize the pitfalls of hearing an unfamiliar speaker driven by unfamilair electronics in a hotel room, I would rate them among the better speakers I've heard. They should sound excellent driven by Ayre electronics. Regarding the "lack of bass", I think that is merely relative to other, more expensive speakers (some of which exaggerate bass, eg, Wilsons). If you look at Stereophile's in-room measurements of the 3.7, there is useful energy (-6 db) down to about 25 Hz. That's plenty good enough for all music types other than pipe organ.

A local buddy of mine has a pair and he listens to mainly dynamic types of music. The 3.7's are not like most other Thiels having a LOT of topend energy or bright. I was quite impressed with them. THey do like power as most Thiels but are not terribly inefficient.

Said before, but worth repeating.
Jim Thiel told me, back in 1988, during the development of the CS5, that a technique that he and his brother Tom Thiel had realized, was that by dropping the impedence of the bass driver(s)...the amp would be compelled to deliver more current...acting (paraphrasing here) as an equalizer in that region. At that point, he was appalled at the lack of current that most amps, even those claiming to do so, could deliver.
The 3.7 is rated at 90db efficient...which IS effecient. What gets lost in the transfer of info here, is that the THIEL speakers like, and generally require, amps that, because of this design parameter, can deliver current.
I agree with the poster who said, look at the Wilsons for rock and roll...I've never considered the THIEL's that kind of speaker. (rock). Accurate, great imaging, detail etc...not great punch though.

Good listening,
Larry

While Thiel's might not be the last word in "punch" or anything else for that matter, I've never really thought of them lacking in that department, or any other for that matter. I think the appeal of Thiel, is the overall balance of all parameters. There are certainly some speakers that might do somewhat better in a specific area, but usually at the cost of doing things much worse in other areas.