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Do Thiel Audio CS3.7 Rock?

I currently have Esoteric MG20 speakers and while these are great on some types of music they really don't rock, just sound a bit too polite.

I hear a lot of good things about Theil CS3.7 speakers but more than a few reviewers mention the lack of bass. As it's difficult to get a demonstration here in the Netherlands I would need to go to the UK so some advance tips would be appreciated.

Chosen speakers would be paired with an Ayre V-5xe amp with K-5xeMP pre and Marantz Pearl CD player.

Thanks
zekezebra
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samzx12
1,220 posts
 
I have to agree with Stingreen. B&W's seem dead and flat to my ears also in comparison to the Thiels.
rgs92
974 posts
 
Does anyone think the Thiel 3.7 would mate well with an Edge NL12.1 amp (and a warm tubed preamp)? Thanks.
unsound
7,329 posts
 
I imagine it could. The choice of pre might be very important. Both the Thiels and the Edge do stray from absolute neutrality in a similar manner, fortunately both hardly stray at all. With such a match, I would think that the choice of pre would be more important than usual. Avoid tripling up in the same direction. FWIW, and with no disrespect to Edge, but with Thiel, I'd reccomend Krell and Pass first, then Ayre before the Edge amps.
kiwi_1282001
312 posts
 
I tried my best to love the Thiel 3.7 and I have the uptmost respect for the designer. I found the speaker - when appropriately partnered - refined, neutral and to proffer excellent resolution. But, this speaker does not rock, not even when driven with 500 watts of power. I found the bass lean and incapable of digging the depths of other products from competitors such as Wilson and Nola.
rgs92
974 posts
 
Thanks unsound. Yep, had a Pass X350 many years ago. Brilliant vocals, pure as anything. But too much heat for my small room. Edge almost as pure, with more refined, solid, transparent bass. (I hear the later Pass amps have improved bass, but just as hot.)
Yep, you are preaching to the converted on the importance of a preamp (and the tubes that go with it, usually).
I use my Ray Samuels B52 headphone amp as a preamp with the Edge with some nice NOS Telefunken 12AU7s and like the combo very much sound wise. I'm now using Harbeth SHL5s but thinking of moving on.
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