Thiel Owners

duramax - can you describe the Panzerholz base in some detail?

@jafant No, I’ve not played with fuse upgrades. I read an account of improved sonics by doing this with an Ayre product. Most everything makes at least some difference in sonics. I asked Ayre about this and decided the potential upside was not worth the money and effort. But let me know the results if you try this.

When I upgraded the 2.4s, there were a few changes that made relatively small improvements. These included the Multicap bypasses on the coax feeds and higher voltage caps as woofer shunts. But I heard the improvements and was already ready committed to the expense and effort. 

At some point, IMO, you have to stop being a neurotic audiophile and just enjoy the music. That is where I am. And it’s easy being in this place as I know it would take $$$ to notably improve the sound I’m getting now.

I discovered the benefits of spikes in the same way Tom Thiel did, though likely even more exaggerated with my then Boston Acoustics A200 speakers.  These were wide and tall floorstanders, but only 7" deep, with a simple plinth only 4" deep.  The 3 drivers were widely-spaced vertically.  So the woofer rocked the plinth substantially on the carpet, which levered the tweeter back and forth (relatively) substantially.  When a friend suggested using aftermarket screw-in spikes, the entire soundstage (such that it was) snapped into focus as there was now zero rocking and the drivers sonically 'aligned.'

Despite my subsequent CS2.3 and 2.4 having a far deeper base, I still notice the benefits of their included spikes -- on carpet over slab.  I had the 2.4 outriggers, but sold them as their primary purpose seemed to stabilize the speaker from being knocked over by large pets or small kids.  Moving the existing 2.4 spikes a few inches outboard in each direction had no audible sonic advantage, only less-visible low-lying arms to trip over.

Spikes are certainly better than no spikes, but can't even come close o the improvement that Starsound SP 101 platforms provide. Apparently the Townshend spring platforms are at least as effective.

I prefer the sonics of my 2.4s with the outrigger/spikes. But I am uncertain how much of the difference is because of the extra 2-3” height versus coupling to the floor (rug over tile/slab).