Thiel Owners

Here’s a little catch-up report. During the summer I got snatches of time to evaluate outboard crossovers and internal wiring. I have added some stunning KimberKable solid silver 3-braid to the mix. Some may remember awhile back when some of us compared single-polarity runs vs +/- paired-polarity runs. We were comparing amp to speaker runs and the main problem with singles was variable wire to wire distance causing transmission anomalies. But we were all enamored by the quick, uncomplicated sound of the parallel configuration.

I spoke with Ray Kimber, who wholeheartedly recommended the single polarity solution, which is now included in my trials. In the cabinet, each run can be stuck to the wall with butyl rubber goo. What a sonic treat - from the point of view of ease and lack of dynamic congestion. Kimber’s samples of AGSS 3-Braid (stranded) and AGSC(MST) 3-Braid (solid) employ 3 conductors in a braid for each separated polarity run. MST stands for Magnetic Stealth Trio. Insulation is teflon. I’ll be getting copper samples soon.

The CS1.5 is my current workhorse, having 4 relatively short runs from the outboard XO to the drivers.

In the realm of disc-spinners, I’ve broken into the twenty-first century. I picked up a Sony S9000ES player. Alas, it came with the wrong remote and I haven’t yet played SACDs with it, but I’m searching for a RMT-D122 required for this player.

I have finally fired up the SCD-1 bohemoth that I snagged from the Thiel Audio auction. Its SACD section is kaput via Bill Thalmann’s diagnosis of a motherboard issue. But the CD section is quite a treat. Wow. I have retired my erstwhile Philips CD80 which has served me well for 32 years. Time comes for everything.

Anyone here know anything about the SCD-1’s selectable filters? The (70 page!) manual gives marketing speak descriptions of the 4 alternative ’slow’ filters. I’d love to learn the actual performance parameters of each.

vm1

Outstanding! Thank you for the update.

Happy Listening!

tomthiel

Thank you for the cabling/ XO update. Very cool to have consultation with Mr. Ray Kimber.  His cables are a Sonic match for Thiel Audio speakers. If you need a second opinion, reach out to Taylor at Gold Print Audio. He used to represent Thiel Audio. Currently represents Kimber Kable for a long time.

Happy Listening!

tomthiel

Nice catch ! On the Sony S9000Es player. Those remotes are plentiful on eBay.

Now, to address your query. All of my spinners, minus the AYRE, have those Digital “filters”. While it is a marketing ploy, to a degree, these are fine-tuning tone controls for CD or SACD playback.  Test drive each filter or setting to your ear brain. Purely customized to the user’s taste.  Both S9000es and SCD-1 are very well annotated and documented in Audio forums. You will have zero trouble finding out pertinent information on both machines.  
 

Those filters are very subtle. You will find the one that best suits your personal Playback taste. Try to have a quiet environment for best outcome. Keep me posted as you finagle this fun process.  Let me know if you have any questions.
 

Happy Listening!