Help: Thiel CS6 vs CS 2.3

Check out the 2.4 if you are looking for that size speaker.

CS6 and 2.3/2.4 are very different sizes. 6 needs a lot more current but goes way deeper in the bass. 2.3 and 2.4 are way newer designs, probably more coherent, but when push comes to shove if you have the power and current for the 6 I bet you'd be better off.

I have never found traditional solid state geat to be a great match for Thiels bot others do. if you make that match be sure to try Cardas Golden Cross speaker cable. This is mandatory with Thiels and solid state in my view and sounds wonderful.

If you get a used 2.3 make sure it has the midrange upgrade.

Art

About the deterioration question on the 2.2 - I don't think so, and this would be true generally for most any recent speaker of this quality. Mine aren't quite as old as yours, and I've replaced some drivers I killed over the years, but there's no reason to suspect you've lost any performance in that time. Like you, I've found this speaker has been able to keep exceeding my expectations of it as I've improved my system and rooms.

I just picked up a brand new pair of 2.3's that were store demos for 3K (they were only on the sales floor for two months!) I could not be happier with these speakers for music as well as great theater performance. I recommend calling around to Thiel dealers to see if they are interested in selling their demos since the 2.4's are arriving in stores this month. The 2.4 has the same driver layout, but Thiel says that the drivers as well as the crossovers are totally new. I cant wait to audition the 2.4s to see if the difference is that great. 2.3s are a good size 42" and the cs6 is way bigger, so if space is an issue, or your wife has some say, the 2.3 may fit better with your surroundings.

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the 3.6's. Perhaps the best value tin the current line.

....(but other than a brief listen to them in a showroom during a business trip, I don't have access to them to put them through their paces.)...

Akaddict, may I make an assumption in that you are going to dealers and listening to speakers(systems), and making judgement on the speakers from THEIR SET UP'S!?! Since there are a lot of varriables, It's too difficult without auditioning the speakers in other systems/rooms, including your own, to tell what's what! You're going to need to try em in your room, with your gear, after proper set up! That's the only way you'll ever know ANYTHING ABOUT THESE SPEAKERS PROPERLY AND FAIRLY!
I would suggest giving the pair you find a good deal on a try. And if you don't like em, then sell em and move on to the next pair! If you think you'll just buy a pair of speakers once as the "be-all" speaker to "end all" for your system, you may be fooling yourself! Because in the end, it's going to come down to trial and error, and experiementation.
I think when people try desparately to find gear that's "the best" for their purposes/situation, they'll find it's not a "done-in-one" kind of an endevor! You could get lucky...but if you really want to nail things down better, you gotta experiement..simple as that.
Why not try a pair of "something" you have a desire to try, and see what you can do with It? That's part of the fun, for me any way. I guess everyone's different.
As for my experience with the Thiels, I've always found MOST of the Thiel designs to be a little laid back and less involving for movie soundtracks than others. I do think the CS2.3's are the best of the older series Thiels for this application, but you need a strong strong amp to handle the HT! I've no experience with the newer Thiels for HT, so I can't commment. Although the higher sensitivity of the Thiel 1.6's makes for a good advantage for dyanamics. They might be a good chioce in a smaller/medium sized room/set up, or in places where you have "higher ceilings"....or you have extensive ceiling treatment.