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Help: Thiel CS6 vs CS 2.3


I'm looking seriously at Thiel CS6 or 2.3.

Can anybody explain the performance differences?

Also, what about amplifier requirements? Will the CS6 be wasted with a stock McCormack DNA-1 (185wpc, 30amps, stable to 2 ohms)?
akaddict
jazzdude
332 posts
 
To be brief. I found the CS6 to be overly warm with emphasis given to the 2nd octave, to the point that the bass can be obnoxious and distracting. IMO the bass detracts from speakers clarity. The midrange still has the same Thiel sound but there is less of it with these speakers. Highs are rolled off slightly so the speaker lacks air and extension of the CS2.3.

The CS2.3 (I have the pre-upgrade midrange/tweeter) has excellent extension up top with wonderful midrange transparency and slightly lean bass. I'm told that the midrange/tweeter upgrade produces a laidback sound, but I have not heard it for myself, so I will defer to those with first-hand experience. IMO the only thing the CS6 has that the CS2.3 lacks is about 10hz of bass extension.
akaddict OP
51 posts
 

foreverhifi2000:

Yes, I suppose you are correct. Unfortunately, the "AK" in Akaddict is Alaska, and we just don't have many listening choices up here. I've been trying to triangulate by comparing elements that I do know. Also, it'll cost as much as $500 to get a big speaker up here - I'd rather buy music instead of minor performance changes. So I gather as many data points as I can from nice thoughtful people like the Inmates, then leap blindly into a new solution.
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
Jazzdude, I don't have any personal experience with the 6, but what you report sounds an awful lot like a set-up/room interaction effect. Just based on common knowledge, I would hazard a guess that the biggest deciding factor between these two models could well be room size, not necessarily amp power per se. I would also think that in a room which could accomodate either model, the bigger speaker would not only yield some more bass, but also higher volume capability, all other things being equal. Akaddict, maybe you should specify the room dimensions, what types of music are listened to most, and how loud you like to listen. But I will say this from experience: The 2.2's cannot go really loud, which is more evident the bigger the room, so if you've been alright with their dynamic range in your room up 'til now, you may not need (or be able to get the most out of) the 6.
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