I personally was trying to give a helpful response, when it seemed to me that I was blind sided, with what appeared to be a nasty comment questioning my honesty. One doesn't have to be sensitive to think that someone is being smug, suggesting that I am lying about something that may have been misunderstood, or mispoken seven years ago.
My perspective came from watching the speaker, every day, inside the factory, seeing measurements, hearing them develop into something, (whether some on the thread here like it or not, being irrelevant). It was, at least an insider's viewpoint, having had discussions with the actual designer, his goals, and his tribulations in trying to make a great speaker etc.
So mine was not just a random view, based entirely on speculation. I went south when I said they are 'fairly good', which was vague.
I know that I have heard them sound pretty damn good, when driven with Grypon electronics. At Nicholson's HiFi in Nashville, TN, even people who had never particularly like the THIEL's were pretty amazed at the sound achieved with a simple, albiet expensive integrated from Denmark.
The principal complaint I have is their dynamic compression in the middle range. But every speaker out there has an Achilles heel.
MANY people LOVE the 3.6, and as I mentioned, Kevin Hayes, President of VAC, and a friend, finds them terrific, and likes them for what he considers to be their accuracy.
The guy I referenced at Dreamworks likes them, but was frustrated at their propensity to blow in the midrange.
If you like 'em that's great, and I can't disagree, "spinich, sour kraut". Love it or not. All THIEL's sound similar to a degree that for me they are easily identifiable. I also do not like the Tweeter, overlay, which, again, to me, IMHO, gives them a 'bright' sound. The CS 5i which I owned had more 'midrange offset', and, as I refer to it, 'image density'-- and to me they sounded fuller in the mids, so I liked them better.
On the most positive side, THIEL comprises an honest, hard working group of people which will never please every musical taste, but I can tell you this--they cut 'seconds', that is what most people would call 'B' stock, in half and put them in the dumpster, so they will never appear on the market, 'out the back door' so to speak.
That takes strength of conviction, and dedication.
I was very proud to travel all over the United States, to represent them, as they were, and are honorable people. Again, is everyone going to like their stuff, no,that would be impossible. But they do the industry proud with their work ethic, and commitment to improving each new product they present.
One of the toughest things about this business is the ease, with which someone can rain on your product parade. They can slice and dice virtually anything apart, and since this is opinion based to such a large degree, who can say that they are wrong?
I am happy that you like your 3.6's. Know this they were hand crafted by a real dedicated group of hard workers. That counts for something.
