Thiel Owners

I used to have 3.5s and drove them with a Classe CA-200 amplifier that is 200@8 and 400@4. I don’t think it was enough power. Keep your eye on the EQ box. Mine would periodically go out of whack and put the amp into protection mode. Each time it got temperamental, it had to go back for adjustments. I think I had to send it back three or four times. Then I had a mid driver go, so both of them went back for a rebuild. The drivers are not an off-the-shelf part and they’re no longer available, and with Thiel gone now, I’m not sure if they’re rebuildable anymore. I’m just sharing my experience and not trying to scare you at all. You may have good luck with yours.


Due to all the issues and with Thiel (the company) going to crap, I decided that the only option was to send them on their way. It was the best move I ever made as I have at least four times (maybe more) better sound now with all the same electronics. My new used speakers were about 4 times the cost of the used 3.5s, though, but they were still relatively inexpensive and totally worth freeing myself of the 3.5s.

Thank You for sharing your 3.5 story. Which loudspeaker replaced Thiel in your system? Happy Listening!

Magenpan 3.6Rs. It was a huge step up. Earlier, I said that they are at least four times better than the Thiels 3.5s, but I have to retract that statement because I never liked the Thiel midrange or treble. The midrange was always really shouty and the treble was extremely bright, harsh, and fatiguing. It didn’t matter how the speakers were placed. I tried everything from pointing straight ahead to various degrees of toe-in. I could never listen to the speakers without being on-edge. Due to all of this, I consider the Maggies infinitely better.

The Magnepans have a sweet, lush midrange and the highs are super soft, airy, extended, and life-like with absolutely no boxiness at all. The soundstage depth and width kills the 3.5s, and everything just sounds completely transparent and real. The Maggies are just a totally different animal. They also open up more amplifier choices because they are a relatively easy 4 ohm load unlike the Thiels.

The only way the Thiel might have been a little better was in the low frequencies. They could go lower than the Maggies, but I could never turn the volume up high enough to enjoy it without the woofers slapping and the midrange and tweeters pushing me out of the room, so it’s a moot point. I don’t know if more amplification would have helped with the woofer slapping, but they were already getting 400 watts @ 4 ohms, and at the time, I thought it was a much better idea to get different speakers than more amplification.

Making a speaker move paid off big time for me. I’ve had the Maggies for a few years now and they still amaze me. They have been completely trouble-free, but if I should happen to fry a ribbon tweeter or require any other kind of repair, it’s no problem.

It has been said many times that a Thiel speaker is an Apogee or Magnepan with Bass.

Having owned both Thiel and Magnepan, I could not disagree more!  I'm sure the later speakers were much better than the 3.5s, though.  I would love to hear some better models at some point, but because the company doesn't exist anymore and replacement parts are pretty much nonexistent, I'll never own them again.  What happened at Thiel is a crime.