THIEL CS3.7 Anyone heard them?

The Thiels might sound lean to those who aren't used to Jim Thiel's sound signature but having owned and loved the CS2.4SEs and now CS3.7s, I don't find it lacking much to be honest. If there's a lot of bass in the source, the 3.7s (and 2.4s) will reproduce it, but it wouldn't add more bass bloom if it isn't there.

The 3.7s despite having only 1-2Hz extension on paper lower than the 2.4s sounds a lot more filled out on the lower octaves than the 2.4s.

I still ended up with a dual SS2.2 sub to augment the 3.7s for stereo music once I moved to a bigger room for the last mile. By then I was already so invested in the sound of the Thiels and didn't want to muck it up by going a different brand.

I run Project RPM10.1 evolution with Sumiko BlackBird, Bel Canto Phono3 and EMM Labs XDS1 for source, ARC Reference 5SE for pre and Electrocompaniet Nemos for power. Cables are primarily ASI Liveline (power and XLR). Sound Conditioner is Sound Application RLS240

Doggiehouser,

Wow. That is an amazing system! (insert drool emoticon here).

I have some questions: are you running the subs directly from your Arc or are you using the Thiel crossover? I also wonder how critical the wire is connecting the subs. What do you notice that the subs do for the 3.7's. I'm seriously considering this when funds permit.

I use a Thiel S1 integrator for stereo and a PX05 for the surround channels.

The 3.7s don't need the sub for most music, but in a large room, the SS2.2s are so well integrated with the 3.7s in terms of pace and speed and adds that bit of tactile bass for some instruments (double bass etc)

I also have a JL Audio f113 and it's a tad slower than the 3.7s. Don't get me wrong the JL is plenty fast compared to other subs. But the SS2.2s are just so well matched.

I used a reasonably well made but cheap shielded XLR cable for the subs. Silversmith XLR for the stereo power amps.

"With respect to a sub, Thiel's smart sub system is amazing. It does far more than "add bass". In fact, adding much bass to a well broken-in and well-fed pair of 3.7's in a moderately sized room would be overkill"

I had the same impression of the bass in the 16 X 20 x 9 room I tested the 3.7 and s2 subs (with integrator). The bass was too much for me when the subs were on for music. For HT, a sub would be more appropriate in that room.

Thanks for the info!