Thiel 6 versus 7.2



Hi Folks:

As a longtime Thiel owner of both the 1.5 and 2.3, I would very much like to upgrade to the flagship at some point if a pair comes along at a price that I cannot refuse.

With that said, I'd like to hear any viewpoints as to what you think the 7.2. gives you that the 6 cannot, considering the major jump in price. As for myself, The 7.2. remains the finest overall loudspeaker that I have ever heard and the 6, which has taken a while to grow on me, still doesn't seem to have the same effect on me that the 7.2. does in terms of soundstage size and depth. Would welcome any other opinions.

Thank you for reading.

D.H.
danhirsh
I recently bought a pair of 7.2 Thiels. I'm building a 7.1 system with 3.5 in the rear, mcs1 center, 7.2 mains, velodyne subs, and currently design acoustic sides. Sixes and 7.2 have similiar imaging, both being better than what you currently have. With good sub placement the 6 may be very close to a 7.2
Older 7 can be upgraded to a 7.2 with the puchase of the 4000$ kit, plus labor if you have them do it. When done you will have a 7.2. The kit contains all new drivers, crossover, terminals, even trim to dress it like a 7.2. One cosmetic catch: Original 7 Thiels were made with cast concrete baffles. In shipment to dealers, many would develop cracks. Meaningless to the sound. Later production switched to the composite they use now. Thiel says the 7 upgraded to a 7.2, even with the hair cracks in the concrete, sounds like the factory 7.2.
Used 7 Thiels come up on audiogon for 3000 to 3500. Add 4g's for the kit and 7500$ isn't outragous. Haven't seen used 7.2 under 8000$. Model 6 is often under 4000$.
Sevens need a lot of power. 100 watts a channel isn't much for them, but if you have a powered sub it may work. Classe amps work very well with the Thiel line. Especially the CA300 and the CA400. I'm sure the new omega models in the classe line are even more capable. Used 300's are in the 1700$ to 2000$ range and can be bridged. 300w a channel in stereo. 900w plus bridged into 4 0hms.
I think sixes would make excellent center and surrounds in a multichannel system.
Dc2daylight,

Why stop there? What about surrounding yourself in the center of 7.2s with a radius of 12 feet from the speakers to your listening chair. I figure you could do this with the Thiels spaced on the circumference about 5 feet apart. You could probably do with 6 pair of the 7.2s unless you wanted to put a pair on the ceiling and build a pair into the floor underneath you. On second thought, forget about the speakers above and below you, because you would need 24 ft ceilings and would have to suspend yourself and the other 12 speaker 12 feet into the air. That would be excessive.
Danhirsh, see my post on 7.2 regarding amplifier suggestions: the 7.2 are more difficult to power than the 6, carefully consider this aspect before make a decision.