2. speakers
  3. 1043204951

Speakers that sound like Thiels on steroids.

I am carefully searching for replacements for my beloved Thiel CS2.3's. Only 2 problems I have with these speakers currently are that they begin to compress when peak spls rise above 108db and I would prefer about another 10hz in bass extension. My goals are transparency (can never have enough), speed (rim shots to blink for), (visceral) dynamics, focus and bass extension down to at least 27hz, coherency, top-end extension and air, and the ability to play to 110-115db without compression. Priorities are listed in order so I'll compromise on the spl first. Budget is up to 20k new or used. Best candidates I've heard so far are Wilson Watt Puppy's 7 for about 22k new. The WP's have the bass extension and the ability to play loudly with clarity but I prefer my Thiels' midrange, soundstage and focus. Overall the WP's are fine but they sound like a rich man's Thiel and for 22k I expected them to kick dirt all over my speakers (they don't). Other candidates I have not heard and am interested in are Thiel CS3.6 (or their replacements, whenever they come out) and Piega C10/C8 ltd. Speakers I have auditioned and am not interested in are B&W Sig 800's or anything else made by B&W, JMLabs Utopias and Mezzo Utopias, Revel Salons and Studios, Maggies, Proacs, Martin Logans, Thiel CS6 and CS7.2.

All suggestions are appreciated.
jazzdude
rhljazz
1,117 posts
 
Try Green Mountain Audio. Roy Johnson's speakers are phase and time aligned and will play at the decibels you're asking for. The speakers image extemely well. They do require a fair amount of power to play loud however. The only Thiels I've auditioned were the 2.2 which I didn't think had any bass at all and the 3.6 which had great bass but everything through the mid-treble sounded somehow altered or processed. They just didn't give me the illusion of reality that the Green Mountains do.
artmaltman
769 posts
 
Thiel 2.4 ! Heard them at CES. I think they are a serious increment over the 2.3, might be just what you are looking for.

Another idea are the floor standing Joseph Audios, esp 33i SE ($11k ulp)
jazzdude OP
332 posts
 
Got an email back from Thiel regarding the SW1. They say that production is delayed awaiting parts and once the backorder is cleared some units will be shipped for review.

No word on a timeframe when production will resume.
rstone
17 posts
 
With enough good quality juice behind them they play quite loud w/o distortion or compression - haven't used a SLM to verify but they should give you close to what you want in output, They definetely have more "headroom" than the 2.3s, at least in my experience. They also extend down pretty flat to 30hz - if you need more extension and slam below that the SW1 (when it becomes available) might be the ticket. I also prefer the midrange of the 3.6s to the 2.3s (not that the 2.3s are bad).

If you can give them a listen....
cdc
1,412 posts
 
Third the ATC active 100's. Or try the active 150's or 200's. You will be doing yourself a disservice if you don't take the time to find these speakers (my opinion).
More to discover