Thiel CS3 Without The EQ

How about using a good subwoofer instead of an equalizer? Any experiences with using a subwoofer with CS3 or CS3.5?

With the 3.5's you can cut the boost to 42 Hz, which can work quite well for use with sub-woofers. Of course if you can do without the sheer extra volume subs offer, the EQ'd sub-less bass is just as deep as most sub-woofers (and deeper than many).
Without EQ you'll need subs capable of working beyond "sub" up to about 70 Hz. Not an are where subs typically do their best work.

I had an old CS3 Bass EQ that stopped working so I just bought a new one in the box from Coherent Source Service.http://https//www.coherentsourceservice.com/ I was super happy that Rob had them in stock because there is very little bass without the EQ. If I didn't have the EQ I would save up and get a really nice subwoofer with an auto-EQ.  

I know if I don't have the high pass (eq) filter connected with my Vandersteens, the speaker will be destroyed.

Hello all!

I have a pair of 3.5's that I use in my main system...absolutely love them.  I have always used them with the Electronic Bass Equalizer, figuring that if Jim Thiel designed it to be used with the speakers, who was I to argue?  ;^)

Anyway, I began to get some intermittent "crackling" coming out of my system right around late January.  I tracked it down to the Bass EQ.  Contacted Rob at Coherent Source and he informed me about excess voltage accumulating in the output circuit of the unit, which causes the crackling.  Sent it to him, he cleared the pots and repaired the output circuit to eliminate the excess voltage problem from ever happening again.

Without it in my system, it was clear that my 3.5's just wouldn't go as low as I was used to.  Putting it back into my system, the repaired unit was not only noticeably more quiet, but had more "impact" and "slam" than before.  The bass is definitely fuller, but the speed and definition has improved markedly...couldn't be a better way to spend $165 to get this improvement in sound!

Uh, sorry for rambling...if Jim Thiel designed your speakers to incorporate it, you WANT the Electronic Bass EQ with your Thiels.  While Thiels are already remarkable performers, the EQ turns them into truly full-range, reference-quality speakers!

Good luck...Hope you're enjoying the music!

Arvin