Description

Of course things are evolving thus resulting in change, this is the way. 

Owned and sold a McIntosh (MA6200) integrated back in the 80s, missed the performance ever since. Decided to get serious about the hobby again and started planning a system based around McIntosh separates, tube preamp and most likely SS amp. Figured out the C22 Mk V was a good fit with a MC312.

Came across a set of Thiel CS3.6 close by for what I thought was good a price. Did some digging around the web for info and found lots of data including the Thiel owners page. Also chatted with a good friend who knew the brand. Word was great speakers with excellent precision and imaging. Made an appointment to audition the speakers, SOLD, paid the nice chap and took ‘em home. Speakers have the gloss black laminate exterior

Hooked up my Anthem based set up and wow, folks weren’t kidding how concise the speakers perform. Poor recordings or engineering were obvious, Donald Fagen’s (Nightfly & Morph the Cat) attention to detail was up front and clean. Heard things in the music I don't remember hearing before.

More readings on the cs3.6 and I decided the new system would merit a MC462 amp, it was a good choice. Would have loved to get some new MC611s but reason intervened as the law of diminishing returns came to mind. I did audition new speakers prior to buying the 3.6s, Wilson, B&W 802 D3, Sonus Faber Olypica Nova V, Dynaudio Contour 60i & 30i, etc. I felt the 3.6s held their own with the previous speakers I had auditioned.

With the planned system in mind I was guessing speakers to measure up would run in the $15-30K range. Interesting how speaker purchasing is so personal and subjective to the listener. In this case I built from speakers, to amp and pre, then to source, it worked out well for my tastes.

Upgrades to Thiel CS3.6s, rebuilt mids by Coherent Source Service installed. Not much difference from the original mids, somewhat tighter. Tweeters will be next for a rebuild from CSS. I rotating a pair of Thiel CS2.3s in from time to time, but have since sold those to a friend. 

Auditioning DACs, testing with a mix of units and interconnects. Have a Bryston BDA2 in the mix right now, precise and sometimes bright with some classical and strong higher octave vocals. Yamaha CD-S2100 DAC works better for some of those bright recordings. I have figured out that digital interconnects help the un-edge and a decent copper cabled coax has relaxed some brightness as well. Still watching DACs and trying to stay with built in the US as if an issue, shipping costs are silly expensive, which ruled out Aqua as I'm not interested in shipping to Italia for a fix.

I have a feeling that I'm going to end up with multiple DACs for different types of music...

Working with a Roon Rock server (NUC 11-i7) in the network for better system management. The up system hooked right up, (Antem TLP1 & MCA20, CXNv2, & Polk LSiM705s). I was hesitant with the BDP-2 for streaming as I wasn't interested in Manic Moose or other platforms for management, bought an Intel Nuc and solved that 1st world problem.

Hope you enjoyed the short story and more so enjoy your listening. 
Cheers, Brett.
Read more...

Room Details

Dimensions: 29’ × 20’  X large
Ceiling: 9’


Components Toggle details

    • McIntosh C22 Mk V
    Tube preamp
    • McIntosh MC462
    Solid State amp
    • Thiel Audio CS3.6
    • Bryston BDP-2
    Network streamer, updated Bryston sound card
    • Bryston BDA-2
    DAC
    • Yamaha CD-S2100
    CD-SACD player with built in DAC.
    • Chang Lightspeed X-series H1
    Power conditioner, connected to all except amp.

Comments 10

A beautiful space and system.

Happy Listening!

jafant

Owner
Talk about putting some juice through the system there sababin, some major current with the mono blocks in your set up sir!

duegi

MC462 ... you got the JUICE!!

sababin

Duegi,

Your Thiel's, system and room all look pristine.  Love it!

Those Thiel's saved you a boat load of money from buying a set of new speakers, especially those made in the US or UK.  And you're not missing much, if anything.  Good for you!

Enjoy!

linnie01

linnie01

Owner
Chaps, thosb & mjcmt,
Thanks for the kind thoughts.
thosb, lovely set up you've built as well, enjoy that set up as much as possible. Thiel parts are getting harder to come by and I'm noticing less and less of the wholes being listed as well. Something to be said for current owners not giving up their Thiel models.
mjcmt, also a nice clean set up, well balanced and thought out while maximizing money spent.

duegi

That is an impressively good looking system you've got. With some really stellar gear too.

mjcmt

That is an impressively good looking system you've got. With some really stellar gear too.

mjcmt

I also started with Thiels, 2.3s, about four years ago and although I've had other speakers in the room and listened to many in stores, I'm still happy with them, despite lusting over others.  Plus for newbies like me I think it's good to have "revealing" speakers, it's helped me getting better at listening.  And your 3.6s are next level for sure!  I will be interested in hearing how your crossover ebuild goes, I've always wanted to do the same but gun shy due to lack of soldering skills.  Ah the list of potential improvements is long!

thosb

Owner
The Thiels were in extremely good shape with a few nicks on the wooden base and a couple of nearly impossible to see scratches on the black laminate exterior. One owner since 1993 who didn’t even let his house cleaner in the music room, or so the story goes. Im able to hear the harmonics reverberating through James Taylor’s guitar when plays on these speakers. Heck I would have paid $3-4K or more for what I’m getting back from them. 

In short I’m rather happy with this system. Playing with streaming and DACs now weeding through the options. Feeding the node into the DAC of the Yamaha CD-S2100 for now using USBs of both. 

duegi

Nice Thiel’s.  I have the CS2’s I bought new in 1988 and still use them in my reference system.  Are there better?  Of course.   However, I am still very happy and can’t justify the prices of new comparable speakers  today vs. what I have.  The difference in sound improvement is maybe (?) only 10-20% vs spending $6,000 - $7,000 for new Spendor’s or KEF’s.  I’ll pass.

Enjoy!!

linnie01

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