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View Full Version : Thiel CS 1.6s -- comments and recommendations


Doug Emery
January 15th 06, 11:15 PM
I am looking for a speaker recommendation based on my preference for the
Thiel CS 1.6 over the Quad 22L and on my room limitations.

I currently have two Quad 11Ls and wanted to get complementary 22Ls or a
Quad subwoofer to fill out the low end, and then I heard the Thiel CS
1.6s. The Thiels have much better detail in the lower end, and the
$2,200-$3,000 price is w/in my budget.

I don't think my living room will allow me to place the speakers the
recommended 3 1/2" from the wall. I probably can't do more than 2". (My
room is 16'X15', but no single wall is unbroken by radiator, fireplace,
doorway, or stairs.)

Does anyone have experience with the CS1.6 in tight quarters or
recommendations for a speaker of comparable quality and price that will
work w/in such limitations?

Thanks.

Doug
brakeman27 dash groups at yahoo.com

PS If it helps, the music I listen to is all over the map (indie label
pop and hip-hop, rock, pre-war blues, country, some classical, but very
little symphonic classical).

Bret Ludwig
January 15th 06, 11:55 PM
My listening experience with Thiel's is they are mediocre-to-okay.

Doug Emery
January 16th 06, 02:12 AM
Bret Ludwig wrote:
> My listening experience with Thiel's is they are mediocre-to-okay.
>

Interesting. Compared to what?

Harry Lavo
January 16th 06, 02:13 AM
"Doug Emery" > wrote in message
...
>I am looking for a speaker recommendation based on my preference for the
>Thiel CS 1.6 over the Quad 22L and on my room limitations.
>
> I currently have two Quad 11Ls and wanted to get complementary 22Ls or a
> Quad subwoofer to fill out the low end, and then I heard the Thiel CS
> 1.6s. The Thiels have much better detail in the lower end, and the
> $2,200-$3,000 price is w/in my budget.
>
> I don't think my living room will allow me to place the speakers the
> recommended 3 1/2" from the wall. I probably can't do more than 2". (My
> room is 16'X15', but no single wall is unbroken by radiator, fireplace,
> doorway, or stairs.)
>
> Does anyone have experience with the CS1.6 in tight quarters or
> recommendations for a speaker of comparable quality and price that will
> work w/in such limitations?

For a room that size, you might want to consider a used pair of Thiel 2 2's
or 2.3's. These are readily available on Audiogon and eBay from $1200-2200.
They sound very similar to the 1.6's but have better bass. The 1.6's
really work best in small rooms...yours is a bit too large to be considers
small (more like 10 x 12).

I've used Thiels as close to the wall as 2', but also used them as far away
as 6'. If you use them close to the rear wall, you may want to narrow their
spacing a bit in order to get the best imaging (you don't want reflected
center fill), but it will not be as good as if they were the recommended 3+
ft.

Hope this helps.

Doug Emery
January 16th 06, 07:14 PM
Harry Lavo wrote:
> "Doug Emery" > wrote in message
> ...
>> I am looking for a speaker recommendation based on my preference for the
>> Thiel CS 1.6 over the Quad 22L and on my room limitations.
>>
>> I currently have two Quad 11Ls and wanted to get complementary 22Ls or a
>> Quad subwoofer to fill out the low end, and then I heard the Thiel CS
>> 1.6s. The Thiels have much better detail in the lower end, and the
>> $2,200-$3,000 price is w/in my budget.
>>
>> I don't think my living room will allow me to place the speakers the
>> recommended 3 1/2" from the wall. I probably can't do more than 2". (My
>> room is 16'X15', but no single wall is unbroken by radiator, fireplace,
>> doorway, or stairs.)
>>
>> Does anyone have experience with the CS1.6 in tight quarters or
>> recommendations for a speaker of comparable quality and price that will
>> work w/in such limitations?
>
> For a room that size, you might want to consider a used pair of Thiel 2 2's
> or 2.3's. These are readily available on Audiogon and eBay from $1200-2200.
> They sound very similar to the 1.6's but have better bass. The 1.6's
> really work best in small rooms...yours is a bit too large to be considers
> small (more like 10 x 12).
>
> I've used Thiels as close to the wall as 2', but also used them as far away
> as 6'. If you use them close to the rear wall, you may want to narrow their
> spacing a bit in order to get the best imaging (you don't want reflected
> center fill), but it will not be as good as if they were the recommended 3+
> ft.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
>

Thanks a lot. This sounds like good advice.

Based on what I've read about the CS 2.4, I'll need more power than my
current receiver offers (a Yamaha RX596, 80 wpc at 8 ohms) to drive a
pair of series 2 Thiel speakers.

On Audiogon, I've read recommendations for using an amp that provides at
least 200 wpc and for products that cost in the thousand of dollars.
This is beyond what I wish to spend now. I'd like to build my system
over time, for the sake of my wallet. Is it possible to buy
amplification adequate to drive a pair of CS 2 series Thiels for under
$1,000?

Thanks again.

Doug

EddieM
January 16th 06, 07:55 PM
> Harry Lavo wrote
>> Doug Emery wrote
>
>
>
>
>>I am looking for a speaker recommendation based on my preference for the
>>Thiel CS 1.6 over the Quad 22L and on my room limitations.
>>
>> I currently have two Quad 11Ls and wanted to get complementary 22Ls or a
>> Quad subwoofer to fill out the low end, and then I heard the Thiel CS 1.6s.
>> The Thiels have much better detail in the lower end, and the $2,200-$3,000
>> price is w/in my budget.
>>
>> I don't think my living room will allow me to place the speakers the
>> recommended 3 1/2" from the wall. I probably can't do more than 2". (My
>> room is 16'X15', but no single wall is unbroken by radiator, fireplace,
>> doorway, or stairs.)
>>
>> Does anyone have experience with the CS1.6 in tight quarters or
>> recommendations for a speaker of comparable quality and price that will
>> work w/in such limitations?
>
> For a room that size, you might want to consider a used pair of Thiel 2 2's
> or 2.3's. These are readily available on Audiogon and eBay from $1200-2200.
> They sound very similar to the 1.6's but have better bass. The 1.6's
> really work best in small rooms...yours is a bit too large to be considers
> small (more like 10 x 12).
>



I had the blessing to audition both Thiel's 2.2's and 1.6's years ago.
IIRC, the 2.2's were the upgrade for 1.6's. Both were smallish and similar in
appearance but the 2.2's was better in the bass region. Thanks also.

Harry Lavo
January 17th 06, 02:21 AM
"Doug Emery" > wrote in message
. ..
> Harry Lavo wrote:
>> "Doug Emery" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> I am looking for a speaker recommendation based on my preference for the
>>> Thiel CS 1.6 over the Quad 22L and on my room limitations.
>>>
>>> I currently have two Quad 11Ls and wanted to get complementary 22Ls or a
>>> Quad subwoofer to fill out the low end, and then I heard the Thiel CS
>>> 1.6s. The Thiels have much better detail in the lower end, and the
>>> $2,200-$3,000 price is w/in my budget.
>>>
>>> I don't think my living room will allow me to place the speakers the
>>> recommended 3 1/2" from the wall. I probably can't do more than 2". (My
>>> room is 16'X15', but no single wall is unbroken by radiator, fireplace,
>>> doorway, or stairs.)
>>>
>>> Does anyone have experience with the CS1.6 in tight quarters or
>>> recommendations for a speaker of comparable quality and price that will
>>> work w/in such limitations?
>>
>> For a room that size, you might want to consider a used pair of Thiel 2
>> 2's or 2.3's. These are readily available on Audiogon and eBay from
>> $1200-2200. They sound very similar to the 1.6's but have better bass.
>> The 1.6's really work best in small rooms...yours is a bit too large to
>> be considers small (more like 10 x 12).
>>
>> I've used Thiels as close to the wall as 2', but also used them as far
>> away as 6'. If you use them close to the rear wall, you may want to
>> narrow their spacing a bit in order to get the best imaging (you don't
>> want reflected center fill), but it will not be as good as if they were
>> the recommended 3+ ft.
>>
>> Hope this helps.
>
> Thanks a lot. This sounds like good advice.
>
> Based on what I've read about the CS 2.4, I'll need more power than my
> current receiver offers (a Yamaha RX596, 80 wpc at 8 ohms) to drive a pair
> of series 2 Thiel speakers.
>
> On Audiogon, I've read recommendations for using an amp that provides at
> least 200 wpc and for products that cost in the thousand of dollars. This
> is beyond what I wish to spend now. I'd like to build my system over
> time, for the sake of my wallet. Is it possible to buy amplification
> adequate to drive a pair of CS 2 series Thiels for under $1,000?
>

I drove mine successuflly with both VTL 85's (80 wpc tube) and Audionics
CC-2's (70/110 wpc transistor) basic amps, although they definisitely put
out more bass now that I've gone to Outlaw monoblocks (200/300 wpc). The
outlaws can be bought for $626/pr directly from Outlaw Audio
(www.outlawaudio.com). The only drawback is that they have only a 10,000
ohm input impedance and so need a rather low impedance preamp output. If
your receiver has pre outs, check the source impedance.

Outlaw has also just introduced a brand new, modern stereo receiver with 125
wpc and bass management for addition of a subwoofer. Believe it sells for
$595. Supposed to have a good FM section, as well. It does have pre-outs
and can be used and then upgraded. They make good stuff.

Then, of course their is NAD...and lots of used stuff on eBay.