comments wanted on 501s on Thiel CS7.2s

[Know_Talent]

I'm looking at picking up a pair of CS7.2s and I see from another post that Mac synergized quite well with Thiel.

Has anybody heard the CS7.2 in a Mac rig???

[pwhartman]

I have not heard the 7.2s with the 501s but I have heard the 2.4s and 3.7s on the 501s and they sound great. I think you should have ample power unless you have a large room and like to listen to very loud music.

Paul

[ron-c]

Every loudspeaker should sound best with a McIntosh amp.

Thanks,
Ron-C

[basite]

I have a Mcintosh MA6400 driving CS2.3's here, in a larger room I could use slightly more power, but for the rest, this is an AWESOME combo...

When I first auditioned them at my dealer (brought my 6400 with me...), I was impressed, and I was not alone, literally everyone at the dealer came to listen. sound was full, detailed, open, transparent, expanding far beyond the speakers...
it was simply wonderful...

that should give you an idea :D

oh, and post pics when you get them :)
we need more Thiels around here...

Keep them spinning,
Bert.

[Know_Talent]

I have a Mcintosh MA6400 driving CS2.3's here, in a larger room I could use slightly more power, but for the rest, this is an AWESOME combo...

When I first auditioned them at my dealer (brought my 6400 with me...), I was impressed, and I was not alone, literally everyone at the dealer came to listen. sound was full, detailed, open, transparent, expanding far beyond the speakers...
it was simply wonderful...

that should give you an idea :D

oh, and post pics when you get them :)
we need more Thiels around here...

Keep them spinning,
Bert.

from Chuck at McIntosh...

"While partnering w/ Thiel at the EHX Expo in Florida last spring, we used MC501’s on the 7.2’s and found them more than enough to drive them to the fullest of their capabilities. In fact, this year at EHX, I used our MC207 and drove those speakers with 200 (McIntosh) Watts."

I can't wait to get them in my system...
The current owner has a pair of Avalon Isis on order which are due to ship in September so I'll have to wait til then.
In the meantime, I'm taking my CDP & preamp over tommorrow to have a listen!

He's demoed top of the line Wilsons, JM Labs, Kharmas, etc... and says he was never compelled to upgrade from the 7.2s ...until he heard the (-$$$-) Isis!

I'll post pics once I have them

[basite]

He's demoed top of the line Wilsons, JM Labs, Kharmas, etc... and says he was never compelled to upgrade from the 7.2s ...until he heard the (-$$$-) Isis!

I'll post pics once I have them


Thiels are amazing, I am continually amazed by how good these speakers sound.
They are made with love and dedication for the product. This, you can both hear and see, build quality is amazing, just like their sound :)

I heard the Isis too, and well, yeah :drool::drool::banana:
of course, that pricetag :D

they were then driven by Spectral monoblocs, reference pre and cdp (I think the cdp was spectral too, but I'm not sure...)
if only I won the lottery...

Congrats in advance, I'd say, and have fun tomorrow :)
let us know how you like them :)


Keep them spinning,
Bert.

[Know_Talent]

Thiels are amazing, I am continually amazed by how good these speakers sound.
They are made with love and dedication for the product. This, you can both hear and see, build quality is amazing, just like their sound :)

I heard the Isis too, and well, yeah :drool::drool::banana:
of course, that pricetag :D

they were then driven by Spectral monoblocs, reference pre and cdp (I think the cdp was spectral too, but I'm not sure...)
if only I won the lottery...

Congrats in advance, I'd say, and have fun tomorrow :)
let us know how you like them :)


Keep them spinning,
Bert.


I believe the CS7.2 was the first speaker that is 100% Thiel(?) From cabinet to crossovers to drivers, R&D thru Production... all was done in-house by Thiel!
That's pretty impressive IMHO.

Their build/design philosophy (and heritage) matches well with that of McIntosh!

[Gregory]

and post pics when you get them :)
we need more Thiels around here...

LOL :yes:

-G

[Gregory]

from Chuck at McIntosh.. "While partnering w/ Thiel at the EHX Expo in Florida last spring, we used MC501’s on the 7.2’s and found them more than enough to drive them to the fullest of their capabilities. In fact, this year at EHX, I used our MC207 and drove those speakers with 200 (McIntosh) Watts."

I can't wait to get them in my system...


There are many sources of information on the 7.2s starting with Thiel's own PDF doc:
http://www.thielaudio.com/THIEL_Site05/PDF_files/PDF_product_lit05/CS7.2.pdf


Let's have a look

The 7.2s are VERY heavy at 168 lbs each. That's good!! The sensitivity is 86 dB so a BIG amp would be the way to go for a LARGE listening room. Notice the impedance curve in Stereophile review.

http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/216/

http://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/C72fig1.jpg

Definitely a 4-ohm tapper, and the impedance drops to 2 ohms above 10 kHz. They'll need some current at the low end as well. We are antenna guys at the office and do a lot of swept gain measurements. The following frequency response chart is basically `swept gain´ of the speaker in a semi anechoic room:

http://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/C72fig2.jpg

The article talks about a low-midrange lack of energy, and that's also a concern with the model 3.5s here. Have used EQs but just leave everything FLAT through this band now. The article also describes resonance in the midrange that can be heard in some program material. That peak can be seen in the response above, and has issues as seen in the Spectral Decay chart below.

http://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/C72fig9.jpg

Not to worry about the items mentioned, because I hear similar things in the smaller 3.x series Thiels. No midrange has perfect response and there's always some little peak that will color vocals a bit, especially female vocals, but only at certain times and in certain material.


Here's another review from the UK:
http://www.audiosalon.co.uk/thielcs72.html


And from SoundStage:
http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/thiel_cs72.htm


Conclusion

What you'll likely notice with the 7.2s is very good resolution and the ability to reveal detail. Since Thiels are coherent speakers that emphasize step and impulse response, the image or `sound stage´ would be the other main attribute. So go for em' and enjoy. People that come over and hear the Thiels with McIntosh amplifiers are simply amazed!!


-Gregory

[markc2]

:) One more on the Thiel and Mcintosh bandwagon.

I had spoken to Chuck at Mcintosh when they had the amp trade in program. I said I was thinking about going to a MC402 and he thought that was a really great idea, but then I mentioned would it be worth it to do 2x MC275's and he saw that as a really tough choice.

[Gregory]

:) One more on the Thiel and McIntosh bandwagon.

Yep.. and now I'm having second thoughts about posting a frequency response that's +5 and -7 dB as in the Stereophile measurements. The factory specs in the reviews are quoting +/- 1.5 dB from 25 Hz to 18 kHz. The OP might want to call Gary in Tech Support to resolve the discrepancy. Maybe there's a screw loose or something. :scratch2:

-Gregory

[masterlu]

Every loudspeaker should sound best with a McIntosh amp.

Thanks,
Ron-C

Shameless plug. ;)

[Know_Talent]

Well I packed up my preamp and CDP and headed over for a listen Saturday morning...

The 7.2s were driven by PASS X600.5 monoblocks and Nordost Vahalla speaker wire.

the most drastic difference with the 7.2s over the 803s is LF extension (duh!) and I'm not talking sloppy ghetto bass but tight rythymic chest crushing aural tsunami LF wave-age. If you're not use to hearing 25-30hz reproduction it's amazing how much it adds to the music... I was hearing bass and drum notes that I could barely detect with my 803s. The response seems fairly uniform and balanced with no apparent emphasis at any freq range, very much like 803s.
The PASS amps, while definately muscular, sound more neutral then what I care for so I can't wait to hear them matched up with the MC501s. pour a little soul on them hotcakes and everything will be fine!

more to come

[Gregory]

Well I packed up my preamp and CDP and headed over for a listen Saturday morning. The 7.2s were driven by PASS X600.5 mono-blocks and Nordost Vahalla speaker wire. The most drastic difference with the 7.2s over the 803s is LF extension. If you're not use to hearing 25-30hz reproduction it's amazing how much it adds to the music. The response seems fairly uniform and balanced with no apparent emphasis at any freq range, very much like 803s.

more to come

Do you have a smaller McIntosh amp to bring over there for eval? or is it a done deal already?

This next part is for basite.. I used to haul the MC2200, walnut case and all, into audio stores and set in down in the middle of the floor. Didn't need to do that at Audio Consultants in 1988 because then already had a MC7270 there. The older Thiel 3.5 has low bass (20Hz) but as the reviews say "it measures better than it sounds." It's still deep and convincing enough for us tho!!

Speaking of a screw loose, I completely dismantled my Thiels except for the connector plates on the bottom. All six drivers were sent to the factory for test. When [and if] you get the 7.2s, Gary in Tech Support will be your good buddy. Anyway back to the screws.. I checked all the screws holding the drivers to the baffle last weekend (after a few months of operation) at the recommendation of someone here in the forum and ~1/3 were loose, one was significantly loose.

So.. it would be a good idea to get the correct screwdrivers and carefully tighten each screw/fastener with your calibrated grip, being VERY careful not to slip off and stab the surrounds or cones!! { doh-oooh }

-Gregory

[Know_Talent]

Do you have a smaller McIntosh amp to bring over there for eval? or is it a done deal already?

This next part is for basite.. I used to haul the MC2200, walnut case and all, into audio stores and set in down in the middle of the floor. Didn't need to do that at Audio Consultants in 1988 because then already had a MC7270 there. The older Thiel 3.5 has low bass (20Hz) but as the reviews say "it measures better than it sounds." It's still deep and convincing enough for us tho!!

Speaking of a screw loose, I completely dismantled my Thiels except for the connector plates on the bottom. All six drivers were sent to the factory for test. When [and if] you get the 7.2s, Gary in Tech Support will be your good buddy. Anyway back to the screws.. I checked all the screws holding the drivers to the baffle last weekend (after a few months of operation) at the recommendation of someone here in the forum and ~1/3 were loose, one was significantly loose.

So.. it would be a good idea to get the correct screwdrivers and carefully tighten each screw/fastener with your calibrated grip, being VERY careful not to slip off and stab the surrounds or cones!! { doh-oooh }

-Gregory

Nope, I sold my MA6900 to finance my CDP and I wasn't in the mood to lug the 501s over. Chuck Hinton said the 501s power the 7.2s to their full capability so I'll take his word on that. I'm putting a downpayment on so it's pretty much a done deal. My neighbors are going to love me!

I'll definately tighten things down and I've already had a few email conversations with Gary and get the impression that Thiel really prides themselves on customer support!

[markc2]

:yippy: Congratulations

[basite]

Congrats!!!!

definately let us know more when you get them :)

Keep them spinning,
Bert.

[basite]

This next part is for basite.. I used to haul the MC2200, walnut case and all, into audio stores and set in down in the middle of the floor. Didn't need to do that at Audio Consultants in 1988 because then already had a MC7270 there. The older Thiel 3.5 has low bass (20Hz) but as the reviews say "it measures better than it sounds." It's still deep and convincing enough for us tho!!



:)

I believe a true audition only works with your own gear (or at least identical components, there's no use in hauling over stuff that the dealer has too :))

I found my MA6400, completely packed big & heavy enough too to haul over to the audio dealer... :D

but it was worth it...

now, if I could buy a MC402, I wouldn't need to bring my amp over there again... :D

Keep them spinning,
Bert.

[tom_hankins]

Hate to throw a wrench in this thread, butas a long time 7.2 owner and been through alot of amps with them. They may make music with the 501s but you are not going to hear what they have to offer. You should start looking and saving for the 1201s if you must use Mac amps with them. And they are not the best match out there. I have auditoioned with the 1201s, have owned or in home auditioned with the pass 600 monos, 350.5, Ayre V-1XE, Parasound JC-1s and cant remeber what all i have heard with other Thiel models. I had never been a fan of Krell amps in the past. But decided to take a chance because of all the positive comments from Thiel and Agon. Bought the FPB 650M monoblocks and have not even thought about other amps since. I also was at Thiel yesterday and spent a good amount of time with the 3.7s and krell amps. i have heard these speakers with alot of good amps including Mac. But setup with the krells at Thiel it confirmed what I already knew, something special happens when you pr. these two.
Congrats on getting one of the finest speakers ever made!!!!!!!!!