Thiel CS 3.5 Speakers Query

[tunz]

Approximately 6 months ago I was given a pair of Theil CS 3.5 speakers. They are in their original shipping boxes with all papers, external crossovers, etc. from the factory. They look nearly new and they were free. Those are the pros. The cons are that one tweeter and both mid range speakers are dead. From what I research, the mids are known for popping, the external crossover makes a good boat anchor, and the replacement speakers cost a ton. I do, however, understand that the bass is quite wonderful when properly driven.

So the big question is, "What would you do with these?"

With all the negatives regarding them, I have been toying with the idea of replacing the tweeters and mids but keeping everything else as is.
I am very interested in your thoughts, ideas, and/or any first hand knowledge.

Thanks to all who participate in advance :thmbsp:

 

[sheltie dave]

Contact Thiel and get started on replacing these if you can. They are very, very good speakers when running properly. :thmbsp:

 

[onepixel]

Thiel told me recently, to rebuild my tweeter it would cost $80 plus shipping. You'll have to ask about the mids.

Having had three different pairs of Thiels, I would definitely get them properly fixed. They are fantastic speakers. Btw, they like a lot of power.

 

[hjames]

Thiels are superb speakers - do what it takes to make them right again!
Send them to the factory for an authentic rebuild and get them back to that factory sound

 

[2tumsup]

Damn - your on the other end of the continent! Still, I will pay for shipping if you want to send them to me.
Since you got them for free and even though they are non functioning, you're still ahead of the game.
You said you have had pairs of Thiels before so you know what they sound like when functioning properly. That should assist you in your decision. If money's tight, save until you can afford to repair. For the cost of the repairs and shipping to get them back to their original performance level, you will not come close if you put that amount into another speaker - not even remotely close.
But if you decide not to do it, my pay for shipping offer still stands - lol
Keep us posted and let us know what you decide to do

 

[cratz2]

I'd personally buy a new tweeter from Thiel. For the mids, depending on what actually us wrong, I might consider looking into third party repair options. The 3.5 and 3.6 are very high quality speakers and like a lot of power. I'm more familiar with the 3.6 than the 3.5 but they both continue the Thiel signature of erring towards towards the bright and detailed and offer lots of dynamics and scale if given the proper power.

 

[tunz]

I already have a pair of custom Altec Valencia's, a set of Bozaks, some Acoustic Research, and an absolutely amazing pair of Snell xa60"s.
If I repair these are they going to impress me knowing what I already have?

 

[onepixel]

Yes.

 

[sheltie dave]

Unless you demand the utmost in bass, the Thiels are now your best speakers when repaired, if you source path is up to the task.

 

[JeffCullen]

oops....... lag == dupe post

 

[JeffCullen]

I'll also step in to offer to relieve you of these, as 2tumsup has graciously offered -- with the added bonus that I'm not on the other end of the continent!

The CS3.5s are SERIOUS audiophile speakers (costing around $2.5k new in 1989) with formidable depth of engineering... you CAN NOT just go throwing any old tweeters or midrange drivers in there -- the crossovers are all first order, so the drivers need to have exceptional performance over a wide range, plus there are additional elements in the crossover networks to nip and tuck both frequency and phase response of the original drivers. They might work, but they will not perform near their potential...

I think these older Thiels are extremely susceptible to being under-powered, causing clipping in amps which are not up to the task, which takes out a bunch of drivers in the speaker thanks to the first order crossovers...

That said, the CS3.5s are considerably easier to drive than the later CS3.6s. Their impedance never dips below 4 ohms (while the CS3.6s are little more than half that for the majority of the range!!!). Still, I wouldn't try to get away with anything that couldn't comfortably put 200 watts (per channel) into 4 ohms, and I'd be more comfortable with 300 or 400 into 4.

As for the EQ box, it does make them flat to 22Hz (the CS3.6s eschewed the external equalizer box in favour of a passive radiator and a considerably larger chassis, and manage to be flat to only 29Hz), but bear in mind this puts considerable strain on the driving amplifier... the EQ box is also reported to be not exactly transparent... I think if I ran CS3.5s, I'd run them EQ-less, and try to integrate an excellent sub, or resolve to bi-amp them (this is not impossible if you rip off the stock input terminals and do a bit of re-working) and run the x-over box only on the amp which powers the woofers...

Being exceptionally transparent loudspeakers, any inadequacies in your upstream components will be laid bare...

Thiel should still keep spares (though you'll need to send your dead drivers in as cores to be rebuilt) for these old speakers -- I just had one of my CS3.6 tweeters rebuilt by them. Their service is prompt and excellent.

Give them a buzz -- (859) 254-9427. They close at 5:00PM Eastern.

If you don't want to pay what it costs to get these fabulous speakers back up to factory spec, I beg of you, please sell/pass them on to someone who is willing to...

 

[Basspig]

I've a pair of CS3.5s which have been driven pretty hard lately. I noticed no output from the midrange drivers and pulled on and measured across the coil which read 3.3 ohms. I'm wondering where exactly the crossover is located, because I suspect maybe a cap went open. Or am I reading something in parallel to the voice coil which could still be open?