Blast from the past...

rrwmd

rrwmd

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Jan 21, 2014
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Location
Kentucky, USA
Today - just for the heck of it - I hauled out my old pair of Thiel CS3 speakers. Yes, that's right - not CS3 "point" anything...the original CS3s.

I bought these in early 1985. These (and Magnepan MMGs) were my first "high-end" speakers. For some reason I've kept these speakers, though haven't had them in any kind of system for a long time. Over the years there's been a handful of subsequent iterations - up to the model CS3.7 - before the passing of Jim Thiel and the subsequent sale of Thiel Audio (now located in Nashville I believe).

I remember after having them for some years taking them back to the factory in Lexington, KY to have them checked over, cabinets touched up (mine are teak wood) and a couple of drivers replaced. (It's possible I might have overdriven them just a tiny bit...) Jim Thiel was gracious enough to give me a personal tour of the factory, including a showing of the impressive cabinet making area, a detailed explanation of the coherent source concept, materials/drivers used in various models, and finally a listening session with the CS7s.

So I hooked these up to my C50/MC601 combo and was pleasantly surprised at how good they sound. I remember them being very clean and articulate with a deep tight bass and great imaging, but sometimes too edgy and bright depending on electronics. Well, the Mac gear really complements them nicely and works better than anything I had back in the day. No edginess at all, but still quite clean and articulate.

Here's a link to the Stereophile J. Gordon Holt review from 1984:
http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/684cs3/#Oow4X519vIhfkXO2.97

Anyway, just goofing around on New Years Day and thought I'd share. I know a lot of us have older/vintage gear around that we still enjoy listening to and reminiscing about...
 
Great stuff Rance. I've often done the same with gear in the "closet". Quite surprising sometimes.
 
Rance,
Thanks for posting. I like not only listening to the older equipment but also hearing the stories of the people that own the equipment. I still have pieces that I purchased in my late teens and early 20's. They are still in use from time to time. I'm sometimes surprised that they survived.......
 
Sometimes that old stuff sounds so good but people that love audio just can't help in the search for that holy grail system to match their budgets ;). I loved the old Marantz gear, amps and pre-amps and a few of the old Yamaha amps
 
I remember my first time hearing Thiel. I was gobsmacked. And then a bit deflated when the salesman told me I'd needed a large room to get all the benefits of the design. I sighed and described my 8X8, glorified-walkin closet. He actually put his hand on my shoulder and said I could come in any time just to listen. He was really sympathetic and eventually I bought a nice little pair of Paradigms from him for my new apartment.
 
Paradigms, a very underated speaker, loved mine when I had them.

 
Very cool Rance! I still have my PSB Synchrony One's, last year I hooked them up to my current system and was amazed how good they sounded.
 
randrew2 said:
Rance,
Thanks for posting. I like not only listening to the older equipment but also hearing the stories of the people that own the equipment. I still have pieces that I purchased in my late teens and early 20's. They are still in use from time to time. I'm sometimes surprised that they survived.......
Click to expand...

Chris,

I loved re-reading your "my story" again and what drives you to rescue vintage gear:

http://www.vintageaudioaddict.com/my_story/my_story.htm

Thanks for sharing.
 
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