[vpolineni]

hey everyone..
 i'm looking for any advice on the thiel cs3.5.  I have an opportunity to buy a pair at a very good price.  any comments on them would be much appreciated. thanks.

[JoshK]

I have listened to a few of the Theil line but not the 3.5 specifically.  Its kind of an old adage that if you buy Theil speakers you will forever be upgrading your equipment to make them sing their best.  They can be great speakers.  I have heard them sound extremely enjoyable but only on really good top of the line NAIM equipment.  They will be ruthlessly unforgiving on poorer equipment possibly leading to not enjoying your music.

[WilliamL]

I used to own a pair of CS6 Thiels. I really loved those speakers but I would say that they are not for everybody. I like the Thiel sound but other people I know can not stand the sound. Its a very controversial speaker in some circles.

There is a certain warmness that Thiel has, one of our customers who owns Thiels describes thier sound as being like a 'Relaxing Rainy Day'.

I would say that if you are going with this line, go towards the higher end of the line because the sound is much more linear and coherent than the lower end speaks they make.

(By the way, we are NOT Thiel dealers)

Cheers,
Bill

[Carlman]

I agree with all of the above.  It depends on what you like whether you'll like them or not.  Do you like a smooth relaxed sound or more dynamic and punchy?  I've never been particularly 'wowed' by them... and, they're not the type of sound I like.... -I like the dynamic, punchy stuff.

A great deal isn't a great deal if you don't need it.  If you hear them and like them, go for it.  If you haven't heard ANY Thiel's, then who knows...?

[maxwalrath]

I'd say to try them out. I try to read as much as I can about a product before buying, but it really comes down to whether you (in your room with the rest of your equiptment) enjoy the sound of it or not. If you decide they aren't for you, you can re-sell them after few weeks without losing anything on it if the deal is good enough. That being said, I've never heard the Thiels. I started buying equipment a year ago, and I've owned 3 sets of speakers, four amps, and had four front end set ups. If you're willing to put up with repacking and selling them, and if you don't mind floating the money for a month, it's the only way to see if the equipment is something you'll want in your set up.
Max

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[brad b]

I had these speakers prior to owning a pair of meadowlark Kestral hotrods.  I felt that in my room they both had a nice musical sound but maybe rounded things off a little for my taste.  The 3.5 comes with an outboard base management system to allow the woofer to extend fairly deep.  As I recall, they also could use quite a bit of power to move.
Brad

[maxwalrath]

I ended up with Kestral Hotrods too....Coincidence?? They're a great speaker and you can find them for pretty cheap.

[brad b]

actually, one of the better speakers that will really shine on female vocals.  They imaged very well, and were very musical without being "audiophilish".  Probably should have kept them.
Brad

[doug s.]

i have owned a pair of 3.5's since '89.  the dealeer took 'em in trade on a new pair of 3.6's...  fantastic speakers, that touch a lot of bases - tru full-range sound, plenty of detail, imaging as good as it gets for a floor-stander.  and, they *will* rock, if ya give 'em enuff current.  they are *not* the easiest speaker to drive well.    and, even tho full-range, they will love it when mated to a pair of subs w/outboard x-over & amplification - it allows ya to toss the eq...

for their typical <$1k price on the used market today, you will find nothing that does as well all-around, in a true full-range speaker, -2db at 20hz.  (imo, of course!)  my pair now serves admirably in our second system in the kitchen.  my wife would *never* let me sell 'em - she absolutely adores 'em.  and, the kitchen rig actually gets most of the listening chez-sedon, tho typically not critical listening...  

and, thiels' support is absolutely fantastic.  there is no company that can exceed their support.  not that other companies aren't as good, but it is yust not possible to beat thiel, cuz they do it all.  they will replace a defective driver, no questions asked, regardless of who the original owner is, & regardless of age.  they won't replace drivers damaged due to abuse, tho.  one of my midranges went  out a couple months ago - i sent 'em the drivers, they said it failed due to no fault of my own, & they sent me a new one, simple as that.  realize that these speakers get turned on ~7am each day, & don't get turned off until ~midnite, later on weekends...  mebbe, if i could find a steal on a pair of 3.6's, then the wife would lemme let these go...

regards,

doug s.