[yyz]

I had a very nice second listening session with the Thiel CS3.7 the weekend and I have decided to purchase this speaker. It was hooked up to an all Classe system (monbolock amps) at the store.

I currently have a modified 7B-SST (filter choke upgrade from Bryston) sitting in storage and it will be 2 more years before I can get my rig up and running again, including speaker purchase.

I was wondering if it would make sense to sell the 7B-SST's while they are not being used and buy the 7B-SST(2) in 2 years when I buy the new speaker. The 7B-SST sounds very good to me and I think it will be a homerun paired with the Thiel CS3.7 but I read all the rave reviews on this site about the new amp so it has got me curious. It would be interested to hear from people who have gone from the 7B-SST to the 7B-SST(2).

BTW - My other speaker consideration at this time was the Klipish P-39F which I really liked and was almost double the price of the Thiel CS3.7 but after this weekend I came away with a clear preference. There is something special about the Thiel especially on the mid and top ends. I thought the Klipish was more powerful, especially in the bottom end but I decided on the Thiel.

[Danberg]

I am also looking forward to replies regarding the sonic differences between Classe power amps and the new Bryston squared amps.  All the positive reviews and owners comments regarding the new Bryston amps have also peaked my interest in others comments in the sinic differences.

The closest Bryston dealer is a 3 hours away and possibility of others that have listened to both would be helpful, before I pack up my amp and treck to that dealer for a 1st hand comparison. 

By the way, my Classe is a stereo CA-200 (not monoblocks).

[95Dyna]

I had a very nice second listening session with the Thiel CS3.7 the weekend and I have decided to purchase this speaker. It was hooked up to an all Classe system (monbolock amps) at the store.

I currently have a modified 7B-SST (filter choke upgrade from Bryston) sitting in storage and it will be 2 more years before I can get my rig up and running again, including speaker purchase.

I was wondering if it would make sense to sell the 7B-SST's while they are not being used and buy the 7B-SST(2) in 2 years when I buy the new speaker. The 7B-SST sounds very good to me and I think it will be a homerun paired with the Thiel CS3.7 but I read all the rave reviews on this site about the new amp so it has got me curious. It would be interested to hear from people who have gone from the 7B-SST to the 7B-SST(2).

BTW - My other speaker consideration at this time was the Klipish P-39F which I really liked and was almost double the price of the Thiel CS3.7 but after this weekend I came away with a clear preference. There is something special about the Thiel especially on the mid and top ends. I thought the Klipish was more powerful, especially in the bottom end but I decided on the Thiel.

Hi yyz,

I have a pair of 7B SST2's and am interested in the Thiel 3.7's.  I cant see the 7B squared giving any ground to the Classe CAM 400's in this application so I'm interested in your impression of the bass reproduction in your audition independent of the comparison to the Klipsch P-39F which, as you pointed out, are significantly more expensive than the Thiels so their bass extension should be better.  Also what kind of music did you listen too in the audition?

BTW, I didn't come from a pair of 7B SST's so I can't help you there.

Thanks,

Bill

[yyz]

Hi Bill,

I used to own the Revel Salon1 for 5 years so I was used to really great bass. The Klipish P-39F was very similar in bass character to the Salon1. This was a very enjoyable sound with the Revels. I powered the Revels with the 7B-SST's.

The Thiel CS3.7 does not have as much low end torque as the Revel or Klipsh but it is more than adequate. It is sort of like comparing a V6 BMW M3 versus a V8 Corvette (both previous gens). Both are great but the M3 is super refined and an all round great package. Sometimes you do not need the extra low end horsepower. This may not make sense to you but this is how I compare the 2 speakers.

My CD?s are stored in a box in my friend?s garage so I grabbed a few CD?s from the top of the box and went to the store. During the listening session which lasted a little over 1 hour (I was rushed to meet friends) I listened to the following:

Peter Gabriel (Us):
http://www.amazon.com/Up-Peter-Gabriel/dp/B00006F7S3/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&qid=1248795702&sr=8-22

Midnight Oil (Blue Sky Mining):
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_m_5_12?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=midnight+oil+blue+sky+mining&sprefix=Midnight+Oil&sprefix=Midnight+Oil&sprefix=Midnight+Oil&sprefix=Midnight+Oil&sprefix=Midnight+Oil&sprefix=Midnight+Oil&sprefix=Midnight+Oil&sprefix=Midnight+Oil&sprefix=Midnight+Oil&sprefix=Midnight+Oil&sprefix=Midnight+Oil&sprefix=Midnight+Oil

Pink Floyd (The Wall):

Pearl Jam (The Penn State Live 3 CD set):

The only CD I really wanted to hear was Pink Floyd?s The Wall (track Comfortably Numb). I heard this on the Klipish (paired with Parasound JC-1?s) and it was the best I had ever heard. Better than the Revel Salon1 with the Bryston 7B-SST.  This same track with the Thiel CS3.7 and the Classe was even better. There was a little less bass but I was still floored. The overall sound was amazing, I loved it. It was fast, exciting, alive; I was emotionally connected to the music. All three speakers connected me to the music in some sense but the Thiel took me to a higher plateau. I am not good at describing music from a technical perspective but I understand how music affects me emotionally.

I was glad I took the Pearl Jam CD?s since I had seen them in SF and Hawaii a few years earlier. On the Thiels, it was like going back in time to the concerts. It was so real. The Salons never got me that close to the shows. The Salons have more bass than the Thiel but I realized that is not the end all.

When I went to the store I mentioned my concerns about the bass on the Thiel CS3.7 to the sales guy. He had the Thiel top of the line sub hooked up and available. I had all intentions of comparing it with the sub on and sub off. But after about an hour of listening with the sub off I realized I did not want to adjust the sound in any way. It was very good the way it was. There was no way I wanted the sub on it. I am not much of an HT guy only 2 channel music.

I found this link on this site that gives a good technical description of the Thiel CS3.7 speaker,
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=53422.0

Hope this helps.

[95Dyna]

Thanks for the detailed response.  Your description of the 3.7's is consistent with what I have been hearing elsewhere in that they have a top to bottom quality that transcends the absense of the bottom octave or so.  Besides, the very bottom of the spectrum is more usefull in HT applications than two channel audio which, like you, is where I am.

BTW, I am a card carrying member of the Penn State Class of 1973 (Pearl Jam Live!).

Bill

[mr_bill]

YYZ,
Have you had a chance to compare the Thiel 2.4 to the new 3.7 and is there a great deal of difference between the two from the mids on up?
Thanks,
Bill

[yyz]

Hi Bill,

I have never heard any Thiels except the CS3.7.

[Levi]

I am also awaiting from someone who upgraded from 7BSST to 7BSST squared. 

Just for comparison.  Topology is far away from a 28BSST.

Differences are
1.backboard
2.Wiring Shielding
3. transformer
4; Bottom softstart/power  board


7BSST SQ


7BSST

[vegasdave]

Cool, thanks. At first I saw no differences, but now I do.

[TomS]

.... Topology is far away from a 28BSST.

Levi - Can you explain what you mean by this?  My understanding is the 7BSST2 and 28BSST absolutely share common topology and architecture (at least for all Bryston "squared" amps with balanced internal approach - 7B, 14B, 28B), just reduced output stage capability.

[1oldguy]

Wondering if anyone here has had the pleasure of hearing first hand the sonic differences between hte 7B sst and the new 7B Squared?Thoughts opinions?

[1oldguy]

Curious about that as well Tom.

[Levi]

Perhaps James can clarify about the topology. The 28B internals does not look like the 7B by a mile. 

[TomS]

Perhaps James can clarify about the topology. The 28B internals does not look like the 7B by a mile.

In terms of layout I suppose it would have to be different to get from 600 to 1000 watts in a similar case, but after talking with James before I got the 7BSST2's, the topology and architecture are essentially the same.  Maybe just the semantics of the word "topology" that got me here.  I do understand your point now though

[95Dyna]

Perhaps James can clarify about the topology. The 28B internals does not look like the 7B by a mile.

What do the schematics say?  It seems they would be a better indicator of the similarity (or lack thereof) of the two topologies than the gutshots of the respective two amps.  As TomS has pointed out, the configuration of internals would be affected by the higher output (larger power supply et al) of the 28 and the smaller real estate of the 7B. For example, the 6.3 cm height advantage of the 28 would provide the opportunity to hide components and wiring under what you see in an aerial gutshot.  If and when James Tanner chimes in I feel certain he will reaffirm the similarity between the 7/14 and 28.