Thiel CS6 Manuals

Speaker System THIEL CS2.3 FIRST PLACE ISSUE NO.129, WINTER 1998/99 JAPAN Kamisugi—⋆⋆ Kobayashi—⋆⋆⋆ Sakuma—⋆⋆⋆ Shinda—⋆⋆⋆ Den—⋆⋆⋆ Hosotani—⋆⋆ Miura—⋆⋆⋆ Yanagizawa—⋆⋆ Best Buy Ratings: 680,000 yen/pair category (approximately $3800 U.S.) • A new three-way system developed and manufactured by Thiel, using metal driver diaphragms. Its main features are its wide soundstage, the latest “Coherent Source” Series sound performance, its exceptional speed and flexibility, and the addition of a livelier feel. As well, the overall speaker weight has been sufficiently reduced. So, Thiel has not overlooked any important characteristics. • The essence of this speaker is, without a doubt, the fact that it has the quality of the higher-priced CS6 at a lower price. As all of the drivers are developed in-house, Thiel has been able to eliminate unwanted resonances and correct irregularities that can be found in other manufacturer’s drivers. From the beginning, they have shown a clear and realistic sound, and have proved that they are at the top of America’s high-end.

Technical Information THIEL Coherent Source ® Loudspeakers This paper describes some of the technical performance aspects, design considerations and features of THIEL Coherent Source® loudspeaker systems. It is intended to supply information for those who are interested in such matters. It is not intended to imply that good measured technical performance is sufficient to guarantee good sonic performance. THIEL • 1026 Nandino Boulevard • Lexington, Kentucky 40511 • USA • Telephone: 859-254-9427 Fax: 859-254-9427 • E-mail: [email protected] • Web: www.thielaudio.com 7/00

THIEL Model CS6 Coherent Source ® loudspeaker system OWNER INFORMATION 1 9 9 6 D E S I G N & E N G I N E E R I N G H O N O R S ® INNOVATIONS CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW CONTRIBUTOR HARDWOOD FORESTRY FUND

Over the course of the year that Trish and I have lived in our new home, I’ve been rebuilding my reference system a piece at a time. I’ve been more or less methodically working through different cable packages and combina- tions of electronics, exper- imenting with various racks and isolation sys- tems, even tearing down and rearranging the room layout and treatments a number of times. But the heart of the search was always figuring out what to use as a reference speaker. On paper, it was easy. I needed something sim- ple, to mate with the broadest possible spec- trum of associated gear. It had to be big enough to produce truly full-range performance in my large, open area, but small and attractive enough to earn Trish’s blessing. My con- science dictated that it had to represent good value. Ideally, it should be something that Stereophile’s readers were familiar with. And, of course, it had to sound absolutely fan- tastic. When I sorted all of the require- ments and boundary conditions against my database of experience and audi- tioning, the answer came up “Thiel.” But which model? First I considered the CS3.6, a high-end classic and a great match for the electronics I typically use... but I was a little concerned about its abili- ty to drive my large space. Next I looked at the CS7.2, which I reviewed in the February 2000 Stereophile. The ’7.2 is an in- credible performer...but simply too big for the floor space I had to work with. So I arrived, Goldilocks-like, at the CS6. Ac- cording to my list of criteria, it would be just right.1 John Atkinson reviewed the CS6 in the March 1998 Stereophile and was favor- ably impressed: “The CS6’s balance was warm, smooth, and grain-free, coupled with excellent low-bass response, pin- point imaging, good soundstage depth, and superb retrieval of recorded detail.” He also noted that its dynamics were “startlingly natural,” and found the CS6 to be very revealing, noting that miking tech- niques were clearly obvious through the Thiels, and that “differences between CD players and preamplifiers were similarly audible.” However, he also took pains to note that these differ- ences were “vividly clear, but the presentation was never upfront or in my face, or ‘ruthlessly revealing,’ or any of the other descriptors that reviewers use to dis- guise the fact that the speak- ers have them leaping up to turn down the volume.” On the minus, or poten- tially minus, side of the ledger, JA mentioned a couple of logistical limita- tions and one sonic short- coming. The former are that the CS6 needs to be mated to a gutsy amp and top-quality associated gear, and that the listening posi- tion needs to be at least 10' from the speakers for the drivers to integrate. The sonic shortcoming was a slight midrange reticence: “the midrange didn’t offer quite the same degree of ultimate clarity or cleanness that so distinguished the bass or treble octaves.” My experience with the CS6 pretty much mirrored JA’s, but I’ll add a few comments. The first one, which JA alluded to but didn’t elaborate on, is that the Thiels were not trivial to set up. It makes sense —the CS6 is a large speak- er and truly drives even my large space, so there are bound to be a lot of room interactions — but it’s worth noting nonetheless. I spent many, many hours moving the speakers and my listening chair around before I got their balance Stereophile, October 2003 F o l l o w - U p B r i a n D a m k r o g e r Thiel CS6 loudspeaker 1 Serial numbers of units reviewed: 1447, 1448. Price: $7900/pair. Warranty: 10 years. Manufacturer: Thiel Audio, 1026 Nandino Boulevard, Lexington, KY 40511-1207. Tel: (859) 254-9427. Fax: (859) 254-0075. Web: www.thielaudio.com. Electronically Reprinted from October 2003 Thiel CS6 loudspeaker

CS6 • Ultra-low distortion short-coil, long gap, copper-stabilized driver motor systems for excellent tonal accuracy and sonic fidelity • Completely time and phase coherent for greater realism • Mineral composite front baffle reduces unwanted vibration to improve clarity and imaging performance. • Provides great realism for both music and movies The exceptional sonic performance of the CS6 is the result of an evolution in speaker design unlike any other in the audio industry. It is the culmination of years of painstak- ing development of a lineage of the world’s most outstanding loudspeakers through innovative driver design, superior cabinet construction, and accomplished crossover execution. The CS6 is a three-way system incorporating all THIEL-designed and built metal diaphragm drivers—a 1-inch dome tweeter, 4-inch midrange driver, and 10-inch woofer— a phase-correct crossover system to eliminate phase distortion, and very high quality components to reduce distortion and improve clarity. —John Atkinson, Stereophile, March 1998 “The CS6 has all the qualities a true high-end speaker should have. It sounds and looks beautiful.” • Innovations Design & Engineering Award for 1996 • Stereophile “Product of the Year” runner-up for 1998 “…simply superb. The CS6 gets an enthusiastic recommendation—it’s going to stay in my system for a while!” THIEL’s Award-winning sound —Anthony Cordesman Audio, August ’97 1 9 9 6 D E S I G N & E N G I N E E R I N G H O N O R S ® INNOVATIONS CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW

Technical Information THIEL CS6 Coherent Source ® Loudspeaker This paper describes some of the technical performance aspects, design considerations and features of the THIEL model CS6 loudspeaker system. It is intended to supply information for those who are interested in such matters. It is not intended to imply that good measured technical performance is sufficient to guarantee good sonic performance. THIEL • 1026 Nandino Boulevard • Lexington, Kentucky 40511 • USA Telephone: 859-254-9427 • Fax: 859-254-0075 • E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.thielaudio.com 5/00

TT{IEL CS6 & CS7.2 U n packi ng and Repacki ng Instructions Importantj Because of the speaker's size and weight, at least two people are needed to unpack and repack the speaker. All references to the speaker's right and left sides are made from the orien'l.ation of facing the rear of the speaker. The rear of the speaker carton has the serial number and finish information printed on it. UNPACKING If your speakers' ztsooden crates haae already been remoaed, proceed to step 3. 'l Remove speaker crates from shipping pallet and place them on their right sides with the r "TJp" artows pointing up. ) Remove screws from both plywood end caps and remove wood corner protectors from the a outside of carton. 3 Stand speaker (in carton) upright. Open the top carton flaps' 4 Remove the piyr,r'oed top pack. S Lay the speaker (in the carton) on its back. Open the bottom carton flaps and foid them out. 6 From the top end of the speaker: remove the blue foam from the right side of the speaker. v Then remove ttre two fronf corner protectors. (Note: the corner protectors will be markeci ' uL' for left and "R" for right on the top of each protector.) 7 From the bottom end of the speaker: remove the piywood bottom pack. Grip the plastic ' bugand pull the speaker from the bottom of the carton, allowing the top 12" of. the speaker to remain on the rear corner pads inside the carton. Then grip the speaker where the corner pad ends and lift the speaker, pulling the carton away at the top. B Stand speaker upright and remove plastic bag and white foam sheet wrapping. Repacking instructions on back page 6 /98