Jim Thiel gave IN to public demand on brightness without giving AWAY what makes Thiel speakers Thiels - my opinion. If only he could do this with his 2.3's and maybe I'd switch from B&W.
I heard 1.6 with Creek CD53 and 5350 SE and sound was very musical. I played my worst brightness CD's and Thiels were absolutely fine. I was very surprised. Note that I like B&W tweeter and consider it realistic not bright when used with smooth English amp's (Musical Fidelity or Creek).
There were "Thiel songs" were this speakers seemed close to my ideal of perfection for what a speaker can do -excluding volume and bass. These songs did not have a pounding rhythmic bassline driving the music along and the Thiels did a great job.
I think Thiel did a good job on limiting the bass extension as trying to get deeper bass as the Revel M20's (which sound bad sometimes -like on kick drums) would have created problems for the few extra Hz. But maybe he did it for better sensitivity not musicality.
So I disagree with Stereophile about the M20 being borderline class "A" if they are saying the Thiel is not also borderline class "A". At least to my few auditions the Thiels did not have frequency, resonant, or boxiness problems like I heard on the M20.
I heard 1.6 with Creek CD53 and 5350 SE and sound was very musical. I played my worst brightness CD's and Thiels were absolutely fine. I was very surprised. Note that I like B&W tweeter and consider it realistic not bright when used with smooth English amp's (Musical Fidelity or Creek).
There were "Thiel songs" were this speakers seemed close to my ideal of perfection for what a speaker can do -excluding volume and bass. These songs did not have a pounding rhythmic bassline driving the music along and the Thiels did a great job.
I think Thiel did a good job on limiting the bass extension as trying to get deeper bass as the Revel M20's (which sound bad sometimes -like on kick drums) would have created problems for the few extra Hz. But maybe he did it for better sensitivity not musicality.
So I disagree with Stereophile about the M20 being borderline class "A" if they are saying the Thiel is not also borderline class "A". At least to my few auditions the Thiels did not have frequency, resonant, or boxiness problems like I heard on the M20.