Thiel CS 3.7 vs Tidal Piano Cera


Today i own Thiel 3.7
But have started thinking about changing them
For Tidal Piano Cera after i have been listening to Sunray
and also the Contriva Diacera, But never heard the Piano

What are thoughts about thoose two speakers.

Anyone compared them?

Im using Burmester CD and Pass XP-10 and XA-30.5, cables are
Transparent reference MM2

I can also ad that the Thiel sounds lovely:-)
zood

Showing 4 responses by lrsky

I would think, (Jim Thiel was my mentor and a great friend for 30 years), that your next step would be into the Sound Labs, which were at least technologically, Jim Thiel's speaker technology of 'choice if not design'. He recognized the inherent phase and time correctness of the electrostatic, yet chose to pursue the 'dynamic' loudspeaker as it was perhaps more acceptable, and certainly less 'limited' in 1976 when he, Kathy and Tom Thiel started the company.
In saying this I have to say that even though I have loudspeaker designs in the world market today, electrostatics offer the 'purest' version of the 'output equals input' version of music.
IMHO.
Thanks,
Larry
Geopolitis states..."The fact that no Tidal owners have post a comment about your question shows that none of them considers Thiel a competitive product to a Tidal. They belong in a totally different class."

While this could be true, it should also be pointed out that the Tidal lists for between, $28,800.00 and $36,700.00
which is at least one multiple of the cost of THIEL.
I always find it amusing when folks do this..."The THIEL'S are good, but the Vandersteen 7's are better." (Example). Without then mentioning that the Vandersteens, while a wonderful product, cost @$40K.
The real question, unless Zood has an unlimited budget, 'What costs the same and performs better.' NOT, what costs at least twice as much and 'may' perform better.

One other troubling comment. "More musical"...we need more information on that assessment--in what way? Some of us think, colorations when we think of 'musical', that being a euphamism for 'meaty bass', tipped up midrange, rolled off highs.

I would think the Tidal is a lovely product---and for $30+K it should be. My question, how does it compare to the like priced Sound Labs, my first reccommendation?
Plus, I'm bothered by the Manufacturers web site information. Some of it is just, plain silly. Example:
Regarding Frequency Response they say simply F3=32Hz

I'm the first to say, and have that the imprecise technique of putting a 1K tone with 2.83V, then measuring the output at one meter from the face of the speaker is 'static' and not revelatory of the actual dynamics that can/will be expressed by music...however, to state...

"efficiency: since several unrealistic numbers of competitors we don't want to confuse clients by comparing non-saying numbers on paper. Therefore it is: "Good efficiency, easy to drive also with tube amps / SET'S".
If this is an attempt at humor, it's not funny, AND it's not very telling.
There are MUCH better ways to indicate efficiency. I expect they're going for reverse 'snob/audiophile appeal', and I'm not appreciating their approach.
They MAY make a great product, and it certainly IS LOVELY to look at, but they should really work on their presentation for the 'science' of their product.

Look at the Sound Labs Zood.

Thanks,
Larry
The 'facts' as you state them, were taken from their website. The pricing, unless it's changed since the date of my post should be correct.
Regardless, of YOUR error in correcting me, I stand by my comment. A speaker that sells for about $14K, should not be critiqued against one that lists for $28K, UNLESS the criterion is absolute...and can then be weighted against the budget of the buyer.
Generally, not always, items that cost more, perform better in their category...(very generally), with personal preferences being the deciding factor. In this case, assuming that the Tidals are as good as everyone says, yet are compared directly with an item costing about half, the next question I would ask is, "How do the Tidal speakers compare to those costing $48K to $56K"--a comparison/quetion as valid as THIEL vs Tidal, to be sure.

Larry
Audiofeil,
We all have an agenda, hell I started a company that I brag on, (at least brag shamelessly about the designs, lol) but this one does have a special feel. I'm glad you pointed it out.
The central point of this thread I thought, was, 'to compare them.' This, to me an unfair comparison, as I pointed out, (floating prices notwithstanding) as the Piano cost about twice the price of the THIEL. My statement was something like this: If the THIEL can be compared to the Piano, why not compare the Piano to a speaker costing $52 or more--unless it's emperical and not, 'value per dollar', the comparison falls flat. No one (seriously) compares a Corvette to a Ferrari given their price differential.
Now, that said, I'm not an absolutist--a piano JUST sounds like a piano--if the 3.7 gets it close enough to fool most people is that good enough? No! Audio doesn't work that way--within a good rendering the nuance and delicacy that makes our skin 'bump' is what some of us pay $K's of dollars, every day, year.
I too, think that cheerleading in either direction is suspect.
Do I have an agenda with THIEL...yes and no, having worked for them, and having the greatest respect for Kathy Gornik and Jim/Tom Thiel makes my opinion suspect--but I try to carefully weigh that respect with audio 'reality', (see price/performance curve).

The slight difference between the prices I gave, which were posted the day I made the comments, and what Linkster corrected the to, are inconsequential--we are still talking a full multiple. How do we compare that?
To further confuse things--and even reverse fields!Imported products make for strange comparisons. Import duties, additional shipping, distributor charges make pricing of products and therefore, 'value' a very elastic debate. IMHO a speaker that costs twice the price of it's 'home country price' when exported/imported really muck things up. Perspectives, and validly so, become very difficult.
I suppose, the only REAL way to compare the THIEL and Tidal would be to look at them from a 'home/home' price. So if the THIEL costs $14 in the US, and Tidal costs about $14 in its domestic, the comparison IS valid.
I do know this, they ARE ONE BEAUTIFUL SPEAKER.

This is wordy AND confusing, but, I think worth saying.

Larry