I know this is an old thread, but I might alleviate some confusion. The original (O) series was consecutive. Each product number followed the previous, regardless of size, configuration. The model 2 followed the model 1, etc. Any update added a letter suffix, ie the O1a was an update to the O1, etc. The final O series product was the O4a, the phase-coherent, floor standing version of the O2 bookshelf, both 6.5"x 1" ported two-ways with audiophile orientation. The CS (Coherent Source) series began with the CS3 which followed in the steps of the O3-O3a-O3b as a floor-standing 10" 3-way which was phase-time coherent from its introduction in 1978. The CS series was form driven, so each ascending number (before decimal point) was larger and more capable than the preceding lower number. The CS2 was the "little sister" to the CS3 and, like the O2 (and O4), the CS2 applied more delicate, smaller scale, less expensive solutions to the floorstanding CS3. Later the CS1 and CS.5 filled in the bottom. As has been stated, the post decimal number is the generation, always starting with .2, ie: CS2.2 (except for the "Bose bullying problem" which made that the CS2 2). And the CS 3.5 was the fifth generation of the 3-series (O3, O3a, O3b, CS3 . . . CS3.5. From then on things progressed in a more orderly fashion. If anyone is interested I can tell you why there isn't a CS4 series.
One area of confusion is about subtle performance qualities which seem inconsistent with the post decimal series progress. In fact, we learned as we went and then applied appropriate learned solutions to the next product under development, whether larger or smaller. As unsound mentioned, it made sense in real time because everyone knew which product came next, and the editorial press underscored the significant trickle-down benefits to Thiel owners. Please remember, we were not a large company, and we were making all this up as our knowledge grew.
About the DewPoint: the DewPoints were an outdoor-ready version of the PowerPoints, part of the home-theatre surround / architectural line, which shares the 6.5"x 1" coaxial of the SCS (Small Coherent Source) and MCS (Medium Coherent Source) models. The SCS in the early 90s had our first coaxial driver which gradually made its way into other products, sizes and generations.
You might note that Jim's core interest was in high fidelity music playback. The home theatre and architectural products came about for survival in a changing marketplace, and diluted his ability to work toward the CSX which would have been his assault-on-the state-of-the-art masterpiece . . . As the line stands, the CS3.7 (seventh generation of the O3) is his breakthrough product with the radical driver technology that would have supported the upper-end extension of the line.
One area of confusion is about subtle performance qualities which seem inconsistent with the post decimal series progress. In fact, we learned as we went and then applied appropriate learned solutions to the next product under development, whether larger or smaller. As unsound mentioned, it made sense in real time because everyone knew which product came next, and the editorial press underscored the significant trickle-down benefits to Thiel owners. Please remember, we were not a large company, and we were making all this up as our knowledge grew.
About the DewPoint: the DewPoints were an outdoor-ready version of the PowerPoints, part of the home-theatre surround / architectural line, which shares the 6.5"x 1" coaxial of the SCS (Small Coherent Source) and MCS (Medium Coherent Source) models. The SCS in the early 90s had our first coaxial driver which gradually made its way into other products, sizes and generations.
You might note that Jim's core interest was in high fidelity music playback. The home theatre and architectural products came about for survival in a changing marketplace, and diluted his ability to work toward the CSX which would have been his assault-on-the state-of-the-art masterpiece . . . As the line stands, the CS3.7 (seventh generation of the O3) is his breakthrough product with the radical driver technology that would have supported the upper-end extension of the line.