Thiel Owners

To anyone who has used Thiel SS2 or SS3 subwoofer(s), either single or pair, with CS3.7 speakers, playing 2-channel music (not multi-channel video), I would like to ask for your advice. I currently listen to a pair of CS3.7 with a single SS2 in the middle of the CS3.7s, and now I feel like upgrading the subwoofer.

Shall I get another SS2, and run a pair of them, OR, shall I sell the SS2 and buy a SS3? Tom Thiel recommends a pair of SS2 over a SS3, for stereo music listening. But for me, that is starting to make my living room too full of speakers. I would rather trade-up in woofer size to a single SS3. The question is: What sonic benefits will I be likely to hear, comparing these two models, and will being bigger actually provide a sonic upgrade?

I don't usually play loud, bass heavy music. Maybe a Mahler Symphony could benefit from a little more bass power for the tympany drums, and I would like to hear Tool or Perfect Circle with lower and more powerful bass.

But what will I really hear, if I were to get the pair of 12" woofers (in a SS3) compared to the pair of 10" woofers (in the SS2) that I have now? According to the specs, the bigger woofers don't actually play lower, just louder.

@warjarrett, tomthiel set you right. Two subs are better than one. Especially for two channel music as opposed to the .1 output for home theatre. Unlike HT with it’s dedicated sub channel, when using one sub for two channel sources, the bass frequencies need to be summed. It’s possible that one channels signal will be overlapping and opposing the other channel, which can actually cause bass subtraction. Furthermore, having two subs can distribute the bass in the room so that room influenced peaks and valleys can be evened out.

unsound  

Have to agree with  you. Was able to find one SS2.2 sub for my 2.7s. Financial constraints prohibited acquiring the second one. 

With a majority of my classical CD s,  it's not noticeable, except when the bass viol is  solo or prominent (right side of soundstage.)

Is there anyone reading this who has heard the difference between a SS2 subwoofer vs. a SS3 subwoofer?

I just don't want two of these big subwoofers in my living room. So for me, it looks like I will have to experiment for myself, 1 SS2 vs. 1 SS3. A pair of SS3 subwoofers would cost more than than the 3.7s are worth and has got to be overkill for just 2 channel music with CS3.7 speakers.

tomthiel

I can second your assessment of the CS 2.7 vs. CS 3.7 models. Precisely reported. Room size/space should be the deciding factor.

Happy Listening!