Thiel Owners

tomthiel

Thank You for taking the time to write about these Thiel Audio history lessons. As the lessons pertain to driver composite, density, linearity and reactive behaviors. All of this engineering is fascinating. To my ear-brain, adding a Passive radiator into the design and sonic chain, is simply outstanding! Model CS 2.4 is really a sonic marvel with carefully matched cables and electronics.  Stay warm there in the Northeast.

Happy Listening!

Hi All, 

It's been a while since I've asked a dumb question, so please forgive me....

Here's the problem. I have a 20+ year old Bryston 14BSST that I use with my CS3.7s.

It went in for service a little over a year ago, but several months ago it developed a low POP sound on the left channel when being powered down. 

Other than that, everything is wonderful. Sound and all....

So I figure I have some options, and would appreciate feedback if any -

1. The obvious, I have a call out to Bryston - this can go back to the shop. Problem will be it was 3 months turn around last time, and the freight back and forth is $$$$. I also wonder if im going to see 5 more years....

2. Not sure, but are the low level pops really bad for the speakers? 

3. Just leave the AMP on. Sure the electric bill goes up, but probably less than shipping for a few years. The caps where replaced last time...so the only real worry is the age of the amp and would this add to much stress?

4. get a speaker protection relay - don't know much about these, not sure how they will affect the speaker, and from what I've seen will be a project to create connectors for larger speaker wire.

5. eBay and get a new 14B3 - probably get killed by wife first.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts....

I have CS3.7s and before that I was using Thiel 7.2s.  When I used the 7.2s, (many moons ago - I bought the 3.7s when they first came out - 2009?) someone was selling a lightly used 14BSST.  I contacted Bryston before I bought the 14BSST as they made both a 15 amp and a 20 amp version, and the latter was made for speakers with lower impedances.  I had a 20 amp circuit in the old house but they wired it (while the house was being built with 14 ga wire and so it basically was a 15 amp connection).  I was concerned as I had a huge room in the old house with 19 foot ceilings which opened into other spaces.  Bryston confirmed I should have no issues.

However, whem I got the amp, during certain music and movies (I have an integrated AV system), the protection would come on and the amp would shut down and I'd have to wait for it to cool.  I sent the amp off to Bryston after contacting them (and as you indicated shipping is not cheap).  It came back and they told me the amp worked fine and nothing was needed.  I was not happy when the same things happended and so I ended up eventually selling the amp (and to temporarily use it, I built an amp stand with fans).  I had gotten the 3.7s before I sold it.  While it did not shut down, the 14BSST would get super hot (one would burn themselves touching the heat sinks).

So I ended up selling the 14BSST.  I also had a (3 channel) 6BSST and I ended up using that for a bit in the old house.  When I moved to the current house, about half the time the 6BSST (even though it was on its own 15 amp circuit - I have a total of 50 amps worth of circuits for the system, two 15 amp ones and a 20 amp one where I have my Torus RM-20 power conditior for my 2-channel stuff). So I ended up selling the 6BSST (and got another well reviewed class A A/B amp which drove the 3.7s a bit better).  The arc fault circuit breakers (which I believe were adopted into code around 1998) were too finicky.  Sometimes the circuit would shut down upon power up the 6BSST (on its own 15 amp circuit and nothing else on the circuit)

I also owned a 3BST (probably built a year before they moved to the SST series) which in my old house was used to power the front channels (Thiels SCS2s) of my master bedroom system for a bit and when I moved to the current house, I had it in a small bedroom (11' x 12'8") where I have a spare two channel system (which doesn't see tons of use).  Anyway someone I knew asked me if I had tried Class D amps.  I mentioned I had heard some at an audio show in 2015 and while they had gotten better, I did not think at that point I was impressed enough to give it a shot.

Fast forward a few years and I ended up trying a class D amp.  I broke it in using my small secondary system where I had the Bryston 3BST.  I always thought the speakers I was using at the time (Ohm Microwalsh Talls) were most of the limiting factor,  I was wrong.  I was shocked when I swapped out the Class D amp in place of the 3BST.  Right out of box cold, it made the 3BST sound like entry level audio equipment.  So I got rid of the 3BST,  I've never heard the cubed series in an environment where I was familiar enough with the system and room (audio shows) to get a good enough demo to come to a conclusion.

So I always encourage people to try things for themselves as we all have different tastes and ears.

ekohn00

Good to see you here today.  While you are awaiting a callback from Bryston and contemplating options 1-5, here is my personal contact for queries pertaining to Bryston and Thiel speakers.  I trust this gentleman as he is versed in both Audio lines. Hope this helps.

Mike Burns

Wolfsong Audio- 678.939.2133

Happy Listening!

cascadesphil

Thank You for sharing your Bryston expertise and Home wiring tips  to boot. 

During my auditions and research, I found the Bryston 3-BST and Audio Research REF5SE pre-amp to match nicely with the CS 2.4 speaker. On this particular outing, models CS 2.7 nor CS 3.7 were not on-hand.  Across other Audio forums, fans and owners of CS 3.7 are employing Bryston 14-BSST and 28-BSST power amps. Stepping up to the newer Cubed Series works as well.

Regarding Class-D, Anthem is a sonic match both in Receivers, Integrated and Separates.  Different ears and tastes indeed.

Happy Listening!