Thiel Owners

Happy Friday! All

Hi, 

Proud owner of the Model 02, 1.6 and 3.6. I have a question about the 3.6 midrange driver. As none of these are available in the WORLD!!!, I was wondering if anyone had any experience with the Scan-Speak 12W/4524G00. Every description of this driver says it is a drop-in for the VIFA P11MH01-04. As I am in Canada, driver repair by Coherent Source would be about CAD$400. Whereas buying two new Scan-Speak drivers to match would be about CAD$200. Does anyone have any thoughts or experience with these drivers?

TIA

Bill

bill - as always your most accurate source of information is Gary at CSS.

I don't know the driver models that you reference, but I do know that the CS3.6 midrange used Thiel's patented dual cone diaphragm which has its unique dynamic structure. Its dual cone stiffens the rim while reducing mass - a seeming contradiction, but true. Any other driver will have a different response profile and therefore none of the (quite complex) XO control circuitry will do what is needed. A substitute driver will work in a crude sense, but all elements of its own output plus its interactions with the woofer and tweeter will be incorrect.

Thanks Tom.

Scan-Speak, formally VIFA, say they designed this midrange driver (Scan-Speak Discovery 12W/4524G00) specifically as a replacement for the original (now extinct) P11MH01-04, the original driver in the 3.6s. I am sure you are correct about the authenticity of sound, but I am wondering how close this driver gets in terms of technical performance and, most importantly, sound reproduction. 

bill - sorry for the lecture. You're on the right track. I don't know enough to advise. Let us know how it all settles out.