Product Review
Thiel Audio
CS 2.4 / MCS1 / PowerPoint / SS2 / PX05
Home-Theater Speaker System
December 2004
By: Anthony DiMarco
Coherent construction
Tight tolerances, flawless finishes, and hand-matched Amberwood
veneers result in the elegant and sophisticated appearance of the
CS2.4, MCS1, and SS2. Hyper-accurate CNC machines cut the MDF
parts of each hand-assembled enclosure. The PowerPoint’s thick,
alabaster-like ABS plastic shell is thermoformed, while its trapezoidal
shape keeps the driver’s baffle as close to the wall as possible.
According to Thiel, their Coherent Source technology ensures perfect
time and phase alignment between a speaker’s drivers. The CS2.4
and MCS1 use a 1" aluminum tweeter coincidently mounted to a
3.5" aluminum midrange cone. Jim Thiel prefers the term coincident
to coaxial because proper time alignment requires that a driver’s
acoustic center outputs from the same geometric plane. While coaxial
drivers share the same axis, coincident drivers share the same axis
and plane. Thiel designs coincident drivers to be perfectly coherent
across their frequency range. The drivers are coupled with a tuned
mechanical suspension instead of a traditional crossover, which,
Thiel maintains, avoids distortion.
The bass frequencies must also remain in time and in phase with
the midrange and tweeter outputs. Because different frequencies
travel through air at the same velocity, the arrival times of individual
drivers’ waveforms will be offset if their acoustic centers are not in
the same vertical plane; the result, according to Thiel, is a poorly
defined image. The CS2.4’s slanted baffle guarantees that the audio
waveforms from the 3.5" coincident driver and the robust 8" aluminum
What defines the perfect loudspeaker? Thiel Audio founder Jim Thiel woofer arrive at the listener’s ears at the same time. And the CS2.4’s
would say that a loudspeaker must possess accuracy, in the first-order, phase-corrected crossover ensures that the waveforms
broadest sense of the term. In other words, a loudspeaker should arrive simultaneously at the listening position.
have linear frequency response, low distortion, and perfect time
and phase alignment, or coherence. Although many loudspeaker The MCS1 center speaker also uses a first-order, phase-correct
designers will cite low distortion and linear response as goals, very crossover. However, this speaker’s flat baffle relies on two shallow,
few consider time and phase alignment critical to the overall sound. 6.5", polystyrene-reinforced aluminum woofers to keep low-frequency
Some believe the cost of implementing such technology far exceeds output in the same plane, and therefore time-aligned, with the
the payoff, while others think the human ear is insensitive to the coincident driver. The shallow woofers also allow the coincident driver
difference between coherent and noncoherent loudspeakers.
to be flush-mounted to the baffle, thus reducing the effects of cabinet-
edge diffraction on sound dispersion.
Thiel’s website offers scientific data to the contrary. Their Coherent
Source (CS) technology is one of the hallmarks of the Kentucky- The PowerPoint surround speaker’s coincident driver is a 1" aluminum
based company’s design philosophy. Thiel Audio doesn’t appear to tweeter coupled to a 6.5" woofer cone. The driver’s dispersion
rely on pseudoscience or unsupported claims. The company claims emerges at 90 degrees to the center of the tweeter, which, together
to be driven by research and development steeped in physics and with the 45-degree baffle, directs output away from the adjoining
the scientific method.
wall. According to Thiel, this prevents signal cancellation in the critical
midrange frequencies.
Six Thiel speakers costing a total of $14,700 arrived on my doorstep.
The MCS1 ($2300) and pairs of CS2.4s ($4400/pair) and PowerPoints Although the SS2 subwoofer’s two 10" aluminum cones and compact,
($1300 each) didn’t bear much of a family resemblance (until I room-friendly enclosure look conventional for a subwoofer, the SS2 lacks
looked at their drivers). The SS2 subwoofer ($4900) handled the low the standard phase, gain, and crossover controls. Jim Thiel’s extensive
bass, and Thiel’s PX05 passive five-channel crossover ($500) tied research has convinced him that room boundaries and dynamic
everything together.
compression due to voice-coil heating are the two main things that
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speakers to the sub, "Growing Up" or "The Barry Williams Show" shallow soundstage; the Thiels countered with unbelievably composed
will reveal that sub’s relative position. The SS2 and PX05 did a and uniformly dense images that extended both in front and to the
fantastic job of convincing me that the deep bass was anchored to rear of the speakers’ baffles — no matter how far apart they were
each speaker.
placed or how loudly they were played.
The PowerPoint surrounds sounded bigger and the CS2.4s delivered Bass was where the two systems almost met. Alone, the CS2.4s
more authoritative bass when the SS2 was added. The massive produced pure, effortless bass that reached deeper than I would
drum strokes on Kodo’s "Daraijin," from Mondo Head [SACD, Red have expected from speakers of their size. With the SS2 sub, that
Ink/Sony 56111], appeared from behind me with surprising weight bass had more harmonic weight and was perfectly controlled and
and slam. Experiencing the Thiels’ impressive integration was extended. The RC-As’ built-in subs offer as much detail and control
exhilarating with film soundtracks and music alike. I had never as the CS2.4s, but can’t produce quite the level of harmonic
heard a speaker system that disappeared quite as the Thiels did, integrity or extension of the CS2.4s plus SS2.
or a subwoofer that performed as transparently as did the SS2.
The MCS1 and PowerPoint simply outclassed Canton’s Ergo CM 500
I was never left wanting for the bracing dynamics of Copland’s DC center-channel and Ergo F surround speakers. Thiel’s coincident
Appalachian Spring Suite, from Eiji Oue and the Minnesota Orchestra’s driver enabled the MCS1 and PowerPoints to remain rock-solid off-
Showcase[CD, Reference RR- 907CC], or Leonard Bernstein’s adoring axis when compared to the Ergo CM 500 DC’s smaller midrange-
interpretation of Mahler’s Symphony 3 [CD, Deutsche Grammophon tweeter-midrange design and the Ergo F’s standard two-way array.
427 328-2]. Brass and cymbals always sounded pure and extended, Size gave the MCS1 the edge over the CM 500 DC in terms of bass
with a nice balance of shimmer and controlled decay.
extension and weight, while the Ergo Fs couldn’t muster the
PowerPoints’ bass detail and refinement.
The Thiels’utter lack of coloration and outstanding three-dimensional
imaging made the hair on the back of my neck stand up on end The Cantons did exhibit a little more high-frequency bite, though by
countless times. Every sound remained anchored in physical space. bite I don’t mean extension or detail, but snap and shimmer. The
The well-recorded score of M. Night Shyamalan’s The Village [CD, crash of cymbals and the swell of orchestra were a touch more
Hollywood 162464], and such pop recordings as Seal’s newest exciting through the Cantons. Although this could be considered a
DVD-Audio release, Seal IV [Warner Bros. 47947], sounded slight distortion of the music, it did get my blood moving without
wonderfully rich and intoxicatingly sweet through the Thiels, inducing listening fatigue.
while the system’s considerable speed and resolution made me
tap my foot to the desperate melodies and pulsating bass lines of While the Ergo RC-A costs about the same as the CS2.4, keep in
synthesizer wizard BT’s "Lullaby for Gaia," from ESCM [CD, mind that the MCS1 is more than twice the price of the CM 500 DC,
Reprise 46799].
and a pair of PowerPoints costs about four times as much as a pair
of Ergo-Fs. So while it’s easy to hear major improvements through
the Thiels, the complete Canton system does a nice job of making
music with perfectly integrated bass for a much lower price.
Coherent competition?
I have been very happy with my Canton Ergo home-theater speaker
system. At a little over $5500, the Canton system provides an
exciting music and home-theater experience at not much more
Coherence concluded
than a third of the Thiels’ price. The three-way Ergo RC-A is an I spoke to Jim Thiel several times while researching this system, and
incredible bargain; this big speaker’s built-in powered subwoofer there was no denying the passion with which he approaches his
gives it a huge advantage when space is at a premium, with none work. He explained with boundless enthusiasm his unique design
of the integration challenges of a standalone sub. And Canton’s philosophy and methodology, describing in great detail every
exclusive room-compensation circuit makes speaker placement a nuance, every nut and bolt. Each question I asked was answered
snap. The subs, coupled with the passive driver’s speed, deliver with an overabundance of description. His grasp of science was as
breathtaking dynamic impact.
obvious as his love of music.
The Thiels sounded considerably more refined and coherent than The Thiel speakers reviewed here made beautiful music. Their sound
the Canton Ergos. Although transparent, the Cantons can get a bit wasn’t sweet or warm or exciting; rather, it expressed whatever
edgy in the upper midrange, a little lightweight in the upper bass. sweetness, warmth, or excitement was contained in the recording.
They also sound a bit unfocused in the low mids and upper bass. The Thiel’s Coherent Source technology has forever changed my
Thiels, however, always sounded smooth and natural across their perception of what a great loudspeaker system should accomplish,
response curve. In terms of imaging, the difference between the especially in terms of subwoofer integration and the stability of both
two systems is the difference between the accomplished and the two-channel and surround-sound images. Is this Thiel system a
merely competent. The Cantons produce a wide but relatively Reviewers' Choice? Absolutely.
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Features:
Coherent Source design
(CS2.4, PowerPoint,
MCS1)
Model:
CS2.4
MCS1
PowerPoint
Surround
Speaker
SS2
Powered
Subwoofer Passive Crossover
PX05
Five-Channel
Floorstanding Center-Channel
Coincident driver array
(CS2.4, PowerPoint,
MCS1)
Speaker
Speaker
Dimensions:
41.5"H x
11"W x 14"D
28.5"W x
19.75"W x
23.5"H x
2"H x
7"W x 6.5"D
Metal-diaphragm woofers
(all)
10"H x 12.5"D 12.25"H x 5.5"D 11"W x 20"D
Uniform Resistive Load
improves performance
with lower-powered
amplifiers (CS2.4,
Weight:
Price:
140 pounds/pair
$4400 USD/pair
61 pounds
5 pounds
108 pounds
$4900 USD
3 pounds
$2300 USD
$1300 USD
$500 USD
PowerPoint, MCS1)
Available in a variety of
stock and custom finishes
(CS2.4, MCS1, SS2)
System Price: $14,700 USD
Warranty: Ten years parts and labor.
Patented SmartSub
technology (SS2)
1000W class-D
amplifier (SS2)
Thiel Audio
1026 Nandino Boulevard
Lexington, KY 40511-1207
Phone: (859) 254-9427
Fax: (859) 254-0075
Boundary-compensation
circuit
Circuitry that compensates
for compression distortion
due to voice-coil heating
(SS2)
E-mail: [email protected]
Choice of Thiel SI 1
Integrator electronic
crossover or PX02 or
PX05 passive crossover
Review System
Speakers:
Preamplifier:
Crossover:
Amplifier:
Sources:
Cables:
Canton Ergo RC-A (mains), Ergo CM 500 DC (center), Ergo F (surrounds)
McCormack MAP-1
Outlaw ICBM
Audio Research 150M.5
Esoteric DV-50 universal audio/video player
Analysis Plus, Stereovox
Monitor:
Mitsubishi WT-46809 rear-projection widescreen monitor with Duvetyne modification and full ISF calibration
Power Conditioning: Panamax, Shunyata Research
Home Theater & Sound is part of the SoundStage! Network
Published by:
Schneider Publishing Inc.
Box 20068, 390 Rideau Street,
Ottawa, ON K1N 9N5
Canada
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