Thiel CS.5 Dimensions

MONTHLY MAGAZINE FOR VISIONAND SOUND
Reprinted with permission from
An informed and insightful choice
SOUTH AFRICA
FEBRUARY ’96, NO 82
the art, due to the diminishing
depth presented by the sloped
front baffle. The baffle allows the
drivers to be positioned for
correct time alignment, while the
crossover is designed to provide
phase-accurate transitions
between the drivers.
The heavily constructed
cabinet uses one inch thick
cabinet walls, which are said to
reduce unwanted vibrations, and
improve both clarity and imaging.
The one inch tweeter is a metal
dome unit, while the 6.5 inch
woofer incorporates a short coil/
long gap motor design, which also
utilizes copper, to maintain a
stable magnetic field. The CS.5 is
said to go down to 55 Hz, with in-
room response confirming that the
bass response may go even lower.
The finish of the speaker is
exceptional, with the ultimate in
Anew level of sonic
maturity and finesse is
made avialable through the
Thiel sound. An elegant
and compact floor standing
speaker which offers a
large voice that is detailed,
transparent, and dynamic.
The .5 provides a whole lot
of sonic value.
Not all listeners may
appreciate at first the
sophistication offered—
listen some more. Benefits
from correct and careful
placement, and fine
amplification.
FOR
AGAINST
TESTED WITH
Theta Data Basic II CD
transport, Theta DS
Progeny digital processor,
Harman/KardonHD7325 CD
player, Copeland CSA 14
and Harman/Kardon HK660
integrated amplifiers,
Cardas 300-B, Kimber PSB,
TransparentAudio Music
link plus interconnects,
Kimber Illuminati MkII and
Simply Physics digital
coaxial links, B&W DM 610i,
B&W P5 and Sonus Faber
Minima loudspeakers,
TransparentAudio The
Wave and Siltec FTM-12
Ribbon speaker cables.
R
C
PRICE
R9 995 pair [$2800 US]
PEAKS
A
S ONE EXPERIENCES
things, it seems kind of
automatic that one
starts to gain insight. I
suppose the coined phrase—
“Live and you will learn” sheds
some light on my point, but falls
short of being completely
explanatory. A combination of
time, experience, and honest open
mindedness goes a long way to
providing a level of insight that is
simply not always available on
demand.
My reaction to the CS.5
loudspeaker may have been very
different if I had not had the
opportunity of spending time with
so many various speakers over the
past several months—from a
variety of entry level boxes to
reference trend setters, including
the top range Thiel CS5i and the
very musical CS7, and of course
my own Wilson System V.
But I have, and it has
enhanced my ability to get to
grips with what the Thiel CS.5 is
all about.
Since 1976, Jim Thiel has
been building loudspeakers, with
the main intention of making
listening to music enjoyable.
Today Thiel offers a line-up of
seven models, with the CS.5
being their smallest floor-
standing speaker.
The CS.5 is a two way ported
speaker, offering the same styling
as the full range CS5i. The styling
is classic, with a hint of state of

sections on Malher’s Symphonie
no. 2 was very revealing of the
Thiel’s ability to blend detail, air,
and transparency into a very
realistic reproduction.
The CS.5’s tweeter is
equipped with a startling
revealing nature. It also has the
ability to reproduce good
amounts of air and space. Fine
depth and imaging allow it to
produce a level of sonic maturity
that places the Thiel in a
reference position at this price
point.
The Thiel CS.5s offered me an
unexpected insight into the music
which was played through them.
Their ability to reproduce the
truth, in a superbly sophisticated
way, puts them in a light of their
own. They provide clean,
uncluttered businesslike style,
while retaining the musical
integrity of the music. The sound
is not lush or romantic, but its
agility, fine pace and rhythm tend
to take hold of your eardrums. It
pleases the listener.
Probably not the first speaker
you will own, but one that will be
there when you are ready. If you
are looking for admittance into
the realm of true honest
loudspeakers, the Thiel .5 has to
be your first choice. Affordable,
elegant and enjoyable.
—Gavin Isaacs
aesthetic flexibility being offered
by a huge selection of finishes.
The standard cabinet is offered in
Walnut and Black wood. The
review pair supplied was finished
in Morado, one of the optional
and more costly finishes.
However, the woodwork is so
fine, and the finish so beautiful,
that the specialist finishes will
certainly be worthwhile for some
listeners.
The Thiel loudspeakers make
use of what is called a Coherent
Source design, the first of which
was released in 1978. The basic
concept behind the Coherent
Source design is that proper time
alignment is achieved. This is
done by mounting the drivers
along a sloped baffle, and using a
coherent phase crossover for time
and phase accuracy.
My initial reaction to the
sound of the CS.5 was quite
different to the way I felt towards
the end of the two months that I
spent with it. The Thiel offers a
sound that is not characteristic of
an entry level floor standing
speaker. It is simply too mature
and subtle to believe.
Room placement is very
important with the Thiel. Put it
where it is unhappy and you will
lose out on its solid bass
foundation, and its midrange will
thin out to a point that is
disappointing. So firstly, set it up
right. Then make sure the
amplifier is cookin’.
The Harman/Kardon HK660
works well. The Copeland CSA
14 was splendid. The Rowland
Model 8 put me into another
world. But you do not need to
spend that much on amplification.
Most of the review was done
using the Copeland, although I
would have liked to hear what the
new Classé 100 amp could do,
since the Thiel has the ability to
make the most of even the finest
amplifiers.
Once correctly set up, just
listen. And I did for about a week
before I got a grip on the CS.5.
It is a very complex yet simple
sound, offering a very open and
insightful window on the music.
Simple.
And yet not quite. Its ability to
reproduce nuance and emotion,
its tight grip on rhythmic lines
and pace are subtle, yet what
make the Thiel so refined and
capable. This sonic integrity
makes the Thiel so pleasant to
live with.
Detail and transparency work
hand in hand to provide a natural
integration and balance through-
out the sonic bandwidth. This
balance follows through to the
midrange bloom and integration
of emotion and life. The Thiel
never seems to be trying, it
simply does what it has to do.
Interestingly, this emotion and
inviting musicality is managed
with a sound that can be a little
cool overall with immensely
clean lines. The CS.5 has a liquid
midrange, but let me put it into
perspective by saying it’s a glass
and not a bottle.
But all this has a positive
impact on the overall sound.
While other speakers would fall
short, the Thiel requires this
recipe to blossom into its
complex bouquet of nuances and
refinement.
And that is why I believe my
reaction to the Thiel was so
different to what it might have
been. The Thiel gives you your
music straight up—no water, no
ice. Musical reproduction has
weight and substance, so
although the Thiel’s footprint is
small, its sound easily fills a
room.
The soundstage is large, with
height reproduction handled very
well. Your listening position will
have an effect on the overall
image height. Bass lines are tight
and poignant, with a great deal of
speed and transparency.
Midrange coherency and detail
are superb for a speaker at this
price, with very little loss of
focus. Listening to the string