Features

Overview: The THIEL CS1.6 floor-standing loudspeaker incorporates several new innovative design techniques that greatly improve performance in a small, two-way, floor-standing loudspeaker. The 36-inch tall CS1.6 delivers a much purer and more open upper midrange response coupled with a sweeter and smoother high frequency performance than conventional two-way loudspeakers. The CS1.6 incorporates THIEL's latest innovative driver technology, rugged cabinet construction, and phase/time correct Coherent Source design. All-metal diaphragm, low-distortion drivers are used for outstanding tonal response and the advanced phase correct crossover design greatly improves spatial fidelity and clarity. The THIEL CS1.6 also offers a very high 90 dB efficiency to work well with lower amounts of amplifier power.

Innovative Tweeter And Woofer Design: Much of the CS1.6's outstanding performance is the result of its new high output, high efficiency aluminum dome, 1-inch tweeter and the innovative woofer diaphragm/voice coil design. Both drivers incorporate short coil/long gap, copper stabilized motor systems to greatly reduce distortion, employ metal diaphragms for very uniform frequency response and clarity, and use long excursion motor systems for high output capability.

• High Output, High Efficiency Tweeter: The CS1.6 tweeter is a high output, high efficiency aluminum dome unit with long excursion abilities that reduce distortion and increase output capability. The new high frequency driver uses a short coil/long gap motor system design for low distortion, a copper sleeve to stabilize the strength of the magnetic field for reduced distortion, and practically unbreakable lead wires for increased reliability-features all shared with THIEL's more expensive models' tweeters.
• Metal Diaphragm, Low Distortion Woofer: The CS1.6's 6.5-inch woofer uses a much larger than normal diameter voice coil to greatly extend the woofer's bandwidth for improved upper midrange performance. The large diameter coil distributes its driving force over a large area of the cone rather than concentrating it at the center. This coil design coupled with the woofer's metal diaphragm increases the cone's stiffness and frequency of unwanted resonances for very clear and open reproduction. The short coil/long gap, copper-stabilized motor system dramatically reduces distortion. Equally innovative is the woofer's centrally located neodymium magnet that is placed inside the coil, rather than outside, creating an inherently shielded speaker to prevent picture distortion when placed near video displays.

Time and Phase Coherent: As with all THIEL loudspeakers, the CS1.6 is completely time and phase coherent for much greater sonic realism. THIEL's Coherent Source technology achieves the elimination of both time and phase distortions that cause alterations in the reproduced musical waveforms of most loudspeakers. Eliminating these distortions results in enhanced realism, clarity, transparency and immediacy as well as improved imaging and soundstaging in both the lateral and depth perspectives. Phase coherence in the CS1.6 is achieved by utilizing a sophisticated first-order electrical crossover system in conjunction with unusually wide bandwidth drivers. Time coherence is achieved by placement of the drivers on a baffle that is sloped at the correct angle to cause the sound energy from each to reach the listener at the same time.

Compact Slotted Bass Reflex Cabinet: The compact cabinet is built with a 2-inch thick front baffle and 1-inch thick cabinet walls for extreme rigidity to reduce unwanted vibration, improving clarity and spatial performance. The baffle's rounded edges reduce diffraction effects for improved tonal, spatial, and transient performance, and its sloped front correctly time aligns the tweeter with the woofer. The unique slotted bass reflex system reduces unwanted port noise and grille loading effects. The CS1.6 is available in a wide variety of exquisite, real-wood, laminate, and painted cabinet finishes, finely crafted to enhance any home environment including Amberwood, Black Ash and Natural Cherry.

Note: THIEL CS1.6 cabinets possess a high quality lacquer finish that is both beautiful and very durable. Any furniture care product such as Pledge, Johnson's, or Endust can be used to keep the cabinets clean.

Magnetic Grille: The CS1.6 grille is attached magnetically to the front of the speaker. The grille is designed to not produce diffraction so there is no sonic reason to remove it. If you do need to remove the grille, carefully pull the grille frame away from the front of the speaker. When replacing the grille, line up the grille with the baffle's inlay edges.

Note: The grilles can be cleaned of dust by using an upholstery attachment of a vacuum cleaner. To prevent damage to the tweeter, take care not to push the cloth in toward the top of the grille

Connections: The CS1.6's input terminals are located on the lower rear of the speaker cabinet. The CS1.6 uses binding posts that accept several types of wire connections (will not accept dual banana plug connectors but single banana plugs can be used). The input terminals are designed to be easily tightened by hand or a 1⁄2 inch nut driver can be used. The speaker's input terminals are color coded to facilitate that both speakers in a stereo system are wired in the same polarity for maximum speaker performance. The speakers should be connected to the amplifier with high quality cable to ensure minimal loss of power and proper control by the amplifier.

Note: The CS1.6 is a very high quality sound reproducer and will benefit from use with the best associated equipment. Since it is extremely accurate, it will reveal sources of distortion generated elsewhere in the system. For example, distortion resulting from poor recordings or inferior electronics will be reproduced accurately. Also, the quality of the interconnect cables and speaker cables will significantly effect the performance of the system

Power Requirements: It is important to have enough power to play at the level you desire without distortion. If high sound levels are desired, the CS1.6's are designed to be used with amplifiers rated up to 300 watts per channel (into 4 ohms). The CS1.6 is of high efficiency (90dB) and therefore can also work well with smaller amounts of power from a high-quality amplifier.

Placement: The CS1.6s are relatively non-critical to room placement and will provide good results from almost anywhere. However, here are some guidelines to help you achieve the best sound from your speakers. Speaker placement will affect the accuracy of timbre, spatial performance, and bass performance.

• Distance From Walls: THIEL speakers, and most others, sound best if they are placed well away from all walls. Such placement optimizes imaging and depth, and musical timbres are reproduced with the least coloration because it allows the initial sound coming from the speaker to be distinctly separated in time from the secondary sound of wall reflections. If reflections are heard too quickly after the primary sound, your brain tends to interpret them as part of the initial sound, causing the perceived timbre to be altered and the spatial characteristics to be confused. If you experiment, you will notice a major improvement in openness when the speakers are even two feet from the rear wall instead of one. Ideally, the speakers should be three feet from the rear wall and five feet from the side wall. Also, it is not desirable for large objects to be placed near the speakers since these will also be a source of unwanted early reflections that reduce imaging accuracy.
• Spacing: Because of their very wide, even dispersion of energy, THIEL speakers should usually be placed farther apart than most. Optimum imaging is usually achieved when the speakers and the listener form an equilateral triangle, although this will depend on the width of the room (a narrow room will require closer placement). If the speakers are too far apart for a given environment, there will tend to be a "hole" in the middle of the sound stage; if they are too close together, the image will be compressed and will not achieve optimum width.
• Aiming: Preferred the imaging is obtained when the speakers are pointed straight ahead rather than pointing toward the listener. This placement produces the largest, most natural soundstage. However, toeing the speakers in somewhat may produce more specific placements of instruments. Also, if it is not possible to get the speakers far enough away from the side walls, a toed-in position can be helpful to reduce the strength of wall reflections.
• Bass: Bass response is also affected by speaker placement. In general, when a speaker is close to a wall the bass response is stronger and placing a speaker in a corner will make it even more so. In order to achieve properly balanced bass, it is necessary for the speaker to be used in the environment for which it was designed. THIEL speakers are designed to provide accurate bass when positioned away from all walls-the same position that provides the best imaging.
• Listener Position: The CS1.6s provide broad dispersion of energy at all frequencies and therefore provide good results throughout a large listening area. Best imaging is provided for a listener centered in front of the speakers. Optimum phase and time alignment is provided only for a seated listener who is eight or more feet away from the speaker.

Stabilizer Feet: Speakers positioned on a soft or uneven surface are able to rock slightly and will vibrate in reaction to forces the speaker generates to move the driver diaphragms. This motion slightly reduces the music's clarity. To eliminate this effect, the CS1.6s can be used with the supplied four gold stabilizer feet on uneven surfaces or on carpeted floors to provide a more solid footing and allow the speaker to couple more firmly to the floor. The speakers should be positioned before the stabilizer feet are installed.

Note: Please be cautioned that the stabilizer feet can dent hardwood floors and it is possible to mar the floor's surface if the speakers are moved with the feet in place.

Break-In Period: The CS1.6's, like most speakers, require a period of playing before they perform optimally. The amount of time depends on how loudly the speakers are played; more time is required if played softly, less if played loudly. At least 50 hours at moderately loud levels are required before the speaker is performing near optimum. You should notice even more improvement after 100 hours of playing.

10 Year Warranty: THIEL warrants every THIEL model CS1.6 loudspeaker against defects in materials and workmanship to the original owner for a period of ten years from the date of purchase. THIEL will, at no charge, replace any defective part and make any repairs necessary to ensure its proper performance when the defective unit is returned to us postpaid. This warranty does not cover damage due to accident or abuse and is void if the unit has been tampered with. This warranty is automatic and no registration is required.