What speakers are you using with your Conrad Johnson gear?

[AnotherJohnson]

The sad tale of Thiel

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiel_Audio

After the Nashville move, I talked to them on the phone over several years.

I always hung up the phone shaking my head.

I never had that warm and fuzzy feeling I’d gotten in the pre 2009 days.

I didn’t realize that they’d finally declared bankruptcy in 2018, but I’m not surprised.

It would be nice if someone bought the name and picked up where Jim left off.

[Big Dog RJ]

Yes, AJ agree on that 110%!

The only issue these days is that there's hardly anyone left who can possibly take over that sort of business. That is the speaker building business, not only is it a business but an art form, a very highly specialised skill and has to be driven by someone with genuine intentions and a soul full of music.

None of those traits can be found in these mass market brands, and the highend already have their share. So to add another name is more competition, they rather have one less. As a former highend dealer/ distributor I know the cumbersome process we used to follow 20yrs ago, now it's even tougher out there, plus the market of the true highend is dwindling, they're all on head phones of some sort, at least the young ones are.

There were quite a few highly specialised brands that fell off the way side... only to be picked up by those larger ones. The others sadly fell off. One that managed to pick up really well and found its way in the right hands is Apogee. Now fully restored by Graz, his newer ribbon panels are superb! If not for CLX's I would have these.

One point in time, probably leading towards retirement I'll end up with either Diva's or Duetta signatures refurbed by Graz. That would be just mighty fine.

Cheers, RJ

[AnotherJohnson]

I agree.

The thing that saves speakers, or at least makes them worth stocking, is the margins.

In the USA the wholesale price is often as low as 40%. Not all lines, but many.

I wonder what Wilson’s arrangement with their dealers is. Even at a 40% wholesale price, you’ve got to take a risk stocking $350k speakers.

[Markportwash]

I am using the Fleetwood Sound Devilles they sound incredible and they are offering a trial audition in your home
I highly recommend these beautiful crafted and great sounding speakers to anyone looking for uncolored sound reproduction

https://fleetwoodsound.com/


Regards
Mark

[MattHooper]

I followed the very sad ending saga of Thiel. Jim was one of the good guys. What a mess they made after he passed.

Thankfully all is not lost for Thiel fans. Rob Gillum, who was Thiels main guy in manufacturing their speakers, opened up a business, coherent source, to service classic Thiel speakers. He's got tons of the necessary parts, including the drivers for practically any model. I bought a spare bass and coax/tweeter drivers for my Thiel 2.7s from Rob, just as a back up.

[AnotherJohnson]

Thanks for pointing this out.

Here’s a story about it.

https://www.strata-gee.com/king-thiel-d ... e-service/