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{{External links|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
| name = THIEL Audio
| name = THIEL Audio
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| founder = Jim Thiel, Tom Thiel, Kathy Gornik
| founder = Jim Thiel, Tom Thiel, Kathy Gornik
| key_people = Jim Thiel; Kathy Gornik
| key_people = Jim Thiel; Kathy Gornik
David B. Griffin current Chairman of the Board
David B. Griffin Chairman of the Board until bankruptcy
| industry = [[Sound reproduction|Audio]]
| industry = [[Sound reproduction|Audio]]
| products = [[Audio electronics]]
| products = [[Audio electronics]]
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| homepage = [http://www.thielaudio.com/ thielaudio.com]
| homepage = [http://www.thielaudio.com/ thielaudio.com]
| foundation = 1977
| foundation = 1977
| defunct = 2018
| location = [[Nashville, Tennessee]]
| location = [[Nashville, Tennessee]]
}}
}}


'''THIEL Audio''' is an American [[Privately held company|privately held]] high performance [[loudspeaker]] ([[High-end audio|hi-end audio]]) manufacturer founded in [[Lexington, Kentucky]], but now based in [[Nashville, Tennessee]]. Thiel Audio products are distributed to over 30 countries. All products by the founders were designed and built in their {{convert|35000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} facility located in Lexington.
'''THIEL Audio''' was an American [[Privately held company|privately held]] high performance [[loudspeaker]] ([[High-end audio|hi-end audio]]) manufacturer founded in [[Lexington, Kentucky]], but later based in [[Nashville, Tennessee]]. Thiel Audio products were distributed to over 30 countries. All products by the founders were designed and built in their {{convert|35000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} facility located in Lexington. Thiel ceased operations in 2018.<ref name="BizJournal">[https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2018/01/22/nashville-company-closing-after-years-of-change.html Nashville Business Journal]</ref>


== History ==
== History ==


THIEL Audio was formed by three college friends: Jim Thiel, Tom Thiel, and Kathy Gornik, who started in 1976 with equipment in the Thiels' garage on Georgetown Road in Lexington.<ref name="Kleber">{{cite book|author=John E. Kleber|title=The Kentucky Encyclopedia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8eFSK4o--M0C&pg=PA878|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|isbn=0-8131-2883-8|pages=878–}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Absolute Sound|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QiQ9AQAAIAAJ|series=168-72|year=2007|publisher=Absolute Sound, Limited|pages=18–}}</ref> THIEL Audio was formed with $25,000 borrowed from the partners' parents and some friends. Jim Thiel graduated from the [[University of Kentucky]] in 1968, majoring in [[physics]]. THIEL Audio first exhibited at the [[Consumer Electronics Show]] in 1977 (the year the company is commonly stated as being founded, although they had been selling since 1976<ref>[http://www.stereophile.com/interviews/221/#RB6GH2jl0lx0uk6y.97]</ref>), with the introduction of the 01 full-range speaker. A year later, in 1978, the model 03 introduced the principles of time, phase, and frequency coherence, which would become the basis for all of Jim Thiel's designs and the fundamental idea for which Thiel would be known.<ref>[http://www.stereophile.com/interviews/221/#RB6GH2jl0lx0uk6y.97]</ref>
Thiel Audio was formed by three college friends,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.strata-gee.com/forgotten-thiel/|title=The Forgotten Thiel|date=February 16, 2018}}</ref> Jim Thiel, Tom Thiel, and Kathy Gornik, who started in 1976 with equipment in the Thiels' garage on Georgetown Road in Lexington.<ref name="Kleber">{{cite book|author=John E. Kleber|title=The Kentucky Encyclopedia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8eFSK4o--M0C&pg=PA878|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|isbn=0-8131-2883-8|pages=878–}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Absolute Sound|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QiQ9AQAAIAAJ|series=168-72|year=2007|publisher=Absolute Sound, Limited|pages=18–}}</ref> Thiel Audio was formed with $25,000 borrowed from the partners' parents and some friends. Jim Thiel graduated from the [[University of Kentucky]] in 1968, majoring in [[physics]]. Thiel Audio first exhibited at the [[Consumer Electronics Show]] in 1977 (the year the company was commonly stated as being founded, although they had been selling since 1976)<ref name="stereophile.com">{{cite web| url = http://www.stereophile.com/interviews/221/#RB6GH2jl0lx0uk6y.97| title = Jim Thiel: A Coherent Source {{!}} Stereophile.com| date = 16 March 1998}} </ref> with the introduction of the 01 full-range speaker. A year later, in 1978, the model 03 introduced the principles of time, phase, and frequency coherence, which would become the basis for all of Jim Thiel's designs and the fundamental idea for which Thiel would be known.<ref name="stereophile.com"/>


A skilled woodworker, Tom Thiel built the [[speaker box]]es. Their first [[hi-fi]] product was a two-way speaker with an [[Equalization (audio)|equalizer]] to give it high-quality bass response. Jim Thiel soon realized that he would need someone to do the sales part of the business, so Gornik sought to sell them in her city, [[Washington, D.C.]]
A skilled woodworker, Tom Thiel built the [[speaker box]]es. Their first [[hi-fi]] product was a two-way speaker with an [[Equalization (audio)|equalizer]] to give it high-quality bass response. Jim Thiel soon realized that he would need someone to do the sales part of the business, so Gornik sought to sell them in her city, [[Washington, D.C.]]
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Over the life of the company, Thiel had a number of long-lived series including the CS 2 which was first introduced in 1982 and updated through 2012 with the introduction of the CS 2.7.
Over the life of the company, Thiel had a number of long-lived series including the CS 2 which was first introduced in 1982 and updated through 2012 with the introduction of the CS 2.7.


In March 2006, THIEL unveiled the culmination of the CS 3 series, the THIEL CS 3.7, a high performance speaker in the [[Middle East]], at an event hosted by Emirates Computers, one of [[Dubai]]'s leading technology companies.
In March 2006, Thiel unveiled the culmination of the CS 3 series, the Thiel CS 3.7, a high-performance speaker in the [[Middle East]], at an event hosted by Emirates Computers, one of [[Dubai]]'s leading technology companies.


In 2007, THIEL Audio announced that it would offer its high performance line of loudspeakers in [[Crutchfield]] retail stores, the Crutchfield site, and through their catalogs. At the time, the primary lineup that THIEL was to offer through Crutchfield was priced from about $990 to $5,450. Thiel's products in general range from about $990 to $6,450.
In 2007, Thiel Audio announced that it would offer its high-performance line of loudspeakers in [[Crutchfield]] retail stores, the Crutchfield site, and through their catalogs. At the time, the primary lineup that Thiel was to offer through Crutchfield was priced from about $990 to $5,450. Thiel's products typically ranged from about $990 to $6,450.


Jim Thiel died of cancer on September 17, 2009.<ref>[http://stereophile.com/news/jim_thiel/ Jim Thiel]</ref>
Jim Thiel died of cancer on September 17, 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereophile.com/news/jim_thiel/index.html|title=Jim Thiel|date=September 17, 2009|website=Stereophile.com}}</ref>


In 2012, THIEL Audio was sold to a private equity company in Nashville, and later that year, Gornik was replaced as president of the company. Since the purchase, THIEL has had three CEOs, and has discontinued all of Jim Thiel's original designs. The company has since reintroduced themselves as a high-end lifestyle brand, focused on surround sound systems based on more traditional engineering. The new company's speakers do not follow Jim Thiel's time/phase coherency premise, however they continue to use the custom-designed drivers.
In 2012, Thiel Audio was sold to a private equity company in Nashville, and later that year, Gornik was replaced as president of the company. Since the purchase, Thiel had five CEOs in five years, and discontinued all of Jim Thiel's original designs. The company reintroduced themselves as a high-end lifestyle brand, focused on surround sound systems based on more traditional engineering. The new company's speakers did not follow Jim Thiel's time/phase coherency premise, but they continued to use the custom-designed drivers.


Former [[president]] of THIEL Audio Kathy Gornik was also the chairwoman of the [[Consumer Electronics Association]].
Former [[president (corporate title)|president]] of Thiel Audio, Kathy Gornik, was also the chairwoman of the [[Consumer Electronics Association]].


In 2016 THIEL underwent another leadership change in which THIEL launched their Entertainment Division and the birth of AURORA Nashville the nations first Life 4K Concert Streaming Studio and viewing platform. The Studio opened to much acclaim in Nashville in 2016 and was the set for AURORA Live, WMOT, MTSU and many other performances. The studio provided live streaming services to clients (music labels and artists) both on platform and off platform allowing their clients to instantly play in the streaming arena.
In 2016 Thiel underwent another leadership change in which Thiel launched their Entertainment Division in Jan 2016 and the birth of Aurora Nashville the nations first Live 4K Concert Streaming Studio experience and viewing platform in May 2016. The Studio opened to much acclaim in Nashville in 2016 and was the set for Aurora Live, WMOT, MTSU and many other performances. The studio provided live streaming and production services to clients (music labels and artists) both on platform and off platform allowing their clients to instantly play in the streaming arena.


At CES2017, THIEL returned to the main show floor and unveiled their 40th Anniversary line up, a custom finish build to order ultra high performance loudspeaker systems 40.1, 40.2, and 40.3. The 40th Anniversary Series was the first in a series of planned steps to bring THIEL back to its roots as an American built loudspeaker with cabinetry done in Georgia and assembly in Nashville. In addition, THIEL announced the arrival of the AURORA LifeStream connected speaker systems (HOME, TOUR, and STUDIO) to be sold by AURORA Nashville. The wireless speaker systems offered customizable elements of the design, multiple wireless protocols for expanded interoperability, Amazon Alexa voice compatibility and won CES 2017 Best of Show awards in the Connected Products Category. This appeared to be the rebirth of THIEL under new leadership and engineering that was in tune with the marketplace and understood where technology was headed in the near future.
At CES2017, Thiel returned to the main show floor and unveiled their 40th Anniversary line up, a custom finish build to order high-performance loudspeaker systems 40.1, 40.2, and 40.3. The 40th Anniversary Series was the first in a series of planned steps to bring Thiel back to its roots as an American built loudspeaker assembled in Nashville.


In addition, Thiel announced the arrival of the Aurora LifeStream connected speaker systems (HOME, TOUR, and STUDIO) to be sold by Aurora with custom designs for artists performing at the VIP studio in Nashville. The wireless speaker systems offered customizable elements of the design, multiple wireless protocols (DTS Play-fi, Bluetooth w/aptX, and Apple AirPlay) for expanded interoperability, Amazon Alexa voice compatibility. The result of the 9-month engineering effort won CES 2017 Best of Show awards in the Connected Home Products Category.
⚫
In the back half of 2017 THIEL went through yet another change in leadership which stripped the company of much of the talent and expertise and once again raises questions. AURORA Nashville has been renamed under the THIEL brand and most streaming operations seem to have come to a halt. THIEL announced the space that housed AURORA Nashville is now a product showroom that is in operation a few days a week. The LifeStream products are now being sold as AURORA by THIEL. Interviews with the new CEO have been a bit confusing where some indicate new product development is still robust under the expert leadership of Dennis Crosson who has been with the company for a few years, yet others have stated the CEO has told press that they are not building any new products.


⚫
In the second half of 2017, Thiel went through yet another change in leadership which stripped the company of much of the talent and expertise<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.strata-gee.com/management-turnstile-turns-thiel-audio/|title=Management Turnstile Turns Again at Thiel Audio|date=July 14, 2017}}</ref> and once again raised questions. Aurora Nashville was renamed under the Thiel brand and most streaming operations seem had come to a halt. Thiel announced the space that housed Aurora Nashville was now a product showroom that was in operation a few days a week. The LifeStream products were sold as Aurora by Thiel which added to the confusion.
⚫
== Awards ==


In late 2017, amid rumours of the company's impending demise, long-time Thiel Service manager Rob Gillum purchased the service operation from Thiel Audio. He stated his intention was to provide repairs and warranty work to owners of "legacy" Thiel speakers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.strata-gee.com/king-thiel-dead-coherent-source-service/|title=King Thiel is Dead, Long Live Coherent Source Service|date=February 8, 2018}}</ref>
⚫
THIEL Audio won many awards, including the International [[Consumer Electronics Show]] Innovations Design and Engineering Award, for which THIEL had been honored 22 times, and the Image Hi-Fi speaker of the millennium award in 2000. THIEL also won [[BizRate]]'s coveted "Circle of Excellence" award seven times. Most recently their LifeStream wireless speaker won the 2017 CES Best of Show award in the Connected Home product category.

On January 31, 2018, the company closed<ref name = "BizJournal"/> and on October 24 of that year, they declared bankruptcy.<ref name = "bankruptcy">{{Cite web|url=https://www.strata-gee.com/thiel-audio-declares-bankruptcy/|title = Thiel Audio Files Bankruptcy in Bitter Coda to a Sad Song|date = 31 October 2018}}</ref>

⚫
== Awards ==
⚫
Thiel Audio won many awards, including the International [[Consumer Electronics Show]] Innovations Design and Engineering Award, which Thiel had received 22 times, and the Image Hi-Fi speaker of the millennium award in 2000. Thiel also won [[BizRate]]'s coveted "Circle of Excellence" award seven times. Most recently their LifeStream wireless speaker won the 2017 CES Best of Show award in the Connected Home product category.


== References ==
== References ==
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== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://www.thielaudio.com/}}
* {{Official website|http://www.thielaudio.com/}}
* {{Cite web|url=http://hometheaterreview.com/legendary-speaker-designer-jim-thiel-passes-away/|title=Legendary Speaker Designer Jim Thiel passes away|last=|first=|date=17 September 2009|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite web|url=http://hometheaterreview.com/legendary-speaker-designer-jim-thiel-passes-away/|title=Legendary Speaker Designer Jim Thiel passes away|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}
* [http://hometheaterreview.com/legendary-speaker-designer-jim-thiel-passes-away/ Legendary Speaker Designer Jim Thiel Passes Away - HomeTheaterReview]
* http://hometheaterreview.com/legendary-speaker-designer-jim-thiel-passes-away/
* [http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/some-thoughts-on-jim-thiel-1/ Absolute Sound: Some Thoughts on Jim Thiel]
* [http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/some-thoughts-on-jim-thiel-1/ Absolute Sound: Some Thoughts on Jim Thiel]
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.cepro.com/article/jim_thiel_passes_away/#|title=CePro-Jim Thiel Passes Away|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.cepro.com/article/jim_thiel_passes_away/#|title=CePro-Jim Thiel Passes Away|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.cepro.com/article/thiel_audio_acquired_by_outside_investors|title=Thiel Audio Acquired by Outside Investors|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}
* {{Cite web|url=http://www.cepro.com/article/thiel_audio_acquired_by_outside_investors|title=Thiel Audio Acquired by Outside Investors|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}
* {{Cite web|url=https://www.audioholics.com/bookshelf-speaker-reviews/thiel-audio-tm3|title=Thiel Audio TM3 Bookshelf Speaker Review|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}
* {{Cite web|url=https://www.audioholics.com/bookshelf-speaker-reviews/thiel-audio-tm3|title=Thiel Audio TM3 Bookshelf Speaker Review|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}
*[https://www.strata-gee.com/management-turnstile-turns-thiel-audio/ Management Turnstile Turns Again at Thiel Audio]
{{refend}}
* [https://www.strata-gee.com/strata-gee-interviews-elyse-mckenna-thiel-newest-ceo/ Thiel Audio's New CEO, Elyse McKenna, Talks to Strata-Gee]
* [https://www.strata-gee.com/ta-ta-thiel/ More Thiel Turmoil - Is It Closed? Is It Open?]


[[Category:Electronics companies established in 1977]]
[[Category:Electronics companies established in 1977]]
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[[Category:1977 establishments in Kentucky]]
[[Category:1977 establishments in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Companies based in Nashville, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Companies based in Nashville, Tennessee]]
[[Category:Audio equipment manufacturers of the United States]]

Latest revision as of 21:24, 18 January 2023

THIEL Audio
Company typeHigh performance audio equipment manufacturer
IndustryAudio
Founded1977
FounderJim Thiel, Tom Thiel, Kathy Gornik
Defunct2018
HeadquartersNashville, Tennessee
Key people
Jim Thiel; Kathy Gornik David B. Griffin Chairman of the Board until bankruptcy
ProductsAudio electronics
Websitethielaudio.com

THIEL Audio was an American privately held high performance loudspeaker (hi-end audio) manufacturer founded in Lexington, Kentucky, but later based in Nashville, Tennessee. Thiel Audio products were distributed to over 30 countries. All products by the founders were designed and built in their 35,000-square-foot (3,300 m2) facility located in Lexington. Thiel ceased operations in 2018.[1]

History

[edit]

Thiel Audio was formed by three college friends,[2] Jim Thiel, Tom Thiel, and Kathy Gornik, who started in 1976 with equipment in the Thiels' garage on Georgetown Road in Lexington.[3][4] Thiel Audio was formed with $25,000 borrowed from the partners' parents and some friends. Jim Thiel graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1968, majoring in physics. Thiel Audio first exhibited at the Consumer Electronics Show in 1977 (the year the company was commonly stated as being founded, although they had been selling since 1976)[5] with the introduction of the 01 full-range speaker. A year later, in 1978, the model 03 introduced the principles of time, phase, and frequency coherence, which would become the basis for all of Jim Thiel's designs and the fundamental idea for which Thiel would be known.[5]

A skilled woodworker, Tom Thiel built the speaker boxes. Their first hi-fi product was a two-way speaker with an equalizer to give it high-quality bass response. Jim Thiel soon realized that he would need someone to do the sales part of the business, so Gornik sought to sell them in her city, Washington, D.C.

Over the life of the company, Thiel had a number of long-lived series including the CS 2 which was first introduced in 1982 and updated through 2012 with the introduction of the CS 2.7.

In March 2006, Thiel unveiled the culmination of the CS 3 series, the Thiel CS 3.7, a high-performance speaker in the Middle East, at an event hosted by Emirates Computers, one of Dubai's leading technology companies.

In 2007, Thiel Audio announced that it would offer its high-performance line of loudspeakers in Crutchfield retail stores, the Crutchfield site, and through their catalogs. At the time, the primary lineup that Thiel was to offer through Crutchfield was priced from about $990 to $5,450. Thiel's products typically ranged from about $990 to $6,450.

Jim Thiel died of cancer on September 17, 2009.[6]

In 2012, Thiel Audio was sold to a private equity company in Nashville, and later that year, Gornik was replaced as president of the company. Since the purchase, Thiel had five CEOs in five years, and discontinued all of Jim Thiel's original designs. The company reintroduced themselves as a high-end lifestyle brand, focused on surround sound systems based on more traditional engineering. The new company's speakers did not follow Jim Thiel's time/phase coherency premise, but they continued to use the custom-designed drivers.

Former president of Thiel Audio, Kathy Gornik, was also the chairwoman of the Consumer Electronics Association.

In 2016 Thiel underwent another leadership change in which Thiel launched their Entertainment Division in Jan 2016 and the birth of Aurora Nashville the nations first Live 4K Concert Streaming Studio experience and viewing platform in May 2016. The Studio opened to much acclaim in Nashville in 2016 and was the set for Aurora Live, WMOT, MTSU and many other performances. The studio provided live streaming and production services to clients (music labels and artists) both on platform and off platform allowing their clients to instantly play in the streaming arena.

At CES2017, Thiel returned to the main show floor and unveiled their 40th Anniversary line up, a custom finish build to order high-performance loudspeaker systems 40.1, 40.2, and 40.3. The 40th Anniversary Series was the first in a series of planned steps to bring Thiel back to its roots as an American built loudspeaker assembled in Nashville.

In addition, Thiel announced the arrival of the Aurora LifeStream connected speaker systems (HOME, TOUR, and STUDIO) to be sold by Aurora with custom designs for artists performing at the VIP studio in Nashville. The wireless speaker systems offered customizable elements of the design, multiple wireless protocols (DTS Play-fi, Bluetooth w/aptX, and Apple AirPlay) for expanded interoperability, Amazon Alexa voice compatibility. The result of the 9-month engineering effort won CES 2017 Best of Show awards in the Connected Home Products Category.

In the second half of 2017, Thiel went through yet another change in leadership which stripped the company of much of the talent and expertise[7] and once again raised questions. Aurora Nashville was renamed under the Thiel brand and most streaming operations seem had come to a halt. Thiel announced the space that housed Aurora Nashville was now a product showroom that was in operation a few days a week. The LifeStream products were sold as Aurora by Thiel which added to the confusion.

In late 2017, amid rumours of the company's impending demise, long-time Thiel Service manager Rob Gillum purchased the service operation from Thiel Audio. He stated his intention was to provide repairs and warranty work to owners of "legacy" Thiel speakers.[8]

On January 31, 2018, the company closed[1] and on October 24 of that year, they declared bankruptcy.[9]

Awards

[edit]

Thiel Audio won many awards, including the International Consumer Electronics Show Innovations Design and Engineering Award, which Thiel had received 22 times, and the Image Hi-Fi speaker of the millennium award in 2000. Thiel also won BizRate's coveted "Circle of Excellence" award seven times. Most recently their LifeStream wireless speaker won the 2017 CES Best of Show award in the Connected Home product category.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Nashville Business Journal
  2. ^ "The Forgotten Thiel". February 16, 2018.
  3. ^ John E. Kleber. The Kentucky Encyclopedia. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 878–. ISBN 0-8131-2883-8.
  4. ^ The Absolute Sound. 168-72. Absolute Sound, Limited. 2007. pp. 18–.
  5. ^ a b "Jim Thiel: A Coherent Source | Stereophile.com". 16 March 1998.
  6. ^ "Jim Thiel". Stereophile.com. September 17, 2009.
  7. ^ "Management Turnstile Turns Again at Thiel Audio". July 14, 2017.
  8. ^ "King Thiel is Dead, Long Live Coherent Source Service". February 8, 2018.
  9. ^ "Thiel Audio Files Bankruptcy in Bitter Coda to a Sad Song". 31 October 2018.
[edit]
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