First Listen: TAD Compact Reference Loudspeaker
Having heard versions of the TAD Compact Reference (TAD stands for Technical Audio Devices) for a couple years now I wasn’t believing my eyes a couple weeks ago when this speaker finally appeared on my doorstep. But there it was. Well, not quite my doorstep. It was accompanied by a couple of strong gentlemen who unpacked the four boxes (two for the stands). Also, Andrew Jones, engineer and chief designer extraordinare behind the TAD Reference One and Compact Reference. After bolting them down to their stands and taking a few moments to position, it took all of about three minutes or so of listening to realize that the TAD maybe the greatest stand-mounted speaker I’ve ever encountered if not one of the best speakers period. It combines the warmth, weight, majesty, and soundstage of a floorstander with the image focus and precision of a small compact. There's a harmonic complexity and a naturalistic bloom and a musical rightness that simply hits you between the eyes. There’s a calm to this speaker and though it can be physically forceful –virtually pinning you to your seat with impact– it never sounds “hi-fi” or forced, etched or edgy.
How does it do this? Expensively for one. The pure beryllium diaphragms of the coincident midrange & tweeter (formally known as the CST for Coherent Source Transducer) cover the range from 250Hz to 100kHz. It’s a completely proprietary in-house design that you won’t see anywhere else except on the TAD flagship Ref One. Combine that with a short coil, long gap 8** woofer with a tri-laminate cone of woven aramid fibers sandwiching a foam acrylic cone plus a multi-compartment enclosure of extreme rigidity and driver isolation and a myriad of other design and technical achievements too lengthy to delve into here and the result is a speaker of such tonal expression and sensitivity to the source that you will find, as I’ve found, that it’s difficult to wrestle yourself away from it. I’m still in the “getting to know you” phase of this evaluation and am just getting a grip on its overall character (it does have one BTW) and sonic limits but thus far my jaw remains on the floor. Price: $37,000/pair. http://tad-labs.com
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TAD Compact Reference
TAD-CR1
Type: three-way dynamic driver in bass reflex cabinet
Drivers: One concentric with 1 3/8** tweeter and 6.5** midrange; one 8** woofer
Frequency Response: 32Hz-100kHz
Sensitivity: 86dB
Impedance: 4 ohms
Dimensions: 24.7** x 13.4** x 17.5**
Weight: 101 lbs
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detail of CST driver (above)
Back panel detail (Below)
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Comments
Neil--the pictures are sensational!
Thanks JH! But not as sensational as this loudspeaker-one that combines the refinement and transparency of the best High End with the unlimited dynamics and bullet-proof output of the best studio control monitors. I'm just hanging on and enjoying the ride.
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
how does it compare to your fav--KHARMA
Wow, finally! How does it compare to the Magico V2? Looking forward to the reviews...
The workmanship looks exquisite as well.
I've heard them! Ordered them. Will be VERY happy (and very poor) once they get here. I've never heard anything like it.
We're all waiting to read your thoughts on these speakers.
congrats-please post us all with your impressions once you've got them broken in. When will they be arriving? what associated components will be driving them?
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
Thanks,
Sorry for not replying sooner, but I don't come here very often.
I'm afraid the rest of the system isn't quite up to TAD standard yet. To start with I will use my Pioneer LX-90SC receiver (don't know the US equivalent, but it's their current top model) with signal being provided by an Oppo BDP-83 over HDMI. For vinyl I have a Michell Gyrodec with a goldring eroica (1042?) MM pickup.
I've heard them with the new TAD electronics (CD and monoblocks) though and that absolutely blew my mind! I will evaluate their sound with my current electronics for a (long) while and decide then what upgrades are necessary and how I can finance it.
I have heard from Andrew at TAD that the new Bel Canto monoblocks are very good with TAD speakers and they are a bit easier to afford than the TAD M600. But I think the speakers are the most important upgrade anyway. I have no delivery date just yet but you bet I'm looking forward to it! :-)
"But I think the speakers are the most important upgrade anyway."
The single, most important part of ANY stereo system, is the SOURCE! Garbage in, garbage out.
There we have different opinions. I think it is at least as easy to destroy a superb signal with amplifier or speakers as it is to fail to extract the best signal possible from the source. The chain is only as strong as its weakest link, of course. That being said, I think that for "serious hi fi", whatever that is, there is more variation in speakers sound than in any other part of the sound reproduction chain. That's why I think the speakers are the most important part and the best place to start the upgrade.
Fellas, the TAD is simply the finest stand-mounted speaker I've ever encountered. That being said, at 101 pounds it's also the biggest and most powerful stand-mount I've encountered, easily challenging and likely surpassing many midsize floorstanders. what really strikes me about the Compact Reference however is the overall balance of its performance. Except for the last half octave of deep bass (and let me tell you I'm getting flat response to at least 40 cycles and strong perceivable deep bass into the low 30 Hz region in my room) the CR presents a tonally and dynamically unimpeded soundscape with images that are fully backed and grounded. Music retains a holistic flow rather than sounding like refashioned or sculpted individual elements–this kind of hyper-imaging often encouraged by tweeters with too much lift gets tiresome in my view. there's none of that here. The coincident mid/tweeter of the CR is seamless. the character and timbre of instruments doesn't shift in the x-over exchange between transducers. It's all one.
Certainly the TAD has a character-every component does but only to a relatively small degree. It's a warmer, richer one, even a little romantic. It allows music a bloom that dryer more clinical speakers do not. It strikes me that the wonderful Magico V2 has the same relative degree of coloration, only on the other side of the fence-the TAD a bit warmer, the Magico, a bit cooler. Both valid, both different. The trick is that neither imposes a character so strongly that it interferes and degrades the musical truth.
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
How about the stands, what are they made of? How heavy, filled with sand, etc.?
I need to get more info on the stands-they are filled with some kind of non-resonant material, and the platform the speakers bolt onto is metal of some sort. they weigh approx. 35 pounds each. They come with two grades of spikes-one rounded one sharp plus pucks to protect wood floors (like mine).
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
Neil,
I know you will be reviewing the Magico V2 in the next TAS, but I would be interested in your impressions of the TAD versus the Magico Mini, as both are stand mounted compact speakers of similar price. Do you have any experience with the Mini II? Thanks.
Although I've listened to the remarkable Mini II in show settings, I haven't heard it in my room. I've reviewed the Magico V2, a 2.5-way floorstander however and it should appear in the next issue of TAS. Both the TAD and Magico are obviously exceptional vehicles to transport the listener but in very rough sonic terms the TAD is the more lush, warmer and bloom-filled example while the Magico lands on the cooler dryer more clinical wing of sound reproduction. the TAD, remember might be stand-mounted but it's a full three-way model and larger bass dynamics and extension are clear beneficiaries. The Magico's acoustic suspension design gives it a sense of greater control and a tightness factor in the bass that is quite addicting while the TAD with the added LF extension at least partly aided by the bass reflex design seems more like the kind of reproduction one would hear in an acoustic hall-fuller, more resonant. the largest single difference is the imaging. the TAD coincident midrange/tweeter offers the kind of unbroken coherance and point source-like image that will astound. It flat out sounds like one driver running all the way up between 250Hz and a stated 100kHz! Speakers with tweeters on top, woofers below, even Magicos simply don't have quite this one-of-a-piece precision. Of course keep in mind this is only one particular criteria in judging these speakers and listening bias' will be the deciding factor with these fine products, but there's no doubt in my mind that any hall of fame for transducers will include the TAD driver.
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
I remember when they first came out with this model, few years back, it was priced at $14K. How did it get to be $37K?
This is the debut of the CR1. It has been shown at trade shows over the last couple years or so but they were not production versions. Initially TAD raised hopes that they might arrive in the $20-25k range but obviously it didn't happen. But then even the vaunted Magico Mini II couldn't hold that under-$30K line either.
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
I am not sure you are comparing apples and apples here. I believe that the Magico Mini itself cost around $20K. It is the elaborate stand that pushes the price. I do like the TAD, I am disappointed with its price. It should have been a great speaker for $20K.
except-in the case of the Mini II (correct me if I'm wrong but they list for $27K w/o stands), (Sorry, turns out I am wrong they do list for $20K w/o stands!)the stand is crucial to extracting the full performance from the speaker. In the instance of the TAD, the stand while excellent, is not mandatory.
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
Neil, this is a great report on a product a lot of us have been anxiously awaiting. I assume your reference to the better imaging of the TAD vs. the Magico V2 means it also produces a wider and deeper soundstage than the V2? I also note that it has 2 sets of binding posts, so presumably it can be both bi-wired and bi-amped? Have you tried it with 2 amps and can you comment on the difference? I was also going to comment on the increase in price, though when I was first aware of the speaker, it was priced at $25,000.00. I'm surprised in this economy that Andrew let the price creep up to the $37,000.00 mark, but it sounds like it may be well worth that. - Brent
Hi Neil.
I have listend to the TAD R1,truly a remakable speaker. But I was also told the speaker could perform even better after removing the protection of the midrange/top element?
Would been very intresting if you were willing to test that, and give us your thoughts...
Regards Peter
This should be interesting. Remember when people were removing the bodies from Spectral cartridges?
True, it makes a difference (referring to cartridges)- but I wonder just how many cantilevers have been snapped off over the years?
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
an interesting thought so I went right to the source. Here is the response from TAD engineer Andrew Jones; "As for the grille removal, of course we made sure that the grille has minimal impact upon the sound, but I could not say it has absolutely no effect. However, the question then becomes one of "What effect?" The measured difference is minimal, around 0.25 dB on average at high frequencies. This is smaller than the production tolerence of the drivers.
Also, all the design and voicing was done with the grille in place, so any change would be taking it away from the design intent. It would be a change, but would it be an improvement??
The grille is there obviously for protection. The diaphragms are very fragile. One poke with a finger and you have a hole in the cone. The replacement cost of this driver is very very very high and would of course not be covered under warranty!"
So there you have it. In closing, Jones reiterated that it is not something one should risk especially in light of the fact that there are so many other improvements and "tweaks" that we should all consider elsewhere within the broader system.
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
Neil, I still haven't heard from you regarding the TAD CR-1's ability to be bi-wired or bi-amped, and how that might improve the sound, and also, the imaging differences you heard between the TAD and the Magico V2's. I've heard the Magico V2's, V3's, and M5's (I loved them all), so I have a nice point of reference. It may seem like a stupid question I guess, because you mentioned the TAD imaged better than the V2, but I was hoping for more specifics, like wider and deeper soundstaging?, better image specificity?, more air around the instruments?, etc. Thanks, Brent
I won't be running the TAD in either biwire or biamp mode. My room is relatively small and I've got plenty of power to drive them to hysterically loud levels. Also the reference wire I'm using, the Synergistic Tesla Apex or Wireworld Platinum Eclipse are single runs only-but excellent nonetheless. Frankly I've never been convinced of biwire and have always recommended that if you have a set amount of cash budgeted for cable to buy the best you can afford in a single run rather than a lesser model in a double run.
In terms of imaging the key characteristics of the TAD versus the V2 is the sense of image dimensionality and the unbroken soundspace. The V2 isolates images in a stunning way but by doing to makes each stand out as if in its own vacuum. An amazing feat but not as naturalistic as I expect from music. the TAD on the other hand seems to create the energy and air of a genuine soundspace with resonances and ambience that for me are crucial to the live sound experience. Rather than dry it's a wetter sound, a bit darker but more sophisticated. Images may not be as sharply cut but that's because there's something more inhabiting the venue. Part of this may be due to the slightly brighter tweeter of the V2-a lovely transducer but more apparent to the ear than the TAD unit, which in its coincident construction had a point-source like focus across the soundstage that is addicting. Each to his own, but for me the TAD goes a little tiny bit further in realizing what we're all listening for. At least what I am
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
Good afternoon Mr Gader
I have just returned back to Norawy after visiting the High end show in Munich. The TAD room was very popular and i beleive a lot of the vistors were impressed by the sound and built quality of the speakers. Unfortunately i had no chance to hear the Compacts but i really liked the sound of the big brother Reference 1.
I will try to arrange for a listening of the Compacts ASAP.
I am currently lucky owner of a pair of Wilson Duette. These was purchased due to both the sound and the possibility to place the spaekers close to walls etc.
My main question is for the V2 and the Compact Referece. Are they difficult to set up and in particular what about placing the speakers close to the walls?
Thank you
regards
Egil
Egil,
Neither the V2 or the CR-1 will appreciate placement too close to the back wall or side walls. The Wilson was purpose-built to exploit these boundaries but not these. Bascially standard in-room placement rules apply. In my smallish room, both were placed roughly three feet out from the back wall and approx two feet from the side wall, roughly eight feet apart. any closer to the back wall prompted an unappealing thickness to the bass that slowed down the overall presentation. I like to angle (toe-in) most speakers and these were no exceptions. My rule is that I should just be able to see the in-board sidepanel of the speaker to judge the correct toe-in. If I can't see it then I've generally angled them too far inward.
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
Hi Egil,
Contact Jörgen at ultimate hifi (http://www.ultimate.se/shop/) and maybe we can arrange something ;-)
In my home I have a pair of TAD compact reference since almost three months back. I'm so glad I've bought them and they are a constant source of musical enjoyment even though they are probably still breaking in.
On many occasions I have been moved to tears by the musical experiences they (and the artist) have conveyed. They have a great openness and effortlessness (is there even such a word?) combined with great control and rock-solid soundstage. They resolve details to great extent while still remaining involving, musical and get your foot tapping. The speed in transients is also probably the best I've ever heard.
Speaking of resolution - never before have I noticed that Murray Perahia should have cut his finger nails before recording the Goldberg variations! Now that I've heard it I may be able to hear it on other speakers, but on the CR-1 it was very clear.
On a side note, I believe I may have the first commercial sample since my serial numbers are 5 & 6. Serial 1 & 2 were used on the review sample here and serial 3 & 4 was the demo set I heard so I can only conclude that I bought the first pair for sale.
About your question on speaker placement they ended up maybe two feet from the back wall, but the final adjustments haven't been made yet. Jörgen will set them up for/with me when they are broken in.
Quite a few sold here in South Florida and I haven't heard of it happening. However, in the wrong hands....................................
I'm sure you're right although I've personally had a few heart-stopping moments with naked carts.
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
Ok, now tell us more about these speakers.
:)
Just wondering if you have previously had a change to compare how TAD's coincident driver implementation performs relative to others like KEF's implementation in their reference series or the "TAD inspired" implementation in in the Pioneer SX line?
I will be reviewing the KEF Reference 203/2 in a forthcoming issue but have yet to actually hear it. It does use it's own take on the coincident mid/tweeter, namely the KEF Uni-Q.
I did review the Pioneer 2S-EX a couple years ago and thought it was a superb value at $6K. It uses a beryllium dome in the tweeter but not the midrange cone. And obviously a whole host of other differences. It does bear some similarities but the TAD really is a whole new ballgame-and should be at it's price. You can read my review on avguide.
Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound
Where can one audition the TADs? I have Piega C40s, which I love, and I think my wife would kill me if I sold them, but....it would be great to be able to hear them somewhere.
It looks like a power house.