TAD Reference One Speakers

[Vintage Pete]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

This is a Hobby of Mind, Money, & Muscle!

Being out of the first one...we can be soon out of the second two!

Pete

Beautiful speakers. Only issue is your other speakers will quickly become lonely!

[joeinid]

Hi Ivan,

I've always been intrigued by these speakers. I would love to compare the stand mount version to the SF Evolutions. Let us know what you decide.

Joe

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by joeinid

Hi Ivan,

I've always been intrigued by these speakers. I would love to compare the stand mount version to the SF Evolutions. Let us know what you decide.

Joe

Respectfully, if I were to hazard a guess, the TADs will blow the SFs into the weeds, sonicalliy speaking, that is.

[Jerome W]

I guess the TADs must sound terrific but if they can be qualified as "beautiful", then SF speakers are....????
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder of course. I don't like their color, finish, proportions....I think that I would just like their sound !

[Puma Cat]

Here's a blurb from AV Guide by Neil Gader on the stand mount TADs...

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.

and...

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.

Lastly,

Fellas, the TAD is simply the finest stand-mounted speaker I've ever encountered. xcept 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.

That sums it up really well.

[metaphacts]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Respectfully, if I were to hazard a guess, the TADs will blow the SFs into the weeds, sonicalliy speaking, that is.

At just south of $39K with stands, I would respectfully say they damn sure better.

Though I don't hazard guesses, I'd love to do the comparison.

[Puma Cat]

It would be interesting to be sure, Bill, but i've gotta say I've never heard anything like the TAD CR-1. While other speakers can be exemplary, the TAD sounds less like a speaker, less like anything is there at all, than anything I've ever heard.

[joeinid]

OMG! You guys are killing me. It really does never end does it. I appreciate all the info Stephen, and Bill - we'll talk

If they are half as good as everyone says, the must be incredible.

Thanks!

Joe

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by joeinid

If they are half as good as everyone says, the must be incredible.
Joe

You don't know the half of it...