My Journey to TAD R1s - The Wait Begins

[Weirdcuba]

I am a huge fan of TADs, everything from the little guys all the way up to the R1s. I own the CR-1s and love them and thought they would be my "destination" speaker - and they easily could have been, were it not for Mark, aka SCAudiophile.

I actually spoke with Mark before he bought the R1s from Ivan to give him my thoughts based on my experience with the CR-1s. So, I've known about these speakers before they even shipped to the US. I have heard the R1s on multiple occasions, but was unwilling to pay the retail price (which I think just went up to >$100k). While I wasn't willing to pay retail, I also wasn't willing to pay 5 figures for speakers from someone I didn't know and with unknown providence, etc. Then when Mark put them up for sale, we spoke and they were indeed at a great price, but I had some household stuff going on that complicated things.

There's also the slight complicating factor of I have NOWHERE to put them. I have the perfect Accuphase based system for them, but I have nowhere to put them. As much as I love my system, it sits in my living room and it's crowded. Then, my household stuff calmed down, I sold some real estate and then got spousal consent for my own audio room (it was more like - you mean you'll take that sh!t out of the living room/I approve!).

So, at some risk of not executing on the new room (not sure what make that not happen, but it's not built yet), I am now the proud owner of a gently used set of TAD R1s. They arrived today - Mark kept me in the loop every step of the way, and it was quite easy. They sit in climate controlled storage, and now I worry - will I be able to get them in the room? How will they sound? Will I have forgotten this insane hobby and sold all of this stuff, at a great loss? Will they rot in about a year of storage, etc.?

Right now, I'm thinking not, and just looking at the pictures and preparing for what has to be one of the longest waiting periods for new gear ever! Here are some photos - be back in a year with a full review!

PS to admins - please resize and orient photos, which continues to elude me. Thanks in advance.









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[SCAudiophile]

Congratulations my friend and thank you for the good words!

[audioguy3107]

Jim - I’m looking forward to hearing them, I can tell you that. Hopefully I can give you a hand with your new room! It’s gonna sound sublime.

- Buck

[SCAudiophile]

Originally Posted by audioguy3107

Jim - I’m looking forward to hearing them, I can tell you that. Hopefully I can give you a hand with your new room! It’s gonna sound sublime.

- Buck

Count me in!

[Weirdcuba]

Yep - Buck had a hand this too. Listening to his big and lovely sounding avalons in that beautiful room that helped push me over the edge. He and I and Mark are going to have a big set up party when the room is built.

[audioguy3107]

Originally Posted by Weirdcuba

Yep - Buck had a hand this too. Listening to his big and lovely sounding avalons in that beautiful room that helped push me over the edge. He and I and Mark are going to have a big set up party when the room is built.

Yes! Will be fun! By the way, I totally forgot to ask you.....you are building an addition to your current house, right? Was curious as to what and how you’re planning on it as it relates to your current place.

- Buck

[Weirdcuba]

Building essentially a new wing (three stories) onto the same house. Audio room will be on the bottom floor. Once that's up and running, I'll likely start a thread to share my pain of building a new audio room. Hope it's as nice as yours.

[cma29]

I enjoy reading the enthusiasm in this thread and I'm looking forward to seeing how everything turns out. We have some serious hobbyist here .

[Weirdcuba]

Serious or stupid? Did I really just buy a set of speakers and then build the room?

[audioguy3107]

Originally Posted by Weirdcuba

Serious or stupid? Did I really just buy a set of speakers and then build the room?

You would have fit in perfectly with all of us crazies at RMAF