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  #31  
Old 10-25-2012, 12:41 PM
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Sweetmusic69 Sweetmusic69 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dawgneck View Post
Good idea to leave them alone. Too many overseas scams going on right now....
Ray

From the information I managed to obtain, it seems the sale is genuine just the truth concerning the actual units is being 'cloaked' Possibly it seems by a member of this very forum
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  #32  
Old 11-06-2012, 07:01 AM
jdebonth jdebonth is offline
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David,

I heard the CR1's driven by the M600 mono's over the weekend in Paris. Hugely impressed. They were partnered with the C600 pre and an MSB diamond DAC. I have not head the CR1' sing like that before. Effortless.

I see you are using a "bespoke preamp design from the US". Why did you go this route and not mate them with TAD's own C600 preamp? Are you tweaking the sound in a certain direction? if so what does the pre add to the table?

Which preamp is it that you are using if I may ask? SS/tubes?

Last edited by jdebonth; 11-06-2012 at 08:14 AM.
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  #33  
Old 11-06-2012, 11:27 AM
joeinid joeinid is offline
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Joost,

Can you mention how the sound was relative to cold/neutral/warm? I am curious because I prefer my gear on the warmer side of neutral otherwise I lose interest.
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  #34  
Old 11-06-2012, 11:47 AM
jdebonth jdebonth is offline
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The combo was the best I have ever heard in terms of clarity, purity, tone, resolution, control, and image definition/soundstaging. I would not describe the system as cold or warm, IMO it was just right is that regard. It was completely effortless even at high volumes and free of any form of distortion whatsoever. As clean and pure as you can imagine.

The source was not TAD, I have heard that an all out TAD system can be somewhat cold sounding. This based on user opinions and the german review I posted in the other thread. I personally cannot comment.

I am thinking now the ultimate TAD ref speaker (R1 or CR1) based system would consist of the M600 mono's but with source and preamp selected to tune the system to the listener preferences. The way the M600's controlled the CR1's is remarkable, it is simply undeniable that the two are made for each other.

For this reason I am also interested what David has taken for his preamp as he seems to have taken a similar route and spent a lot time comparing the options.

Unfortunately I was not able to compare the M2500 and M600 side by side on the CR1's, I would like to see how close the M2500 gets, it is obviously much more affordable than the M600's. I heard the E1's with the M2500 and this was not in the same league at all... likely due more to the speaker than the amp.

Last edited by jdebonth; 11-06-2012 at 11:49 AM.
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  #35  
Old 11-07-2012, 04:05 PM
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Hi Joe

I'm not a huge fan of MSB products, I find them a touch cold and clinical (very detailed, for me totally UN-involving and emotion less, a very good quality hifi sound if you like)

The build quality leaves something to be desired for the outlay of the product I would not expect sharp edges on the heat sinks or badly countersunk holes for the set screws, again these are my thoughts, and other individuals will welcome the sounds they make with open arms. Just not for me!

I have to say the set up in Paris had promise, however a long way from what is genuinely possible with TAD equipment.

The TAD per-amplifier they were using (IMHO) needed a least another 300 hours on that unit to bring it fully up to its full potential, I found it sounding and somewhat thin what reticent compared to another example I heard recently.

The M600 monoblocks were certainly run in

When fully on song the C600 is delightful, though for some people it will be a little to truthful I feel.

Those of you seeking pure tonal quality, with a top to bottom linearity, articulation and dynamic dexterity and utter grain free with true realism (Cables here make a significant difference) will revel in the TAD's ability to truly reproduce music in all its glory.

Also recently I visited a good friend whose system contains a pair of Grand Utopia MK III's a superb speaker in any one's book.

It have been a while since I last listened to grand statesman of audio, so it was good to be re-acquainted again.

Eighteen months is a significant time in audio, how things and technology have changed.

I found the Focal's very boxy, not as linear as I remember and with really quite 'highlighted' treble (No hardness at all, but you know it the tweeters were beaming) the TAD made them feel shut in (which by any sense they are not).
The openness and freedom form cabinet coloration is starkly obvious when comparing the Focal's to the TAD's, only the Magico Q1 gets close in my book, but they just cannot generate the sheer presence, depth and texture the CR-1's do.

The M2500 is also very open and clean amplifier, and is not a million miles away from the M600, however the 600's possess a presence and head room, very few amplifiers can match, at no point do you feel they are getting anywhere near their maximum.

Liken it to a high torque, instantaneous power on tap big V8 heavy oil motor, against a hyper tuned sub 3 litre turbo petrol tarmac monster, big flat spots until ** slam ** in the neck, power band kicks in and whoosh off you go lol!

Sorry I digress Joost asked a question reference the per-amplifier.

Personally I seek a sound most will find 'too real', other will love I make no excuses my personal preference is for REAL. Not rounded off or suggested hi end interpretation.

Though oddly, if you have enough transparency and detail retrieval in a non aggressive and grain free manner, then all but the very worse digital and vinyl becomes amazing listenable and thoroughly enjoyable.

My current pre-amplifier is a solid state design, utilising some quite unique fully discrete circuitry with an experimental power supply based around a patented ultra quiet switching circuit and separate storage devices with ultra quiet regulators.

The result is sublime depth and texture, unhindered dynamics, pure tonal quality and the ability to listen at very quiet volumes without missing a trick.
A joint venture between a US and UK company

It mates perfectly with the M600's and brings out the very best in their inherent qualities

It's all down to personal preferences, nothing more.

With regard to the observation of TAD sources being cold, not sure if anyone has listened to a D600 before, it offers one of the most genuine analogue style sounds I have personally heard from a digital source coupled with a dac input.

On a recent outing we directly compared a 111 Burmester streamer/dac/pre against the D600 just using it's digital input via a Macbook using pure music coupled to a new Belcanto usb link with an AES digital lead.

Using the same usb lead/link/ into the Burmester, same files and pre amplifier whilst level matching.

The Burmester mustered a touch more detail and had slighter deeper bottom end and being fair a bigger stage width though it was pretty damn close, the D600 just made music so much more relaxed and enjoyable, it had did possess greater stage depth and texture too a more palpable and less artificial sound to my ears. . Not bad for a just a dac inside a CD player!



David
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Last edited by Sweetmusic69; 11-08-2012 at 08:30 AM.
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  #36  
Old 02-24-2013, 12:24 PM
holik holik is offline
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Question TAD M2500 vs M600

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Originally Posted by Sweetmusic69 View Post

The M2500 is also very open and clean amplifier, and is not a million miles away from the M600, however the 600's possess a presence and head room, very few amplifiers can match, at no point do you feel they are getting anywhere near their maximum.




David

So, how far is M2500 from M600? Has someone experience?
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  #37  
Old 02-24-2013, 07:40 PM
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chessman chessman is offline
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holik, welcome aboard!
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