Tube Audio Design TAD-803 Single Driver Speaker

I recently got a pair of this from Paul and I couldn't believe how this pair of sub-$1000 monitors beat out my other, much more expensive floor-standers.

In response to one of the great reviews earlier, I think the lack of treble from that member's setup is due to the stands not being high enough. Paul has indicated that 31" speaker stands will work best. I think this makes perfect sense as each super tweeter is actually facing a little downward. Common, mass-market monitor stands are merely 24" high (like my pair's) and that just won't cut it.

Parts Express has some good 30" stands that look pretty promising. I gonna get one of those and see how much more I could get from the TAD803SD.

Happy listening!

I'd like to semi-clarify that my review was PROBABLY of the older NON-SD version with the crossover. I say probably because I bought them for a very low price (albeit blemished), they say "TAD-803" NOT "TAD-803SD" on the back (do the new ones actually say SD?), and people are complaining about the SD version not having enough treble which is defintiely not my problem. I tried to title my review "TAD-803 Needs EQ and a Sub" to be safe but it defaulted to "TAD-803 Single Driver" to stay on thread. Hope that didn't cause confusion or cast bad light on the newer SD version.

I must say Paul's site could have been a bit more clear on the exact differences between the old vs. new versions when both were available. The cabinets look identical, both versions really have two drivers, both have a yellow basketweave bass/mid cone. Which all of course begs the question, do the new ones have the same drivers as mine and the only difference is the crossover design? If so, let me at their innards with some retrofit parts! Give my TAD-803's a BBC dip and much less supertweeter!!!

Hi all,
New 2007 TAD-803SD’s - now say SD on the box and label.
2007 has a small switch on the binding post plate that allows you to adjust how hot the tweeter plays. 2005 produced 2-ways (last of them close out priced, now gone) have a crossover with a main driver that plays up to 3kHz - many said this speaker is too hot on top. Newer 2006 crossover-less design has a 10k main driver that is directly wired to the binding posts, plays close to flat on top. BBC dips and other home EQ measurements that do not jive with laboratory flat are normal room acoustic anomalies we all endure setting up speakers. Reporting some sort of EQ problem without being in a perfectly acoustic chamber is not valid due to not having a solid reference to base measurement findings. Speaker placement – stand height and angle, how far from walls, ceiling, floor and corners attribute to how speakers sound. Curing EQ problems first should involve a speaker placement adjustment (if the room (or wife) allows). VU meter readings with standard low cost microphones should be taken lightly, a very rough indication something needs an adjustment. I must say a digital EQ is a brilliant device. Surprised there aren’t more products with digital EQ built-in. Since it is altering data before conversion it blows away old 80’s style analog EQ’s with multistage op-amp feedback that naturally kill recorded harmonic structure and phase timing – creating a blurry 1980's sterile EQ corrected sound – better, maybe. Digital EQ is best if your room / speaker placement / listening position can not be physically altered to find the most pleasing spot. If you have 2006 single driver 803’s and decide the highs are a bit soft for your liking I can adjust the tweeter feed resistor value to raise the highs to custom flatten response for your room. Only cost is return shipping, $30. Or wait till you get over 50 – can’t hear the highs (>10kHz) anymore and find highs up there sound more & more like noise! Most senior audiophiles prefer a soft high speaker. I’m 42, can just barely hear 14kHz, used to hear TV set faint horizontal 19kHz power supply ringing very clear, now I’m too old. Like those teenagers with phone ring tones that only <30 can hear. To satisfy both young and old ears I made the new SD version with a tweeter level switch to help tune room and personal taste. Paul

Anyone has ordered his new line? Would love to hear from...