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TAD Reference loudspeakers-How good are they?

Just wondering if the TAD Ref 1 and/or TAD Compact Ref 1 are as good as some of the show reviews suggest, although a recent review did mention a slightly "dark" presentation, albeit state of the art sound.

Does anyone know if the implementation of concentric tweeter/mid is superior to that of KEF/Thiel, or perhaps the Berylium constructed drivers and/or crossover sophistication.

I'm thinking about the TAD Compact Ref One as my "final" loudspeaker, as I have a small listening room at 14 x 16; Quite expensive at MSRP of $37K. I would appreciate any and all opinions and experience with the TAD Reference loudspeakers.

Thanks so much!
opinions
audiobrian
audiobrian OP
186 posts
 
Thanks very much Metralla; I appreciate your helpful comments and the slide presentation!
Dealers are scarce but I'm gonna try to audition the CR-1's at one of the few dealers listed on the website.
I do have a couple of fine loudspeakers I am trying to sell locally; excellent sound but too large for my room. Maybe a trade in:)
Thanks again.
keithr
1,306 posts
 
i'm interested too---but they have like no dealers in the US, so an impossible chore even if i could afford them.

Magico, Wilson, and even YG have a lot better distribution.
keithr
1,306 posts
 
btw, i should mention i have a high respect for TAD because of what they have done on the pro sound spectrum. George Massenburg uses the drivers---that's high praise.
sutts
701 posts
 
I have the TAD TSM-300 monitors for a second system, and will NEVER part with them- I can't think of another speaker at the ~ $1k price point that would be any better.
mgattmch
575 posts
 
I was lucky enough to attend the Munich show in 2004, when the TAD 1s were being demonstrated against other high end loud speakers (Wilson, Sonus Faber etc.). Here is the link to my report on this usual demonstration:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?cspkr&1085320068&openmine&zzMgattmch&4&5#Mgattmch

I personally found the TAD 1s to be fantastic!
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