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Any TAD-150 Signature Fans Still Out There?

I find the TAD-150 preamp to be an excellent value, I've owned much more expensive preamps but find the the TAD to be excellent. Great separation, sound stage bass and extension! Plus tube rolling pays dividends and its fun to boot!

Would anyone else like to share their opinion / experience?
acrylics
pdspecl
254 posts
 
I owned one for 2 1/2 years (longest time with the same preamp). It replaced 2 Counterpoint amps, one modded. It also replaced an Audible Illusions Modulus 3. Regarding the TAD - the line stage is very nice, the phono stage not so good though. I ended up replacing the TAD with a VTL 2.5. They are very close but I think the VTL is a bit more detailed, refined, but the sound stage is more set back.
The TAD is very competative with any preamp is it's price range.
Paul
bdgregory
1,720 posts
 
I still have mine, and find it perfect in every way for my needs. I find the phono stage to be quite good - at least compared to modestly priced external stages. I use mine in a combined 2 channel and HT room, and the HT passthru is great. I've tried to find a pre/pro that could do 2 channel justice, but none can even come close to the TAD so I've resigned myself to the 2 box setup.
acrylics OP
29 posts
 
Good to hear others have experienced bliss from this over achiever. I use the TAD-150 strictly as a line stage. I use a Jolida JD9 for my low output MC phono, I tried the phono in the TAD once and it wasn't very good. Maybe it would suit a MM better...

I put an Antique Sound Labs Flora (decked out with Mundorf caps and the new power supply) in my rig for a while and couldn't believe how sterile the sound stage was in comparison to the TAD-150.

Curious to hear which 12AX7 style of tubes people are running also, my favorite has to be Raytheon black plate 12AX7. Although JAN GE 5751 and Amperex ECC83 are a close second...
jig
160 posts
 
I still own mine and see no reason to replace it. I upgraded the cheap remote to a nicer backlit learning remote. I rolled a lot of different tubes in it, including a bunch of NOS tubes and in the end put the stock tubes back in because they sound darn good. It replaced a Melos SHA Gold and BTW I find the sound from the headphone jack to be very nice. I agree with the earlier comments that it excels as a line stage but only so-so as a phono stage. It feeds my Music Reference RM9mkII and they seem to match up pretty well.
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