TAD CE1TX: BEST 'Small' Speaker on the Planet!
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- čas přidán 5. 09. 2024
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I heard the TAD cr-1 (I believe, flagship floor mount speaker from a few years ago), at axpona 2022. Just incredible and maybe the best I have ever heard. If I recall TAD was displaying them and had done extensive room treatment. Probably why the sound was so good in large part. Also heard some TAD monitors at axpona 23 this year. It was very good indeed but didn’t blow me away like last time. Maybe it was my mood or the room treatments. Anyway very cool speaker
Well ... back in late 1970s NEC of Japan developed a watershed system named IFCAT (independent Feedback Cascade Amplification Technology) and after that ... there were many similar systems ... and you know we try to share with others why they should use amplifiers designed to run with a particular speaker model and uh ... we just get contempt, because they think that any amplifier makes a sound with any speaker and you know they don't get the point that, we're going a step further than that basic observation. But you know these people don't deserve the best.
For that price it better blow me every time I listen to them! 😮
Luckily I bought my TAD's 12 years ago when they were more reasonably priced, being assembled and cabinet built in China supervised by TAD engineers from Japan. When TAD brought manufacuting back to Japan the price skyrocketed. I'm sorry more people don't get to enjoy the TAD sound.
I own the CR1's, the speaker Andrew Jones is most proud of. Back then the CR1's were around $42,000 with stands. I'll never get rid of them. I used to hear live acoustic music in homes and small venues on a regular basis, and memorized that sound. The sound of the real thing. Thats what the TAD does so well. The transient as Steve mentioned, but also the inner detail one hears with live music.
Many years ago I heard a demo of Magico Q1. It was excellent with unfamiliar audiophile tracks but with my requests, Rickie Lee Jones S/T, then Bill Evans, the demo fell apart and was stopped. Back home an hour later, on my TAD's the same tracks sounded like audiophile cuts, with the inner detail and leading edge I hear in live music.
While I agree the CE1TX is extremely expensive and not competitively priced, They can be used well in small spaces as midfield monitors due to concentric design, and great off axis response from waveguide effect that helps them sound good in the room. It's also a speaker that can grow with you, by adding a pair of excellent subwoofers, (preferably servo type) you now have versatility in placement and a full range speaker system. I added subs to my CR1's so it can be done with the CE1TX.
Many years ago Pioneer put $5 million dollars ($15M in today's dollars) into developing the CST driver from the reference series. My recommendation would be to try and get a used pair of CR1's if space and budget allows. Of course you need very good gear to pair them with as they reveal what in the single with accurate phase info being concentric. Other concentrics like KEF, including original Blade and blade2 sound broken in comparison. Another good choice I've only read about is the PS Audio speakers, and are a great value and also bespoke drivers and a unique ribbon mid.
I own these speakers for some time now and run them with Audiovalve pre and mono power amps. They do sound magical and the scale is immense. A high power tube amp is definitely a good match if you want that something extra.
Very interesting. Thinking of buying these right now. I’m disabled and hence won’t be able to audition before buying. Curious what you think of the musicality and whether there is much listening fatigue?
Ok Steve , funny story. I recently got back into listening to 2 channel audio again. I looked at a lot of CZcams channels giving me tips, yours included. One CZcams channel asked the question, how many systems do you have and what do you listen through. I proudly told the world about my primary listening area, upstairs with a Yamaha amp and a pair of Cerwin Vegas, VS 120’s, then I hit send. After watching more videos over a couple weeks from this particular CZcams channel it dawned on me that it was a CZcams channel much like your own. Then looking at the 10K plus systems that other people had I realized that the people watching that particular channel were probably snickering at me. Now I have an inferiority complex! Much love anyway from a regular middle aged dude who apparently is not an audio file, at least not like some other people. Still like your channel anyway
Thanks Red, you sound like an audiophile to me. The gear doesn't define you as an audiophile, your attitude to listening to music does.
Great review Steve. IMHO, TAD = Impressive engineering. First heard TAD speakers at the MoFi booth at CES in 2017. I was shocked at how good they sounded.
I bought a nice used pair of TAD evolution ones 2013 circa. I have never heard a speaker sound so real and life like and and volume level before. Definitely a great brand and value new and especially used imo!
I was fooled by the thumbnail photo.
I was excited about what looked like COPPER side plates.
I'm sure there was room in the budget for that (& copper trim around the concentric;-) Though shipping would cost more!
Good enthusiastic review, Steve
🎵🎶😊🎶🎵
Thank you. We needed this review. While I appreciate the obtainable equipment reviews, having a review of the niche, high end market is enlightening. That being said, I couldn't live in your shoes. Once I heard what I've been missing, it would be heartbreaking to go back
Agreed. Ignorance is bliss sometimes (or for me necessity)
What are you talking about, Steve is from Brooklyn. I mean don't you think his heart breaks at the thought of returning every time? 😆 Talking of Brooklyn I heard a test of a Grado DJ cartridge $150 against China's Shenzen cartridge that is available at $2.50 but online goes around $12. Try to remember that the output voltage of Grado is 5mV and the Far Eastern cartridges as 2.5mV. Now ... a high Phono Overload will help but if it's low, then you know, the doubled input voltage will have an effect. Grado are meant for the 5mV input and if you hear a bit of overload distortion, it's to be expected.
It is more than merely high end. It is Japanese high end. They do things differently, especially the mid range drivers.
@@keplermission is there a Shenzen cartridge for T4P?
I enjoy reviews of this level (read: price) of audio equipment the same way as I watch CZcams channel reviews of Lamborghinis, Porsche, Ferrari, McLaren or Bugatti Veyron; from an "If I ever win the lottery" perspective. I do still enjoy seeing how the technology changes, advances or improves. Thanks Steve!
Don’t forget about the trickle down of technology, eventually many times those advances you see on the expensive speakers trickle down to the least expensive, given enough time.
Kinda been there... Its hard to say. I haven't heard these.
I'm gonna stop paying my parents retiring home rent and get these asap. 😎
You will not be the favorite child anymore😂😂😂
@@stephencosta6814 If his parents get a chance to listen to the TAD's I'm sure they will forgive him 😅
Hey - you’ve got *two* kidneys!
@@stephencosta6814
That's gonna be an awkward Thanksgiving 😂
Beautiful, but I would have to sell just about everything I have to get it, but we can dream, right? Would love to listen to it, though. Thanks again, Steve!
Steve, once again, I enjoyed another dose of your enthusiasm. And this time I didn't have to worry about my pocketbook, because these speakera are totally out of reach...I was able to enjoy your presentation more than usual as I was not tempted to buy anything! And as a bonus, I have added that Dave Brubeck recording to my playlists and am enjoying it right now! Cheers.
great review. it's clear these speakers made an impression. thanks steve.
They better for 32k
I’ll never be able to afford these, but I love your enthusiasm and the range of stuff you review! 👍
I'm getting seven of these for my Dolby Atmos setup :D
Wow! These are really beautiful speakers.
Steve, you never said how the LTA Ultralinear Amp did with these speakers like you said in the beginning of the review ? Wheres that review on those LTA amps and preamp ?
Yeah its 35,000 dollars but you get gloves and a microfiber cloth to clean it.
Ditch the speakers, keep the glove and cloth.
And a divorce 😅😢
Dont forget about the rubber pads you get too for under the speakers.....
@@Jack96993
Yeah...and she'd take one speaker in the settlement 😅
Gloves, it should come with a Butler and a masseuse 😂
Wish I see double blind test of all these hypey stuff. I think many of them are just like banana taped to a wall which some people called 'art'. Just mental gymnastic
Maybe true. Doesn't matter... people want to spend 32k on speakers, so there is a market for such. Fun fact somebody ate that art banana recently. They were hungry and thought it was 'just' a banana taped to the museum wall:)
@@peterlarkin762Oh no! Who knows where that banana's been? 😮
Yes, I love seeing these high end reviews.
I bought a pair of preowned TAD CE-1 speakers, since the new TAD CE1 TX is simply way above my price range, and would be interested in hearing if anyone has had the opportunity to compare the two and get an impression of how much of an improvement the TX-version offers. The TAD CE1 is already amazing, and I wonder the uprades really motivate the hefty price increase.
Best channel on the planet ..period
Well done Steve !deep knowledge coupled with magical enthusiasm .
Cheers 👍
Not the best review choice in this horrible economy with inflation totally out of control.
Scotty Kilmer says hello 😂
@@deputy3690
Bidenflation.
Get it right 😂
@Nostradamus Seriously! Inflation historically happens no matter who is President. It's a cycle that no President in the world can control, so stop blaming Biden.
Great review Steve. If only I could afford these speakers, I will just have to stick with my Falcon ls3/5a’s which I love on their own, no subwoofer.
Hi Steve, thanks for your excellent and helpful reviews which I watch regularly with much joy. I run my Accuphase E 650 and a Naim NDX2 streamer with a pair of Swedish Marten Parker Duo. I compared them with some other bookshelf speakers in the same range, but not with the TAD. The Marten are incredibly good, actually the best speakers ever running in my living room.
I use the NDX2 as well, but use the D700 from TAD and let the NDX2 use the DAC. Incredible how much performance it shows. So on these TAD speakers the NDX2 is like probably better than the ND555.
In that cross-section view, it appeared that they are showing iron-core inductors in a couple the crossovers. You'd think in speakers this expensive, you'd be getting premium components.
Wow wow wow. What a chance!
This is that kind of exactly matching of speakers and amplifiers I have in my list to see a review.
Thank you very much for that Steve.
Greetings from Brazil.
i saw Tim Buckley at the Troboudor in 68 in Los Angeles. my modest Rega RS1's do a credible job at creating that night for far less.
Interesting that you say they have dynamics. I am not arguing as I have not hear them but I tend to think you need displacement and some controlled directivity for absolute high dynamics.
Damn, you can almost get Kef Blade 1 Meta for that price
having heard this at Munich Ive got to agree with you
Black Summer by Gordon Lightfoot has great percussion sounds. I love to crank it up. Another good upper mid bass tune is Greenleaf - In the Caverns Below. Has a 70s sound.
Too soon, Bro.
The body's not even cold yet.
Great review Steve! Would love to see your reviews about their little brothers, the TAD ME1 and the TAD Evolution 2.
I'm sure they're VERY nice speakers. $32k....no way...
honi soit qui mal y pense
Well these are high end speakers and the price never have much sense in those. These are for people who are willing (can afford) to pay it. You also have to remember that these are probably one of the best speakers for smaller rooms. Naturally you also have to listen first before judging.
ATC SCM ASL 3 WAY, better than TAD.
@@ianjohnhorwood2605 Well it's all about personal preference. ATC SCM ASL 3 might be better for you and TAD better for someone else.
Why not?
OCD said the stands cost $4000.
32 grand is too much for a pair of speakers-
I bought 21 acres for half that much. lol
Haven’t heard ya that excited about sound quality in a while! Thanks for sharing!
Vincent is a very funny guy! Love his music and albums. Congrats for both of you!
Sly from, Sly and the Family Stone, are from my home town Vallejo CA!
Wonderful review. I love your passion
Hi Steve, thank you for the review; I have watched these with anticipation since TAD introduced them. I am fortunate to have the previous versions, the CE1s, which I find incredible speakers and hooked me on TAD Labs. Before that, I owned the Focal Sopra S2s. These have much more control over bass detail, and the imaging is phenomenal. But one thing I have found with these is you need a capable amp to manage them. I went with Mola Mola monoblocks, which I found to be able to control these speakers. I have a feeling you will be purchasing these to go with your setup quite soon.
I am looking forward to hearing the new version in the flesh once they make their way to the UK.
Well you know CE1TX is a surprising name, and an important reason for adopting BCE/CE was religious neutrality. Since the Gregorian calendar superseded the other calendars, becoming the international standard, (just like dollar used to be), members of non-Christian groups you know came to object to the explicitly Christian origins of BC and AD. CE, 1 and TX ... whatever it has been given in official meaning is you know ... curious to say the least, New York will just love this name alone! But in the old days Radio Shack used to launch a flagship product, take for example their Realistic Mach One with its Lifetime Guarantee and then another new Mach One with a 5 year Guarantee and then another with Liquid-Cooled Mach One with a 1 year Guarantee but each time, they had different amplifiers. Now the CE1TX, its designer says, has been made to run with the older TAD M-1000 amplifier for your CE1 speakers and you know will prove interesting when it arrives in the UK, but more than likely the one you get will be different from ours. You should come now to the US and hear our one first.
I like CE1 better than it's larger brother. Surprised to hear Steve admit the tweeter outperforms what is supposedly Klipsch's strength.
They truly are great speakers, but just a tad too exspensive for me 🤑
Gorgeous speakers. Wish I could afford them
For this price range I'm just going to have to fully trust your review on these speakers 😂 maybe I can convince my friend to buy these, he's single and has no kids so 😂
Im going TAD! But even the next one up!
Dual concentric w'berry Tweet! Gotta love that! Would enjoy hearing a 2-way with series type XO.
Look at the price of vehicles nowadays-so not much of a stretch-good stuff steve
The problem with these speakers is that they are too expensive, 32, 500 bucks for a pair and then it is another 2,500 bucks for the stands? They could at least include stands in the price of 32,500. Wilson audio are the same, they charge an arm and a leg for their stands as well. I think these very high end manufacturers are taking the piss!☹️
They must be the best cuz they're the only small speakers I know of that you could turn on their side and have the panels double as cutting boards, though i would want the one that you used to chop up the fish to be rinsed down with bleach before being returned to the speaker stands.
Steve I believe that if you had tried a TUBE preamp for the Gatos you might have had a more "flesh on the bones" sound on the TX's . . . for example an Audio Note M2 pre-amp hooked up to the Gattos might well be a marriage made in heaven. Would LOVE to read your take on that!
Very interesting
in a German accent😂
No David, no, no. Listen Steve did very well to 'use what he had', but in the most strict of Japanese ways of working, you're right about one thing, it was the wrong amplifier but tubes, no. The Gato PWR 222 is European and voiced from Denmark, you know to reproduce Danish language - on account of New York's age-old Bang & Olufsen training by ear as to what Hi-Fi sounds like but, the CE1TX is Japanese and the amplifier it uses is the TAD M1000, some 50 watts more powerful than the Gato at 4 ohms but the matching TAD amplifier is you know, a different type of wide-band amplifier and in Japan there was always strict observance of the difference. The Gato seems to be right for the 100KHz Beryllium tweeter but the TAD matching amplifier, doesn't give that, it gives only 50KHz and that's why you know, it sounds a little bright, and Steve is talking about the treble, not because we can hear above 20KHz but because of the way the Japanese match up audio. Steve did a New York take on the sound with a Danish amplifier, no, and the ignoble NAD but not tubes either.
@@keplermission
You did it again....
Interesting world view
🌍🤔🎶
@@keplermission I have the ME1’s with AR vs115 and a Lampizator Golden Gate balanced. If you want bright stick with the gato, been there done that..
Only thing I would change is to these speakers, the rest of the system will fit in perfectly.
I can't believe how upset people get with the price. It's a high end speaker where money is no object. Also meant for people who want best possible sound in smaller rooms. Yes I would want much bigger speakers for that money, but they wouldn't fit or sound good in small rooms.
I totally agree with you. I can't understand why people get like this. I can't afford them, but if I could afford them, I'd buy them in the blink of an eye. But I certainly don't go online posting rude,cheap nasty comments.
@@cameraplus7233 Yep. Grown men complaining like teenagers. Why not speak like adults :)
Considering a purchase of these fine speakers but it all depends on what the dealer will give me for my car's trade-in value...
As others have noted, Steve did not mention that TAD is owned by Pioneer. I do wonder if Pioneer gave up on their "Elite" line of audio products because they just weren't able to compete in the high-end realm, of if the corporation just decided it made more sense to go with a high-end (and pro-audio) subsidiary. I had an Elite tuner many years ago. Looked beautiful, worked excellently... until it stopped outputting an audio signal (many years after it was bought.)
Pioneer still puts out some very respectable stuff although admittedly in the AV domain, not so much high-end stereo anymore. They are under pressure just like most other 'traditional' hifi manufacturers who still remain to this day like Denon, Onkyo, Yamaha, Technics etc.
I never thought TAD was ever high-end audio they sound okay but for the money there's much better. and even for less money there's much better.
@@chrisrichards2827 TAD also gambled 'all eggs in one basket' and moved their amp/receiver components completely into the Class D domain. How smart that choice was time will tell, hope it works for them in the long run. And agree, I never saw them as high end neither, mid-to-higher end yes, but not something I'd personally aspire to.
@@drazenbabich and Yamaha is another one they're charging $15,000 for that speaker that they have that's very flat and two-dimensional sounding It's in their 5,000 series anybody that pays 15 grand for that is stupid The monitor audio platinum would absolutely destroy that speaker
and there's no such thing as best speaker on the planet everybody's hearing is different so it's what individuals like so there never will be a best speaker on the planet
Only 3 year warranty on a +30k speaker 🤣
A lot of HiFi gear only comes with a 3 Year warranty...
@@Hiluxtaco so what.....its ridiculous for a pair of speakers that cost the price of a car. 3 years is insulting
@@ryanschipp8513 No one is forcing you to buy them...
@@Hiluxtaco weird that you're even bringing that up. I didn't say anyone is forcing me to buy them. I'm still going to call a spade a spade. It's a bunch of malarkey
@@ryanschipp8513 Is your first reaction to every conversation to get defensive?
Steve- Thanks for this review. My rooms have always been small-med. Currently have Joseph Audio Pulsar II's. I love them...But, this review makes me want to reverse my divorce so I would have the cash to try the TAD's!☺
Only a 3 year warranty? They should trust a $32,500 speaker set for a longer time than that.
Please compare them to the new Von Gaylord Legend Reference Speakers... The very best smaller speakers very few have heard yet ! 😇🤫
A grail piece fo sho.
Never seen them in person or as close as that first shot. Wow!
Price represents what it is to manufacture in Japan, hence why all brands manufacture in Malaysia, China, etc, but if you want Japanese quality, that's the price. Interesting that no one mentions these are Pioneer. That's typical hi fi snobbery, but Pioneer has built amazing gear over the years. A cheaper version of the TAD is the Pioneer S 1EX or 3EX, 4EX, 2EX. I have the s 7ex Centre that has TAD drivers. TAD is Pioneer at its best. The roots must not be lost, and if people don't know, they need to know.
Just like Toyota Lexus...
Typical hi-fi snobbery? Leave the fairy tales for the kindergarten classes. You won't hear Lexus mention Toyota or Infiniti mention Nissan.
And Pioneer stopped their "Elite" branding of their more expensive audio products. I suspect that TAD fills the corporate goals that "Elite" products had hoped to fill.
@@carlosoliveira-rc2xt "You won't hear Lexus mention Toyota or Infiniti mention Nissan." - on the contrary. When Lexus was introduced here in the US, people used to mention that this was a Toyota luxury product.
@@carlosoliveira-rc2xt Crack open the open the hood of a Lexus vehicle, and you'll see the word 'Toyota' scattered all over ..
Dave Brubeck at Carnegie Hall 14:45 sounds so much better recorded than the Miles Davis at Carnegie Hall around the same time. Maybe the perfoamance, too. Miles was with a larger group but Dave was with his core partners.
It's great that you included the price of the entire system. These are not $35,000 speakers. When push comes to shove, you really need to fork over the big bucks if you want to get the most out of these bad boys.
I was wondering how this high priced speaker, as opposed to many others, came into your view. i should have guessed. Herb Reichert just dropped a review of it and he loves it.
We're close friends, but considering how many reviews we do every year we rarely review the same stuff.
Thanks for the comparison with your Pure Audio speakers, very instructive. Some might prefer the more effortless 15-inch woofer and "energizing the room in a more complete way" vs. the purity of the CE1 (not to mention the smaller price tag of the Pure Audio). And who is the blonde woman in the drawing behind you?
For sure, something about 15” drivers. Maybe something about paper drivers too. Hard to say.
I use a JBL 4367 that has 15” woofer and they sure do have a lot of texture in the bass.
That's Steve's sister. Self portrait.
@@billybunter3753 thanks. I thought it might be Debbie Harry.
Hi Steve, I couldnt agree with you more. To the point that I became the first of the "New Wave" of U.S.A. Dealers.. I actually do sound demos of these AMAZING "monitors" on my channel.. I appreciate this deep dyve on the build excellence !! #ocdhifiguy
How do they compare to the older model and what's the difference between the two?
I agree with you, Steve - the TAD’s are magical. Paradigm bending performance. The high frequencies are like nothing else
Hmm ... 'the high frequencies'. You know maybe your amplifier isn't best at other frequencies, maybe your amplifier for some reason ... is doing better with high frequencies or maybe the tweeter in the speakers is a lot more sensitive than the other frequencies given by the low sensitivity woofer. Okay we had the same meal at a restaurant and you said the rice was special. Okay, so you enjoyed the rice most? Hmm.
@@keplermission have you heard them? I don’t own them and wasn’t listening to it on my amplifier. It was in TAD room at CES and RMAF a few years back so was going based on memory. As a speaker manufacturer myself (full time, 20 years), my ears are pretty good at separating a soundsystem into its individual components. And as has been noted by many other people, the beryllium tweeter on the TAD is simply incredible. You can troll my opinion here all you like, but it doesn’t change I have significantly more credibility praising the TAD’s than you do doubting my expertise to say that I liked a speaker.…i mean what the heck, am I not allowed to like them anymore now that you had the same meal at the restaurant? And besides, I can tell you as a speaker maker - the “rice” matters an aweful lot. Everything matter. People dedicate their lives to discovering this stuff so show a little respect maybe? Tough ask in a youtube comment section I know. Only a rutted consumer would question the placement of the effort of a chef.
@@clarkblumenstein6134 I heard them but I didn't listen you know, because they're engineered to run with a same brand amplifier and it costs too much but you know can't judge a product by an idealized demonstration, it's going to sound wonderful until ... we get it home and then connect up you know, our other stuff in some crummy place. Besides you know for a designer ... you're out of touch because the new CE1TX is a relaunch, the one you head a few years ago was totally different and too expensive to continue making, so you know? You're not dedicating your life to it. You're judging from a distant memory of a totally different, albeit you know, superior product. You know this the old Flagship trick of a few superb initial launch speakers, followed by inferior mass-market imitations. The TAD designer of the CE1TX makes it all abundantly clear, so you're you know, another Andrew Jones type designer that isn't telling what amplifier he used in the lab ... because, maybe he never used any available product, just a bunch of theory.
@@keplermission i dedicate my life to my own brand - I only have time to check the pulse of the industry from time to time. The prior version was half price - so you are saying they nerfed it somehow and are now charging double? You think they think we are that big of idiots we’d let that slide? Honestly I’ll take it as a compliment that you think I am “out of touch” like Andrew Jones. He’s been highly successful and I own one of his cheap subs. (And it is pretty good!) There is no competition amongst lighthouses.
Hallo I play the TAD me1 with the Pass XA25 and it’s great! I was hoping you give it a try sometimes the sound is a little to dark but when you go loud it’s fantastic!!! The music and the stage is in my room
It looks like it has 3 separate crossover boards!
Here in Germany and Europe is a big concern referring to TAD - they had no consistent distribution and service. That is a problem when spending so much money an a product. Even the "cheap" version by pioneer sufferes from this. A friend of mine wanted hte coaxial unit of his S 2 Ex to be repaired - no chance. Their last price was 7200 Euro in Germany. How to feel about that ???
The S-2EX speakers was a Pioneer product. While TAD has developed these FOR Pioneer back in the days, TAD is now part of the Pioneer PRO division, the rest of Pioneer is now Onkyo/Pioneer. With that said: 7200 €? A friend of mine had the S-7EX center and was able to source a spare-driver for ~700 EUR. The EX series is a nearly 20 years old Pioneer product line - to blame TAD for not available spare parts seems a little odd to me...
I am a happy owner of the CE1 (non-TX-version) and to be honest - never heard of any TAD servicing problems at all. On the contrary - these guys are easy to reach and always helpful.
@@ferdinandhofer3292 Hello again from Germany. Yes, the last official retail price was 7200 Euro, before it was 5600 Euro. Is it odd that you can get any 20 year old accuphase repaired? The german distributor of TAD shines with the absence of an own website... The spare drivers were sold in Germany via etus - Landgraf for 1250 Euro each about two and a half years ago.
If you know anyone that needs a new liver? Seriously these looks like my beloved Elacs on steroids. Love your excitement for them Steve. Gonna have to demo them for sure!
The fact that these are almost as heavy as my Klipsch RP-8000Fs (66.6 lbs after GR research upgrades) is mind boggling.
They are barely heavier than my RP-280Fs.
especially since Danny puts 66.6 pounds of copper in his "upgrades".lol
I have a pair of 8000f so no hate but the woofer motors are tiny and the cabinet is not braced well. It translates to lack of definition in the bass. I also have the JBL 4367 and Revel 228be and I can assure you the bass lacks a ton of detail on the 8000f. I would highpass them with a sub around 60hz to clean them up.
The 8000f has great highs, good enough mids though.
@@JamesWilliams-gf8gm Funny you should say that, I have the sub LPF currently set to 60Hz. The upgrades definitely helped tighten up the lows, I added additional bracing as well. They're a real hoot to listen to.
@@FoxTick nice! Do you feel the added bracing was worth the trouble?
What about the rumors that, unless you purchase the Reference Series, you’re getting a speaker that is mostly made in China and assembled in Japan?
I guess good speakers with scanspeak revelator drivers + first reflections room treatment will deliver the similar experience. Many people dont like revelators because of lack of acoustic treatment they can be shouty but once you hear them in a good room everything else sounds muddy
Your guess based on what? You just can't make vague broad assumptions like that. If my grandmother had wheels I guess she'd be a wagon? Seriously though, a speaker is more than a collection of good drivers.
not even close, you're not taking into consideration the concentric driver, the beryllium tweeter, the aramid woven materials used, the crossover design and cabinet construction. I've heard several TAD speakers and they're the best speakers I've ever heard.
@@keplermission not true, the latest TAD speaker i heard was not connected to any TAD electronics and it sounded glorious. Your statement also has ZERO basis in either practice or technical advisement. Concentric drivers are NOT proprietary and do not require any special kind of amp.
@Terry Uy they should be for that price 😊 Disagree/correct you: it is your favorite listening experience and others would may have different flavors. If you would talk with really experienced DIY'er...you would very, very surprised whats possible for your home, with DIY speakers in the 7-10€k range (ultra-high-end 😊)
@@gerihifi you’re not correcting me because i said they’re the best sound I’VE ever heard, the operative sense being that’s my experience and opinion and not anyone else’s. You’re not in any position to dispute that lol plus let me know where in the DIY market i can pick up concentric beryllium drivers and composite cabinets?
'Allo Steve - great review as usual, especially your comparisons of how well (or not) the various speaker pairs you mention fare in terms of a) transparency, neutrality & accuracy, b) musicality, c) soundstage, d) lows/need for subwoofer, e) mids & f) highs. The TADs ace all those categories, but those prices...still, speakers that score highly in categories a, b & c particularly (i.e. ones that make both good & bad recordings sound) seem really appealing. Can you recommend any budget-friendly substitutes for the CE1 & ME1? As for speakers that score highly in categories d, e & f (either all, individually, or in some combination), possible topics for channel or podcast episodes? Just askin'.
Steve only does recommendations on his Patreon site where you're paying monthly but you know, I am able to point you in the right direction. 'Budget-Friendly substitutes' (you know, the only reason why you might want the CE1 is precisely because they're not budget). But the CE1 was designed to run with a certain amplifier, the TAD M1000. Now this is common practice and long ago, there was a Marantz amplifier, the PM94 designed to run with a Hooligan speaker that got itself banned from a load of cities and was confiscated by authorities and you'll ask was there a budget substitute for these? No. (...But there are are budget substitutes, just how big is your budget?) You know what the problem is with 'budget substitutes' right? So ... I am able to tell you that the secret of the budget substitute is: 'any system that has been designed to run together', there are loads of them. The input, CD, tuner etc are electrically engineered for the matching amplifier and the connected speakers - AND THAT is your budget substitute. You know, a one brand rack system that is within your budget and that you enjoy the sound of and the features of. The SONY La Scala system was an example but SONY, you know, they're not reliable and not supported for service but they are a budget consideration. SONY are are a top budget Best Buy but not all of their systems are equally great. An expensive SONY rack system with speakers is fantastic.
I wish you would’ve compared it to the Wilson to type because it’s an expensive bookshelf speaker that’s not quite as other realm price
How do I get my system on the “viewer system of the day ?
Steve !..Thanks Much !.......
Maybe someday I will win the lottery! 😂
Hahahahahaha, come on ..35 k for those small speakers , it's peice of furniture, not speakers.
"it's peice of furniture, not speakers." - all loudspeakers that take up space in your room are furniture. Some people like high quality furniture, others buy resin deck-chairs at Walmart.
Not exactly small @63 lbs per unit. Anyway 35k is peanuts for rich people 😄But I wouldn't trade in my car for them.
Typical comment from someone who has never heard these or who could never afford to buy these.
@@Mike81111 hahahahaha 🤣
Some people are brain washed thinking installing a Aluminum plate on the side of the speakers will make better sound and charge 35 or 40k , b.s ......
..
Great review keep up good job- more test of turntables-cartridge. Best regards from Denmark....
More than the Focal diablos?! These must be next level 😅
You had me going, I got as far as looking up dealers... until you mentioned the price. At that point I put down the keyboard....
I love long and longer episodes of yours!
The all new Stratton Acoustics Elypsis 1512's are the very best big monitors on the planet !
Ok Watched the review... and the nad 23 review... little confused tho, you mentioned that these are neutral speakers and the Nad was also neutral, yet combined the nad made these too hard...enlighten me..
The Japanese make superb hifi. The sound and build quality can be out of this world if you have the money of course. Most of us do not but I'd choose 100k of hifi over a car of the same cost if I was in the fortunate position.
Hi Steve, In terms of soundstage and imaging which one did you prefer? The Pure audio project or TADs?
Pure Audio Project
I'm gonna get me some of them speakers when I get my million dollar reparations from the state of California.
I heard the TAD CE 1 at the friend`s house with big chord amplifiers. Liza Minnelli´s Live at carnegie hall sounded pretty annoying, too bright. I have also heard this recording through the Duntech The Soverign speakers with Cello Electronics, it sounded just wonderful. My opinion, the Duntech The Soverign speakers sounds much better!!!
Steve, can you recommend a pair of monitor speakers $500 or less?
In reality and expressed in watt per meter ..................closer to 80 dB sensitivity .............
Due to the physical limitations of the speakers and overall system cost, pretty sure I would be more impressed with alternate systems costing $90,000.
The TAD speakers are fantastic. Amazing soundstage.
I agree, but if you have small listening room these will work better.
Right, it's a speaker you would add to your kids room or your average home office space 😂😂
@@gerihifi The point is that $90k can buy one hell of a system without the limited dynamics of the small TADs. Its physical dimensions, limitations prevent it from being a full range speaker with the dynamic range that one can expect from a $90k system.
@@gerihifi People in Japan probably has living rooms size of office or children's rooms.
I've got the TAD killer. I'm dead serious. Just in awe that these CZcams reviewers have not reviewed them. Get a pair of Anthony Gallo Strada 2 speakers on stands...$2300....then get a high series REL subwoofer and use the Speakon connector(connect straight to your amp). TADs lose and you drop a fraction of the cost. The CDT3 tweeter in the Gallos is eerie it's so good. Talk about high frequency realism!
So which amps did you use to compare the Strada & CE1TX?
LMFAO! Keep lyin to yourself! 😂😂😂
I guess you haven't heard the TADs in this review lol
@@dingdong2103 I've heard countless pairs of speakers. Nothing compares to the transparency of the Gallo Strada 2 speakers. Obviously you haven't heard he CDT3 tweeter. Lol
@@AbsoluteFidelity obviously you havent a clue.
I’ve learned that low efficient speakers, no matter how expensive and well built, don’t have the speed and excitement I desire like a highly efficient speaker.
I've found the opposite, you probably was just lacking power. There seems to be some threshold in power that makes low efficiency speakers just come alive and then they are more energetic than high efficiency. I would agree with you if you have to little power (I have both Dynaudio and TAD, so speaking from experience when getting more powerful amps)
Think again 😅
I agree with Todd, with his comment, because the large 3 way 850 watt 94db+ sensitivity active ATC ASL SCM ASL monitors yeah, small low sensitivity loudspeakers don't stand a cat in hell's chance for clarity speed and dynamic capability, no matter if you put a powerful amp into the equation with small passive loudspeakers 🤣 .
is there a comparable, but accessible speaker, perhaps in high-ish sensitivity...ie, transparent, neutral, etc.
ATC is an obvious option but the sensitivity is unbelievably low.
Wilson Audio does the best small speakers👍
I'm somewhat curios as to why hifi reviews of certain equipment from youtube reviewers come out so close together. New offering hitting the market and free samples being sent around?
It's just been in the last day or so that OCD Mikey has been demonstrating these speakers.
Yes exactly. Follow the money / handouts.
Right Fred, reviewers are offered products around the same time. Mikey is a TAD dealer.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Yes, he stated that.
@@johnnyrabenold6133 I tend to believe that the high end expensive items are not given away to reviewers, and that they return them at some point. Especially speakers and stands that combined go for around 35k a pair.
@@fredflintstone8048 Free merchandise is standard and generally not disclosed. This goes back many decades.
Thanks for sharing.
Holy Smokes! That price .. 😮
You should stick to the cheapaudioman channel he’s got plenty of chfi trash
@@gunnerdunbar Take a hike! I'll watch what I want to watch..
@@Hiluxtaco ❄️
@@gunnerdunbar Go troll somewhere else..
@@Hiluxtaco ❄️
TAD probably my end all speakers , not just these but and TAD , btw how deep is bass and can you feel it , also love Klipsch i have klipch ears my hearing is slightly flat on high end , but new Andrew Jones made ones are awesome to
The bass is plenty with great definition and tone just as all the rest from top to bottom. In a smaller room playing loud you definitely feel it. In a bigger room at normal volumes not only much. But the presence remains the same just without you physically feeling it.
Great review again - unfortunately a bit out of my league.
But still... I love goosebumps territory - best place to be!