TAD CE1TX: BEST 'Small' Speaker on the Planet!

Twitter: @AudiophiliacMan

#madeinJapan #speakerreviews #highend

[twostepped]

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

[johnnycashlesscomedy]

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.

[redbull]

Ok Steve, funny story. I recently got back into listening to 2 channel audio again. I looked at a lot of YouTube channels giving me tips, yours included. One YouTube 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 YouTube channel it dawned on me that it was a YouTube 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

[pauldemara]

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.

[elderinmoi]

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.

[johnsimmons]

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 ?

[troysapp]

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!

[Sac_slappper_rce]

I'm gonna stop paying my parents retiring home rent and get these asap. 😎

[carlitomelon]

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
🎵🎶😊🎶🎵

[jonasarnesson]

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.

[bdee]

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

[noahman]

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.

[rickmathis]

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!

[JamesWilliams-gfgm]

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.

[franksmith]

I enjoy reviews of this level (read: price) of audio equipment the same way as I watch YouTube 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!

[alexorigoni]

Yes, I love seeing these high end reviews.

[Darrylizer]

Wow! These are really beautiful speakers.

[RigVader]

I’ll never be able to afford these, but I love your enthusiasm and the range of stuff you review! 👍

[Santos.Sarmento]

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.

[abboberg]

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.