Capital Audiofest 2023 Show Report / Chronicles Part 6
The 6th Floor Part B
Show Report By Rick Becker

Suite 651  Pro Audio Design
Pro Audio Design (PAD) HiFi in Hanover, MA, just south of Boston hosted a major presentation of TAD (Technical Audio Devices Laboratories, Inc.) speakers and electronics as they re-enter the American market.

The speaker above (and below) is the new TAD-GE1-WN (Grand Evolution One,$65k) that expands on the styling of the TAD-CE1TX stand-mounted monitor introduced last year. Also new was the TAD-C1000 preamplifier ($24,950) used in the next room. The room also featured acoustic treatments, isolation, fuses, cables, and other accessories as well as power conditioning and ground solutions mentioned below.

The music here was finely detailed from the bass through beyond typical treble response. I certainly don't cognitively hear up to 100kHz, but the treble response here was quite different than most speakers I've heard. When you're spending this kind of money, you owe it to yourself to audition such a system with your favorite music. Be prepared for high resolution, exceptional transparency, great dynamics, tonal balance, and a frequency range against a black background that you're probably not accustomed to hearing.

Some specs on this exquisitely finished speaker include a frequency response of 27 Hz to 100 kHz, the sensitivity is 88dB/W/m, a rated impedance of 4 Ohm, and it is a three-way, bass reflex design. The amp seen here is the TAD-M700 monoblock ($96.5k) that puts out 700W @ 4 Ohms, and 350W @ 8 Ohms. The stereo version ($60.5k) halves those power ratings. What looks like a stone pedestal beneath the amp is a cast aluminum base that is integral to the amp's design and critical for damping internal vibrations. Four large 33,000 micro-farad capacitors are housed in each amplifier.

On the Modulum rack, from the top down were the TAD-D700 disc player ($63k), followed by the TAD-C600 preamplifier, a Synergistic Research Galileo SX ground block, a Wolf server, and a Synergistic Research PowerCell SX power conditioner.

On silent display were the formal-looking TAD-E1TX-K Evolution One TX speakers ($30.5k in gloss black as shown). The top driver includes the beryllium tweeter and the coaxial midrange to deliver point-source imaging. Don't be confused by the reflections on the side of the left speaker. On each side of the speaker are baffled, slit-shaped ports where sound is channeled toward the front and rear of the speaker. With specs including a frequency response of 29Hz to 60kHz, 88dB/W/m sensitivity, and 4 Ohm impedance, this speaker should appeal to a lot of well-off, but not outrageously rich audiophiles.

Jaclyn Inglis, who handled the PR and communications for the event invited me to set up a time to meet with an interpreter to speak with TAD's CEO, Shinji Tarutani who was visiting from Japan. I expect this was him in the above photo. We made eye contact but didn't connect. I later learned that in Japanese culture, people do not smile or boldly interact with strangers. I'm all about smiling, but I didn't pick up any clues that he might be interested in talking with me. Sadly, a missed opportunity. I had politely explained to Jaclyn in reply to my email that given the speed at which I cover shows, it is difficult, if not impossible to set up scheduled meetings.

The speakers above appear to have been the Compact Evolution One - Bookshelf Speaker System (TAD-CE1TX-WN) that are $32.5K, ($40k in gloss black), plus $2500 for stands.

Room 653  Pro Audio Design
In the smaller sleeping room hosted by Pro Audio Design they had another very fine system featuring the Compact Evolution One bookshelf speaker system — but don't try and put this on a bookshelf. The ‘system' they speak of is the dedicated stand. Figure $40k for the speaker in gloss black ($32k in tropical olive grain wood as seen in the other room) plus $2500 for the stands. It was driven by components in their Evolution series which sounded pretty close to what I heard in their big room. Something as significant as room acoustics or different cables could have accounted for the difference I heard, except for the bass which did not extend as low with these monitors.

For me, the stand-out feature of the room was the handsome equipment rack featuring thick shelves of solid tiger maple. This custom piece reminded me of the work of Massif Audio Design in Canada, but there was no reference to it.

At the top right on the rack is the new C1000-S preamplifier ($24,950) in the Evolution Series shown here. Next to it was the DA1000TX-S ($15,900) DAC with remote control for variable output, if you wish, as well as an independent headphone amplifier. Below the DAC was a Synergistic Research Galileo SX Ground Block (starting at $8k) and below that was the Synergistic PowerCell SX (starting at $9k). Below the TAD preamp was a Wolf Alpha 3 SX ($9,295.00). And on the bottom right was the TAD M1000-S stereo amplifier (S is for silver, and K is for black which is optional). At $19,500, this amp puts out 500W @ 4 Ohms, 250W @ 8 Ohms. There is also a CD transport in this series at $21k.

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