Having just reviewed the superlative TAD Labs CE1TX earlier this month, we were curious if the Japanese manufacturer planned on offering something similar in a floorstanding model for less than the price of a German SUV.
eCoustics Sr. Editor, William Jennings, is smiling right now somewhere in Tennessee; primary because he’s getting one of the first samples of this loudspeaker in November after Capital Audio Fest to review.
The $65,000 USD price tag might dampen his enthusiasm somewhat. Someone hide the children. And his enormous headphone collection.
Technical Audio Devices Laboratories, Inc. (TAD Labs, TADL) have announced the TAD-GE1 (Grand Evolution One) speaker system as the newest addition to its Evolution Series of hi-fi audio components.
Borrowing internal technology and design language from TAD’s top-of-the-line Reference TX Series as well as the distinguished wood-grain finish of the critically acclaimed CE1TX standmount speaker, the GE1 epitomizes the very best of TAD.
“When we set out to design the GE1, we were aiming for a model that could sit between CE1TX and the Reference One TX in both performance and price,” said Shinji Tarutani, CEO of TAD Labs.
Main Features
CST Driver
The TAD-GE1 boasts TAD’s proprietary CST Driver, which controls the directivity of the concentrically mounted midrange and tweeter over an extended frequency range from the point of matching phase. This culminates in clear and solid imaging, as well as natural sound field reproduction.
The midrange cone controls the directional characteristic of the concentrically mounted tweeter to bring the phase and directivity of their output in line in the crossover region.
The result is ultra-wide-range reproduction from 250 Hz up to 10 kHz by the CST Driver alone, while achieving a natural attenuation characteristic and directivity pattern across all bands.
Beryllium Diaphragm
The TAD-GE1 uses a light yet rigid beryllium diaphragm for its tweeter, manufactured with TAD’s proprietary vapor deposition technique. TAD’s computer-analyzed optimization technique called Harmonized Synthetic Diaphragm Optimum Method (HSDOM) has been applied in designing the form of the diaphragm.
This technique enables precise control of the diaphragm’s divided vibrations and piston motions, which makes the ultra-wide-range reproduction of up to 100 kHz possible.
Magnesium Diaphragm
The midrange’s diaphragm is made of magnesium, which is one of the lightest metals and has a high internal loss—ideal characteristics for materials to be used for diaphragms.
The application of hybrid chemical conversion coating and painting to the surface gives it additional hardness and a yet greater internal loss.
The result is clearer, distortion-free midrange reproduction unaffected by unwanted resonance. In addition, resonance in the mid-to-high frequencies generated by interactions between the suspension and diaphragm is effectively controlled to achieve an even lower distortion and a greater transient response.
MACS II Diaphragm (Multi-layered Aramid Composite Shell Second Generation)
A refined woofer diaphragm made of five layers of woven and non-woven aramid fabric optimizes the physical property of the shell-shaped diaphragm that integrates the center cap and cone into a single piece.
The result is a richer and clearer bass and the smooth, coloration-free reproduction in the mid-to-low frequency range.
SILENT Enclosure
The TAD-GE1 comes in a SILENT enclosure, which combines sturdy birch-plywood braces with medium-density fiberboard (MDF) panels having a high internal loss to provide superb strength and an outstanding vibration-dampening characteristic.
Moreover, the combination of acoustic tubes placed inside the enclosure as part of TAD’s ingenuous Acoustic-Filter-Assisted System Tuning (AFAST), which reduces the low-order standing-wave mode, and acoustic absorbent carefully chosen and placed inside effectively suppresses standing waves that would adversely affect the sound field and imaging performance of the speaker.
ISO Drive Technology
The ISO (isolation) Drive Technology, originally incorporated into the top-of-the-line TAD-R1TX speaker system and tweaked for the TAD-GE1, was applied to the way the CST Driver was mounted to the enclosure.
With this technology, the CST Driver is acoustically and mechanically isolated from the enclosure by a mount base and damper bushes.
This is designed to keep vibration generated by the CST Driver from traveling to the enclosure. As a result, the driver performs as it should, reproducing waveforms accurately and delivering crystal-clear sound.
The sturdy base to which the CST Driver is mounted to the enclosure was machined from a 25 mm thick solid aluminum plate and is shaped in such a way to offset the slant of the baffle and orient the CST Driver directly toward the listener.
Bidirectional ADP System
The Bidirectional ADP (Aero-Dynamic Port) System positions a port on the bottom of the enclosure with its openings to the front and rear of the enclosure. The port has a horn-shaped interior that reduces port noise and achieves greater efficiency in driving the port to help reproduce clear and responsive sound in the mid-to-low frequency range.
The combination of the port flare made of die-cast aluminum and the symmetrical front-back layout of the port effectively offsets the physical force that vibrates the enclosure and, as a result, helps reproduce a powerful bass.
Moreover, the 15 mm-thick aluminum base plate attached to the bottom of the enclosure increases the stability of the speaker system when placed on the floor and counterbalances the reaction caused by the powerful driving force of the twin woofers.
“The GE1 delivers the sound field and imaging performance comparable to that of the Reference Series speaker systems,” said Dave Malekpour, president of PAD HiFi, TAD’s US distributor. “It’s an impressive speaker and we can’t wait to debut it at Capital Audio Fest in November.”
Specifications
| Type | 3-way, bass-reflex floor-standing speaker system |
| Woofer | 18 cm cone x 2 |
| Midrange and tweeter | Coaxial 14 cm cone and 3.5 cm dome |
| Frequency response | 27 Hz to 100 kHz |
| Crossover frequencies | 250 Hz and 1.8 kHz |
| Sensitivity | 88 dB (2.83 V at 1 m) |
| Maximum input | 250 W |
| Nominal impedance | 4 ohms |
| Unit polarity | Bass: +; midrange: +; high: + |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 15.5″ x 47.7″ x 21.5″ (394 mm x 1212 mm x 547 mm) (without spikes) |
| Weight | 141 lbs (64 kg) |
| Accessories | 2 Woofer grilles, 2 short cables, 3 cone-shaped spikes, 2 auxiliary feet, 3 spike holders, cleaning cloth, owner’s manual |
Price & Availability
The TAD-GE1 will be available for purchase through select dealers starting November 2023. The MSRP for the pair is $65,000 USD.
For more information: technicalaudiodevices.com
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