The TAD Reference One Experience lets US audiophiles hear TAD's lineup together for the first time.
TAD Labs (TAD stands for Technical Audio Devices) is a Japanese high-end audio company that's working to establish higher product visibility in the US audiophile market through the efforts of PAD HiFi (Pro Audio Design), their exclusive US distributor. TAD's wide range of audio components and loudspeakers are designed and manufactured in Japan, and TAD is, in fact, the only Japanese high-end manufacturer of both audio components and loudspeakers. This weekend's big splash was spearheaded by TAD's takeover of the large Bayshore room at Tampa's Embassy Suites Hotel, a location that's been previously occupied by some of the biggest names in high-end audio. TAD seems intent on making their iconic brand as highly recognizable as that of the other heavy-hitters in the audiophile industry.
The CE-1TX Compact Evolution One standmount loudspeaker system.
TAD's room at the Florida Audio Expo features a number of important firsts for the company, including the debut of the new CE-1TX Compact Evolution One standmount loudspeaker. As well as the first time an all-TAD system of components and loudspeakers has been available for US audiophiles to evaluate: the TAD Labs Reference One Experience. Which features the flagship R1TX Reference One floorstanding loudspeakers, the Reference M700S amplifier, the C600 preamplifier, and the DA1000 TX mk2 SACD/DAC unit. Digital streaming for the two active systems in the room was provided by servers from Wolf Audio and Roon, and all cabling and active room enhancement devices were provided by Synergistic Research. The two TAD systems were set up at opposing ends of the Bayshore room, which also featured static displays of TAD's other loudspeaker and component offerings for visitors to examine.
Jim Anderson and Ulrike Schwarz step into the spotlight
To facilitate the demonstration of both systems, TAD invited the Grammy-winning team of Jim Anderson and Ulrike Schwarz to become their de facto deejays to host curated listening events throughout the weekend. Anderson and Schwarz played music from and discussed their involvement in the recordings of jazz composer, pianist, and vocalist Patricia Barber. Jim Anderson has recorded all of Barber's ten studio albums, while Ulrike Schwarz orchestrated the 32-bit/352.8kHz DXD recording and transfers of Barber's latest albums, Higher (2019) and Clique! (2021). I've been a huge fan of Patricia Barber since, forever, and I found Jim and Ulrike's commentaries and discussions to be both entertaining as well as enlightening.
Ulrike Schwarz controls playback on the CE-1TX Compact Evolution One system.
The early-afternoon session focused on the all-new CE-1TX Compact Evolution One standmount loudspeaker, which had been introduced earlier in the day during an appearance from TAD's CEO Shinji Tarutani. Anderson and Schwarz played tunes from several Patricia Barber albums, including multiple tracks from Clique!, Mythologies (2006), and Verse (2002), as well as an unreleased live outtake from a recording Jim had done with Barber years ago. The recording bit rates varied from 16/44 to DXD, but the Compact Evolution One loudspeakers never wavered. Even though at one point, Jim Anderson pointed out the excessive woofer cone excursion from the ultra-deep bass present on the recording. For relatively smallish standmounts, the Compact Evolution One's filled the cavernous Bayshore room with a very convincing illusion of live musicians. Especially during the performances sourced from the DXD recordings; Patrick Mulcahy's upright bass literally jumped out of and from behind the speakers, which are flat to around 34Hz. And Patricia Barber's piano and voice seemed perfectly anchored in the soundstage.
Dave Malekpour of PAD HiFi introduces Jim Anderson and Ulrike Schwarz in the afternoon session.
The late-afternoon event mixed things up by switching to the flagship Reference One system; Anderson and Schwarz also mixed up the track selections. A different selection of tracks from Clique! were featured throughout the presentation, as well as tunes from Cafe Blue (1994) and Modern Cool (1998). Of course, the Reference One loudspeakers are much larger and go much deeper than the standmount Compact Evolution Ones, but both speakers shared a very similar sonic signature and spatial presentation. And both provided a ridiculously good impression of real performers in a very real space. Jim and Ulrike's remarks on the recordings and the processes involved—as well as their interactions with Patricia Barber and her band—were nothing short of illuminating.
I talked with Jim Anderson and Ulrike Schwarz for an extended period following the first session; their comments on the various personalities involved in the recording/transfer/remastering processes of Patricia Barber's catalog of albums were especially interesting and often quite surprising! I had the very good fortune to have been included in the press launch of Clique! from the beginning in mid-2021 (thank you, Taylor Perry!). That exposure offered me opportunities to pick the brains of not only the engineering team, but Patricia Barber herself; if you haven't heard Clique!, do yourself a favor and get the highest resolution version your system will support (ideally the DXD files). Your ears will thank you!
Conclusion
In a nutshell, the TAD room at FAE was (and still currently is!) a smashing success, and in no small part due to the superb selection of Patricia Barber's music that Jim and Ulrike brought to life for an appreciative group of attendees. Of course, the overwhelmingly positive response wouldn't have been anywhere nearly as enthusiastic if the TAD gear hadn't delivered exceptional sound in spades, which it did handily. Congrats, and continued success in their push back into the US marketplace. Thanks to TAD's publicist Jaclyn Inglis for the invite alerting me to this very noteworthy event! I wouldn't have missed it for the world, though honestly, when I stumbled into the hotel to check in on Thursday evening, I was immediately greeted by Jim Anderson's face plastered across the elevator doors in the lobby. I think I probably could have found my way there, regardless!
All photos courtesy of the author.
