TAD factory visit (171 pictures)

[hifikontoen]

http://www.catbank.jp/event/2013/tad/

 

[Bruce B]

Holy Crap! Thanks!!

 

[NorthStar]

Alright, now this is real cool! THX!

 

[cjfrbw]

I wonder if those women in the factory go home and yell at their husbands about their ugly stereos.

 

[hifikontoen]

I wonder if those women in the factory go home and yell at their husbands about their ugly stereos.

Maybe very downsized versions of TAD R1 are in their homes ?
http://www.catbank.jp/event/2007/TAD/12.jpg
http://www.catbank.jp/event/2007/TAD/13.jpg

For all we know, their stereos may consist of components among these (many pictures):
http://www.catbank.jp/event/2010/dms/kawamata/

Here is one of Pioneer/TAD's own listening rooms (I suppose) (pictures taken before TAD released their own electronics):
http://www.catbank.jp/event/2007/TAD/index.html


The TAD R1's are outstanding speakers.

 

[Jazzhead]

Amazing .. Thanks for the share !

 

[LL21]

Here is one of Pioneer/TAD's own listening rooms (I suppose) (pictures taken before TAD released their own electronics):
http://www.catbank.jp/event/2007/TAD/index.html


The TAD R1's are outstanding speakers.

If that's the one at Pioneer Plaza in Tokyo, i have been in that listening room to hear their full TAD setup. It certainly looks similar to the one at Pioneer Plaza.

 

[flez007]

I truly admire Japanese electronic works and manufacturing processes - many still believe that TAD is in the top-5 regarding speakers and electronics - thanks for sharing these pics, terrific!

 

[hifikontoen]

BruceB, NorthStar and Jazzhead: Nice that you liked the pictures.

If that's the one at Pioneer Plaza in Tokyo, i have been in that listening room to hear their full TAD setup. It certainly looks similar to the one at Pioneer Plaza.

Wow. I would have loved to be there.
Tell us about the experience and the sound at Pioneer Plaza in Tokyo !

Is that outstanding listening room often open for visitors ?

 

[hifikontoen]

I truly admire Japanese electronic works and manufacturing processes - many still believe that TAD is in the top-5 regarding speakers and electronics - thanks for sharing these pics, terrific!

I am not surpised if you are right (have just listened to R1).

 

[LL21]

If that's the one at Pioneer Plaza in Tokyo, i have been in that listening room to hear their full TAD setup. It certainly looks similar to the one at Pioneer Plaza.

Wow. I would have loved to be there.
Tell us about the experience and the sound at Pioneer Plaza in Tokyo !

Is that outstanding listening room often open for visitors ?

I think it is. My wife is Japanese and she got me in...ended up meeting with the President of TAD which unexpected and quite nice. The room is exceedingly neutral with no slap echo, but certainly not overdamped either...a place you could be happy setting up a ssytem in...and living if you know what i mean. I am not sure i could stand living in an anechoic chamber...lets put it that way.

The system was the TAD Ref Ones (newer version), TAD Ref Monos, TAD full-on digital and TAD Ref preamp. Exceedingly impressive clarity, transparency...my wife particularly enjoyed it when playing Glenn Gould Bach Goldberg variations (1981)...i wanted a touch more warmth and weight to my keyboard the way i used to hear it when i studied piano. But in fairness, my wife disagreed and quite liked it. And she probably has fewer 'mental colorations' that she has adopted over time than i might have as residual colorations i got used to over the course of many years of system listening. I will say my system has grown decidedly less colored over the last 3 years...and i love it. So who knows...in a few years, i might consider the TAD room i heard absolute State of the Art.

In any event, it was a great room, a great system and was impressive in all regards. The only area where i feel confident it could be improved was in endless slam/dynamics. I am used to have big Wilsons and a big sub, which on electronic is a totally different experience. I found the XLFs a touch lacking with D'Agostino monos...wishing they had brought the Thor along, so that is a personal bias and sets the context in which i make this one critique. Hope that helps.

 

[AudioExplorations]

Thanks for sharing!

Wish I could camp out in this room for a weekend...