TAD CE1tx speakers with Accuphase class A amps - is this a good combination?

[toronto416]

The TAD CE1tx gets a lot of love from users and reviewers, but TAD seems to have difficulty gaining traction in the North American market. TAD has a new NA distributor, but there are currently no dealers in my country of Canada.

The TAD CE1tx intrigues me, and I was wondering how well it pairs with Accuphase class A amps? Does anyone have any experience with this combination?

 

[Kofi Baffour]

The TAD CE1tx gets a lot of love from users and reviewers, but TAD seems to have difficulty gaining traction in the North American market. TAD has a new NA distributor, but there are currently no dealers in my country of Canada.

The TAD CE1tx intrigues me, and I was wondering how well it pairs with Accuphase class A amps? Does anyone have any experience with this combination?

The TAD CE1TX has these characteristics:

Voltage Sensitivity: 84.7dB@2.83V/1m

Measured Impedance Magnitude (Minimum): 3.61 ohms at 124Hz

Impedance Characteristics: Drops below 4 ohms in the lower midrange, but is higher than 8 ohms in the very low bass and for almost the entire treble.

Equivalent Peak Dissipation Resistance (EPDR) Minimum Values:
1.45 ohms at 35Hz
2 ohms at 60Hz
2.03 ohms at 861Hz

So imo, due to low sensitivity and low effective resistance (EPDR) being mostly lower than 2 ohms, the speaker requires an amplifier that can deliver both voltage and current

So if the amp on question can deliver good voltage and consistent current into the demanding impedance swings, then yeah but I'd rather standard class AB like a McIntosh MC462 Stereo Amp, a Benchmark AHB2 or a Bryston Amp will be more attune to handling those swings as the have robust damping which means the impedance matching will be a breeze.

They also all have incredible voltage and current reserves on tap

The TAD is a phenomenal speaker

 

[toronto416]

Many thank for your detailed reply Kofi!

The TAD CE1tx does sound like a demanding load, but I think my amps will be up to it.

I have Accuphase A-300 mono blocks that produce:

125 W into 8 Ohms
250 W into 4 Ohms
500 W into 2 Ohms
1000 W into 1 Ohm
damping factor of 1,000

The TAD CE1tx could be a good match

 

[Kofi Baffour]

Many thank for your detailed reply Kofi!

The TAD CE1tx does sound like a demanding load, but I think my amps will be up to it.

I have Accuphase A-300 mono blocks that produce:

125 W into 8 Ohms
250 W into 4 Ohms
500 W into 2 Ohms
1000 W into 1 Ohm
damping factor of 1,000

The TAD CE1tx could be a good match

alright then you have nothing to worry in terms of voltage and current and impedance matching. enjoy your music

 

[Guillaume]

Hello,I was wondering the same thing, but for the entry-level model.
With the new 2025 version, we're starting to find used TAD EM1s at a good price (my price).
So I was wondering if they could be powered by my Accuphase E800.
Power:
2 x 50 W pure Class A into 8 Ω
2 x 100 W pure Class A into 4 Ω
2 x 200 W pure Class A into 2 Ω
Damping factor: 1000 with 8 Ω at 50 Hz.

All this in a small 25m² living room, and why not with the addition of an active subwoofer.
The warm sound of Accuphase's Class A and the rich precision and clarity of TAD!

In your opinion, does this make sense given the 85dB efficiency and 4Ohm of the TAD EM1 ?

 

[Kofi Baffour]

yes, should work excellently

Hello,I was wondering the same thing, but for the entry-level model.
With the new 2025 version, we're starting to find used TAD EM1s at a good price (my price).
So I was wondering if they could be powered by my Accuphase E800.
Power:
2 x 50 W pure Class A into 8 Ω
2 x 100 W pure Class A into 4 Ω
2 x 200 W pure Class A into 2 Ω
Damping factor: 1000 with 8 Ω at 50 Hz.

All this in a small 25m² living room, and why not with the addition of an active subwoofer.
The warm sound of Accuphase's Class A and the rich precision and clarity of TAD!

In your opinion, does this make sense given the 85dB efficiency and 4Ohm of the TAD EM1 ?

 

[toronto416]

The Accuphase E800 is a hugely capable amplifier that doubles down all the way to 2 Ohms. It can deliver high current to difficult loads at even lower impedances than the TAD EM1s.. Looking at the specs of the TAD EM1s, TAD recommends a maximum input of 150W. Though I am speculating and not speaking from direct experience, I think you should have no problem driving them. This could be a good match!

 

[Hear Here]

As others have said, the TAD has very low sensitivity, so Class A isn't ideal as you'd need a monster to feed it - plus air conditioning to keep your room cool, and a huge electricity bill for the juice needed to power it!

However, as you already have the A-300, then I'd arrange a home demo of the TAD and see how the combination works in your room. Ask the dealer to bring along an amp that he would recommend as an ideal match and you'll be able to judge the TAD as a speaker and the combination with each of the amps.

Accuphase is the only brand I've yet encountered that quotes a 1 ohm power output, so the TAD's low impedance shouldn't phase it. Personally I wouldn’t want to spend that much dosh on small(ish) speakers that are likely to require subs. I'd go for a good pair of full-range floor-standing speakers.

I used to have the Accuphase A-36 but this was powering a 100 dB speaker system, with which it performed very well, though a little too “polite” for my personal liking. I have listened to a friend’s TAD CR1TX speakers that were impressive, though they had a pair of subs to support them. Can’t remember his amp though.

 

[exupgh12]

As others have said, the TAD has very low sensitivity, so Class A isn't ideal as you'd need a monster to feed it - plus air conditioning to keep your room cool, and a huge electricity bill for the juice needed to power it!

However, as you already have the A-300, then I'd arrange a home demo of the TAD and see how the combination works in your room. Ask the dealer to bring along an amp that he would recommend as an ideal match and you'll be able to judge the TAD as a speaker and the combination with each of the amps.

Accuphase is the only brand I've yet encountered that quotes a 1 ohm power output, so the TAD's low impedance shouldn't phase it. Personally I wouldn’t want to spend that much dosh on small(ish) speakers that are likely to require subs. I'd go for a good pair of full-range floor-standing speakers.

I used to have the Accuphase A-36 but this was powering a 100 dB speaker system, with which it performed very well, though a little too “polite” for my personal liking. I have listened to a friend’s TAD CR1TX speakers that were impressive, though they had a pair of subs to support them. Can’t remember his amp though.

Luxman also quotes 1 ohm power output; I guess Japanese companies are doing it differently.

M-10X | POWER AMPLIFIERS | PRODUCTS | LUXMAN | Seeking higher sound quality

www.luxman.com

 

[toronto416]

Both the Accuphase A-300 and the E-800 mentioned in another post should have no trouble driving the TAD CE1tx or EM1s. The question was not could they drive them, but was it a good sounding combination. I did come across posts of several people loving the TAD CE1tx with Accuphase amps such as the A-300, A-80, and E-480.

As to using the TAD CE1tx with subwoofers much depends on what sort of music you listen to. The CE1tx goes down to 34 Hz. Upright acoustic bass and electric bass guitars go down to 40 Hz - and those are the lowest instruments I would listen to. I listen to a lot of solo classical piano, chamber music, string quartets, and small ensemble jazz - mostly piano trios. Yes, the piano goes down to 27.5 Hz, but most of the action is in the midrange. So no, I would not need subwoofers as I don't listen to electronic music, movie soundtracks, organs etc. It is all a matter of personal taste.

 

[Hear Here]

Harp, tuba, double bass, contra-bassoon, bass guitar and piano are really the only instruments that deliver frequencies at the very low level - apart from pipe organ of course.

 

[Guillaume]

I'm leaning more towards a compact bookshelf speaker because my living room is small (25m²) and my near field listening distance is 2m! So I'm looking for a speaker with a small driver for perfect phase alignment.
The TADs with their coaxial drivers seem very advantageous in my situation.

For use with a subwoofer, sometimes this can be beneficial even on larger floorstanding speakers.

The idea is to find a good, reasonably priced opportunity with an extremely musical product for a small living room with my Accuphase e800. So, no testing is possible.

The warmth (the Class A amp) and rich clarity of the old TAD Em1s.

But I'm still a bit confused by the low impedance of the TADs.

Thanks for your advice.

 

[Guillaume]

L'Accuphase E800 est un amplificateur extrêmement performant, capable de doubler sa tension jusqu'à 2 ohms. Il peut fournir un courant élevé à des charges difficiles, même avec des impédances plus faibles que celles des TAD EM1. D'après les spécifications des TAD EM1, TAD recommande une puissance d'entrée maximale de 150 W. Bien que je ne parle que de spéculations et non d'expérience, je pense que vous ne devriez rencontrer aucun problème pour les piloter. Cela pourrait être une bonne combinaison !

Merci pour vos précisions techniques. Cela est encourageant

 

[Amir]

I think Accuphase A300 can drive TAD CE1 or ME1 . new models of Accuphase have higher damping factor.

 

[DasguteOhr]

I would buy a used Accuphase A -50V power amplifier ( used 4-5k€). In terms of sound, the A 50 is one of the best power amplifiers in hi-fi history, in my opinion. Invest the money you save in a good preamplifier.


Maybe a soulshine preamp

soulshine2MKII – Valvet – High End Verstärker

www.valvet.de

 

[toronto416]

The Accuphase A-50V was introduced in 1998 - 50W pure class A into 8 ohms that doubles down to 100W into 4 ohms, 200W into 2 Ohms and 400W into 1 Ohm. It was the precursor to a long line of excellent class A amps - the A-60 (2004), A-65 (2009), A70 (2014), A-75 (2018) and the current production A-80. The A-80 puts out 65W into 8 Ohms and doubles down all the way to 520W into 1 Ohm.
Any of these class A amps would be a good match!

 

[Amir]

It seems old Accuphase amplifiers had less NFB (the damping factor was around 200) but new models have more feedback (the damping factor is around 1000).

some believes the Accuphase A100 was very special amplifier , I did not have A100 yet. A100 never imported to Iran

 

[gleeds]

I would recommned amplification with a bit more drive and energy than Accuphase—excellent amplifiers, but IMO not the best voicing match for the TADs. I love CE1x speakers, so it's worth the trouble to source a set. Best of luck!

 

[toronto416]

I had a chance to hear the TAD CE1tx driven by the Accuphase A-300 monoblocks, and it was a wonderful sounding combination. The A-300's were hardly breaking a sweat!
I listen to a lot of solo piano (classical) as well as jazz piano trios. I remember reading in a review that the CE1tx reproduces pianos in a very lifelike way, and I can say that I concur. It is a wonderful sounding speaker.
So to answer the original question - yes, a good class A amp such as the Accuphase A-300 can definitely work well with the CE1tx (and Guillaume that very likely applies to the Accuphase E-800 integrated amp as well).
Class A Accuphase amps have plenty of drive and energy, and the A-300 has no trouble driving the TAD CE1tx.

 

[PaulB]

TAD's like current. The more you give it, the better they sound.

****Dealer****