TAD CR1 vs R1
- Thread starter Eli08
- Start date
Eli, are you happy you ended up going for the R1's so far? Is the bass integrating well into your room?
THank you all! I am very happy camper!
Joost, so far yes. It is way to early. They lack dynamics big time. But the bass is very deep. Although needs to get much faster. You can tell already the presentation is big with lots of "weight". Actually one thing that comes as a surprise is that they are not cold or bright at all, as some TAD tends to be when new. THey are "warmer" the the CR1s or the E1s. But again way loo early to say anything. I have them now playing on repeat and will listen a bit later on.
Now one question to you people. What would you do? I noticed lat night one of the speakers had some dirt (like dust or something on the front of it). Nothing major I guess but had me wondering. Went to the garage to check the boxes and ref number and found there that the date it shows is April 2011... I guess this is the date they were manufactured or finished or left factory or similar. So almost a year and a half ago.
WHen I ordered them, the guys from TAD told my dealer they had one in stock... yes, for a long time that is.
WOuld you guys ask for a new pair and nt one made over a year ago? My concerns are twofold:
On one side i assume they are really new, in the sense they had not been in any demo or similar, but given the time they been around who knows. Best case they ben seating for a year and a half in some warehouse. They were sealed and all, but then again, why were there around so long?
ON the other, and maybe more important, if I ever decide to sell them, On the package, the new buyer will see a date that is almost a year and a half older than the effective date I bought it, thus affecting resale price. I can explain him I got them in August 2012 and can show the bill, but he will see the date at the ref number and wonder... NOt that I intend to sell them of course, but you never know.
So what do you say? What would you do? Ask for a new pair recently manufactured and tell them to take these or do nothing about it? I have to make a close inspection of the speakers. I was too tired last night, but even if I find nothing but the dust/dirt in one of them that I saw yesterday, the doubt still persists.
On a first thought, I do think this is bad from TAD. They should have warned they had thises but that they were around for a year and a half no? If for whatever reason they have not been able to sell them in that long, what's going on here. They haven't sold a pair in that time, or something worse (like a return or repair or something).
Your thoughts very welcomed. I will speak to my dealer later today.
Thanks
Joost, so far yes. It is way to early. They lack dynamics big time. But the bass is very deep. Although needs to get much faster. You can tell already the presentation is big with lots of "weight". Actually one thing that comes as a surprise is that they are not cold or bright at all, as some TAD tends to be when new. THey are "warmer" the the CR1s or the E1s. But again way loo early to say anything. I have them now playing on repeat and will listen a bit later on.
Now one question to you people. What would you do? I noticed lat night one of the speakers had some dirt (like dust or something on the front of it). Nothing major I guess but had me wondering. Went to the garage to check the boxes and ref number and found there that the date it shows is April 2011... I guess this is the date they were manufactured or finished or left factory or similar. So almost a year and a half ago.
WHen I ordered them, the guys from TAD told my dealer they had one in stock... yes, for a long time that is.
WOuld you guys ask for a new pair and nt one made over a year ago? My concerns are twofold:
On one side i assume they are really new, in the sense they had not been in any demo or similar, but given the time they been around who knows. Best case they ben seating for a year and a half in some warehouse. They were sealed and all, but then again, why were there around so long?
ON the other, and maybe more important, if I ever decide to sell them, On the package, the new buyer will see a date that is almost a year and a half older than the effective date I bought it, thus affecting resale price. I can explain him I got them in August 2012 and can show the bill, but he will see the date at the ref number and wonder... NOt that I intend to sell them of course, but you never know.
So what do you say? What would you do? Ask for a new pair recently manufactured and tell them to take these or do nothing about it? I have to make a close inspection of the speakers. I was too tired last night, but even if I find nothing but the dust/dirt in one of them that I saw yesterday, the doubt still persists.
On a first thought, I do think this is bad from TAD. They should have warned they had thises but that they were around for a year and a half no? If for whatever reason they have not been able to sell them in that long, what's going on here. They haven't sold a pair in that time, or something worse (like a return or repair or something).
Your thoughts very welcomed. I will speak to my dealer later today.
Thanks
Eli, I understand your concern.
There are two possibilities as I see it as I highly doubt they have not sold a pair of R1's since that date. Either they were demo models or used models, check the varnish on the wooden panels, are they completely free of micro scratches which may occur if someone was to dusk them off with something besides the micro-cloth that TAD provides with them, check the jumpers/binding posts for wear, etc, but it will be difficult to impossible to know for sure. OR... TAD performed a lengthy production run early '11 and they are still selling off stock from this first production. I can have a look at the production dates of my CR1's (and ask a friend for his CR1's, Joe might be able to tell you also), but it is possible that the CR1's had different (and maybe more) production runs than the R1's.
In any case you should talk to your dealer about it, you paid big money for these and should be 100% satisfied with what you get. If there is something fishy going on you should demand new units however it is possible all R1's on the market right now are still coming from this same production run. I cannot imagine huge numbers of these speakers have been sold in the last year with the current economic climate.
There are two possibilities as I see it as I highly doubt they have not sold a pair of R1's since that date. Either they were demo models or used models, check the varnish on the wooden panels, are they completely free of micro scratches which may occur if someone was to dusk them off with something besides the micro-cloth that TAD provides with them, check the jumpers/binding posts for wear, etc, but it will be difficult to impossible to know for sure. OR... TAD performed a lengthy production run early '11 and they are still selling off stock from this first production. I can have a look at the production dates of my CR1's (and ask a friend for his CR1's, Joe might be able to tell you also), but it is possible that the CR1's had different (and maybe more) production runs than the R1's.
In any case you should talk to your dealer about it, you paid big money for these and should be 100% satisfied with what you get. If there is something fishy going on you should demand new units however it is possible all R1's on the market right now are still coming from this same production run. I cannot imagine huge numbers of these speakers have been sold in the last year with the current economic climate.
I appreciate if you could do that.
I spoke to my dealer who put me in contact with TAD representative. He is looking into it and will revert.
He says they are brand new, and that they were in the central european warehouse but can not give me right away a reason for such production date, or whereabout they have been since that date.
I asked my dealer and the CR1s I had home that were new (he bought them either for me or for himself) had a date of November 2011, which is also a while back but not so much.,,
It would be of use to know this data from other owners to see how normal this can potentially be. I will check in any case for any sign on them as you mentioned.
Thanks
I spoke to my dealer who put me in contact with TAD representative. He is looking into it and will revert.
He says they are brand new, and that they were in the central european warehouse but can not give me right away a reason for such production date, or whereabout they have been since that date.
I asked my dealer and the CR1s I had home that were new (he bought them either for me or for himself) had a date of November 2011, which is also a while back but not so much.,,
It would be of use to know this data from other owners to see how normal this can potentially be. I will check in any case for any sign on them as you mentioned.
Thanks
Since they were stored in the European TAD warehouse it is probable that they were part of the first shipment that was sent to EU near time of launch and that they have been sitting there since EU TAD representation has only recently become active, dealers have only just started to pop up. I cannot imagine many R1's (or even CR1's) have been sold in Europe so they could therefore still be part of the first batch.
Honestly I wouldn't really worry about it, if you think about it there will be no physical or performance differences between the pair you have or a pair that would have been manufactured a few weeks ago. When/if you would come to selling you can tell the buyer when you have purchased which is all that is important IMO, in most cases production date information of equipment stays pretty much unknown to the buyer.
Honestly I wouldn't really worry about it, if you think about it there will be no physical or performance differences between the pair you have or a pair that would have been manufactured a few weeks ago. When/if you would come to selling you can tell the buyer when you have purchased which is all that is important IMO, in most cases production date information of equipment stays pretty much unknown to the buyer.
Hi Eli and Joost,
I just looked at my boxes and my CR-1's were made in September 2011. I received them the first week of March 2012. I wanted consecutive serial numbers but they are one number apart and both odd numbered (not even). One of my CR-1's has a small, light semicircle (about the size of a nickel/quarter cut in half) on the right side bottom where the mounting plate meets the wood body towards the front. It makes that one easily identifiable to me. I never told the dealer and was not about the swap it out for that blemish alone (although I would have liked to). So far they play perfectly.
I just looked at my boxes and my CR-1's were made in September 2011. I received them the first week of March 2012. I wanted consecutive serial numbers but they are one number apart and both odd numbered (not even). One of my CR-1's has a small, light semicircle (about the size of a nickel/quarter cut in half) on the right side bottom where the mounting plate meets the wood body towards the front. It makes that one easily identifiable to me. I never told the dealer and was not about the swap it out for that blemish alone (although I would have liked to). So far they play perfectly.
Thanks Joe and Joost.
Joe, yours seem to have a same timing between manufacture date and delivery as the ones I had home, which were Nov 2011 and delivered July. The R1s the time gap is larger. Mine do have consecutive numbers though. I still have to do a close search to see if there are any marks. I think if I see any marks on mine will surely ask forma change.
Joost the TAD representative said he will give me more info on this pair. Let's see what he says. He should be able to tell or give a full tracking info.
Is strange to see how long a time there is between production and delivery in ant case for the CR1s, moreover with the R1s if that is what is happening with my pair.
Well, in any case I will do some listening now to see how they evolve. They have been on playing today all day.
They really are big... Is how wide they are that really impresses big time
Joe, yours seem to have a same timing between manufacture date and delivery as the ones I had home, which were Nov 2011 and delivered July. The R1s the time gap is larger. Mine do have consecutive numbers though. I still have to do a close search to see if there are any marks. I think if I see any marks on mine will surely ask forma change.
Joost the TAD representative said he will give me more info on this pair. Let's see what he says. He should be able to tell or give a full tracking info.
Is strange to see how long a time there is between production and delivery in ant case for the CR1s, moreover with the R1s if that is what is happening with my pair.
Well, in any case I will do some listening now to see how they evolve. They have been on playing today all day.
They really are big... Is how wide they are that really impresses big time
Eli,
My two cents. If you like them, and they are in good condition...keep them. You have a receipt, and that should suffice, and your warranty is what counts...that should start on the date you bought them. Few people actually check the manufacturing date when they buy second hand...they usually check the warranty and receipt.
Furthermore, you never know...manufacturers sometimes change production after the initial run has huge review success...which means earlier models might be built to slightly better tolerances! Yes, sometimes there are 'silent upgrades'...but there are also times when production is slightly reduced in specification because the speakers are selling so well...and manufacturers can increase margins a bit on later production models by 'skimping' on certain areas where they think no one will notice.
My two cents. If you like them, and they are in good condition...keep them. You have a receipt, and that should suffice, and your warranty is what counts...that should start on the date you bought them. Few people actually check the manufacturing date when they buy second hand...they usually check the warranty and receipt.
Furthermore, you never know...manufacturers sometimes change production after the initial run has huge review success...which means earlier models might be built to slightly better tolerances! Yes, sometimes there are 'silent upgrades'...but there are also times when production is slightly reduced in specification because the speakers are selling so well...and manufacturers can increase margins a bit on later production models by 'skimping' on certain areas where they think no one will notice.
Yes you have a point. i may be a little paranoic, I dont know. At the end of the day, I guess the thought of spending so much money in a pair of speakers can have that effect... Yes you can affort them and all but still, and as Joost said, whith the estate of the economy and all you cant help to have that thought in the back of your mind somehow.
One thing is for sure. high end manufacturers I think have a problem in how they deliver their goods. Selling speakers or amps or whatever at the price of a high end car, the process, information presentation etc should be way better. if you think about it, there is not much difference in the purchase and delivery process between a 5K euro or usd and a 50k or 100k or whatever one. Although that is a different history...
I thought about what you said as well. if they sound right and no marks or other signs on them, I may end up having a new pair off cycle or something that maybe is slightly worse. They say they build to order, but I dont see how that can be the case from an economic perspective. I would assume they build sets of 5 or 10 or something like that.
One thing is for sure. high end manufacturers I think have a problem in how they deliver their goods. Selling speakers or amps or whatever at the price of a high end car, the process, information presentation etc should be way better. if you think about it, there is not much difference in the purchase and delivery process between a 5K euro or usd and a 50k or 100k or whatever one. Although that is a different history...
I thought about what you said as well. if they sound right and no marks or other signs on them, I may end up having a new pair off cycle or something that maybe is slightly worse. They say they build to order, but I dont see how that can be the case from an economic perspective. I would assume they build sets of 5 or 10 or something like that.
This is a mixed bag. Designing a product from the ground up is difficult. It is nigh impossible to optimize every aspect of the design. Inevitably cost cutting and and minimization creep in. New materials emerge that makes things better. That is usually good.
Depending it on how it plays out the intiail run could have involvled considerable overkill. They may later decide they can get by with lesser quality materails or lesser tolerances. You often see this disclaimer(Specs and and materailas may change without notice.) You can somtimes detect how many models were made. Many start with the S/N? 001. If you have pair #2&4. It is unlikely any siginificant changes were made that quickly.
If you auditioned a pair that was made close to the ones you purchased you should be okay.
Depending it on how it plays out the intiail run could have involvled considerable overkill. They may later decide they can get by with lesser quality materails or lesser tolerances. You often see this disclaimer(Specs and and materailas may change without notice.) You can somtimes detect how many models were made. Many start with the S/N? 001. If you have pair #2&4. It is unlikely any siginificant changes were made that quickly.
If you auditioned a pair that was made close to the ones you purchased you should be okay.
Yes. Mine are actually consecutive numbers. Not worried about the difference between each other, but the time from production of both till delivery.
... )Thanks! Yes I will.... Or I will have to....
Bass is amaizing, never heard a cello sound on a speaker like the real thing so much so. Not just the strings, but you can actually hear the box of it how it sound. Actually you feel it...
Yesteady it sounded warmer. today is sounding a bit brighter. Dinamics are starting to show up as well. Starting to wake up? If they have been seating really at some warehouse in their boxes for a year and so, it is going to take a long time. I guess all these thing will evolve and change within the next few days, till they get stable and then it will be a long time to finally settle.
Bass is amaizing, never heard a cello sound on a speaker like the real thing so much so. Not just the strings, but you can actually hear the box of it how it sound. Actually you feel it...
Yesteady it sounded warmer. today is sounding a bit brighter. Dinamics are starting to show up as well. Starting to wake up? If they have been seating really at some warehouse in their boxes for a year and so, it is going to take a long time. I guess all these thing will evolve and change within the next few days, till they get stable and then it will be a long time to finally settle.
Joost, Joe, (and other owners ofmCR1 amd R1),
Do you recall if your speaker terminals (the 4 nice golden ones at the back) had the little red and black plastic pieces covering the wholes where you would conned banana connectors (that you have to pull out if you indeed want to make such a conection).
My R1s didn'tmhad those. Trying to remember if the CR1s did. i think they did not either, but I am not sure. In the close up pics at the web of them they show without but wanted to double check. Asmyou see, and while I wait for TADsmrepresentative to get back to me, trying to find hints if any, that could indicatemprevious use. Ahh paranoia is so much fun.mso many things to check and do!
Thanks
Do you recall if your speaker terminals (the 4 nice golden ones at the back) had the little red and black plastic pieces covering the wholes where you would conned banana connectors (that you have to pull out if you indeed want to make such a conection).
My R1s didn'tmhad those. Trying to remember if the CR1s did. i think they did not either, but I am not sure. In the close up pics at the web of them they show without but wanted to double check. Asmyou see, and while I wait for TADsmrepresentative to get back to me, trying to find hints if any, that could indicatemprevious use. Ahh paranoia is so much fun.mso many things to check and do!
Thanks
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