With the flagship TAD Reference One TAD gained the whole-hearted trust and respect of many of the world’s top artists and recording engineers. As the ultimate realization of the point-source sound concept, it was created by merging advanced technologies with our decades of engineering experience. Now we have reached a new zenith with the TAD Compact Reference, which takes advantage of all of the top-level technologies that went into the flagship model.
Our objective was to achieve, in a compact size, point-source sound of such high quality that listeners will forget about the existence of the speaker. Its extraordinary sound will surely exceed your expectations.
"The CR-1 is the stand-mount sibling to the $70,000 320-pound TAD Reference One. Smaller yes, but it takes a dry sense of humor to characterize the CR-1 as a compact. At a thick 25" tall (it looks taller) and weighing in at hernia-threatening 100 pounds (it feels heavier), the CR-1 is anything but the kind of compact suitable for a meter bridge in a home recording studio. Rather its resemblance—both external and internal—to the Ref One is so complete that, except for the stands, it appears almost like an optical illusion of the flagship."
The refined CST Driver achieves wide-range reproduction and superior directivity control.
The CST (Coherent Source Transducer) is an advanced coaxial speaker designed to control the drive unit’s response and directivity over a wide frequency range. A design based on detailed simulations gives the midrange cone superior acoustic characteristics.
The concentric configuration controls the directivity of the tweeter to match the midrange. This unifies the acoustic center of the tweeter and midrange, reconciling response and directional characteristics through the crossover range. The resulting ultra wide range reproduction from 250Hz to 100kHz is accompanied by a consistent directivity pattern that results in extremely clear and stable imaging over a wide frequency range, for incredibly natural sounding reproduction.
The beryllium diaphragm: using TAD’s vapor deposition technique achieves the ideal characteristics.
The tweeter dome and midrange cone are constructed of beryllium, whose light weight and rigid properties make it perfectly suited for mid and high frequency sound reproduction. The vapor deposition technique developed by TAD and refined over three decades provides strength, uniformity and damping to achieve a new level of quality in a diaphragm. The shape of the tweeter is optimized through a computer analysis process known as HSDOM (Harmonized Synthetic Diaphragm Optimum Method), ensuring control of differential vibration and response to as high as 100kHz. The design of the midrange cone was derived from boundary and finite-element analysis to be the ideal partner for the tweeter and provide sound that is astonishingly transparent, direct and precise across a wide frequency range.
ISO drive technology draws out the full potential of the CST Driver.In order to maximize the performance of the CST Driver and preserve accurate sound reproduction, TAD’s ISO (isolation) technology includes a mechanism to prevent driver unit vibration from entering the enclosure by structurally separating the CST Driver from the enclosure. Thanks to this unique construction the CST driver is isolated from powerful low frequency vibrations and its considerable drive capability is
prevented from exciting the enclosure. This reduces the radiation of secondary sound allowing for minute details in the sound to be precisely delivered.
Low loss, high linearity and a powerful motor system.The 20cm (8.0 in.) bass driver reproduces waveforms with consistent accuracy.
The bass driver was designed to achieve total linearity of the magnetic circuit, diaphragm and suspension. The magnetic circuit features our unique short voice coil OFGMS (Optimized Field Geometry Magnet Structure). With a long gap of 20mm (0.8 in.), it linearizes the magnetic flux density along the gap. This stabilizes drive performance from small to large amplitudes, achieving high linearity and consistently accurate waveform reproduction. The TLCC (Tri-Laminate Composite Cone) aramid diaphragm has a triple-laminated construction that provides near ideal physical properties. It delivers rich and clear low-bass with a mid-bass free of coloration. The suspension system employs TAD’s traditional corrugated edge, further contributing to the high linearity.
SILENT cabinet combines extreme strength with gracefully flowing elegance.The SILENT (Structurally Inert Laminated Enclosure Technology) cabinet, inherited from the TAD Reference One, is a compact 63cm (25 in.) in height. It has a strong internal framework formed by 21mm (0.9 in.) thick CNC machined birch plywood clad with high frequency hot press formed laminated MDF panels, resulting in extremely high strength. The 27.5mm (1.1 in.) thick aluminum base lowers the center of gravity and stabilizes the cabinet against the forces generated by the powerful bass driver motor system. Combining differing materials in this way both distributes and minimizes the enclosure resonances and achieves high vibration control. Its flowing teardrop shape minimizes sound diffraction and unwanted resonance from internal standing waves.
With a beautiful piano-like finish of natural Pommele Sapele wood, the cabinet imparts an air of elegant craftsmanship.
Aerodynamic port system employs TAD horn fluid design technology.In order to make the most of the linear performance of the 20cm (8.0 in.) bass driver and its suspension, the bass reflex port is aerodynamically optimized based on precise fluid design technology refined by TAD professionals. This flare-shaped port produces absolutely no air noise or rectification effects, even when the bass driver unit is driven at the limit of its excursion range, achieving deep, clear bass.
The TAD Compact Reference employs strictly selected materials and parts, many inherited from the TAD Reference One
- Isolated bass, midrange and treble crossover networks eliminate electrical and magnetic interactions.
- Rear terminal panel is made of 27mm (1 in.) thick aluminum to act as a heat sink for the network.
- Custom-made parts include air-core coils, non-inductive resistors and PP film capacitors.
- Large custom-machined speaker terminals have thick gold plating to ensure reliable connections.
- All wiring is carefully routed away from magnetic parts to prevent degradation of sound quality due to magnetic distortion.
- Not only the speaker system itself, but also the drive units are subject to strict quality control based on serial numbers.
Model TAD-CR1
Three-way bass reflex compact speaker
Driver units
Bass: 20cm (8.0 in.) driver
Midrange/Tweeter: concentric 16cm (6.5 in.) cone/3.5cm (1.4 in.) dome
Performance Data
Frequency response: 32Hz to 100kHz
Crossover frequencies: 250Hz and 2kHz
Appropriate amplifier power: 50W to 200W
Sensitivity: 86dB (2.83V @ 1m free space)
Nominal impedance: 4 ohms
Physical Data
Weight: 46kg (101 lbs.)
Dimensions: 341mm (13.4 in.) (W) × 628mm (24.8 in.) (H) × 444mm (17.5 in.) (D)
Accessories
Accessory kit: cleaning cloth, shorting links × 2, cone spikes × 3, round spikes × 3, spike holders × 3, cork sheets × 3, owners manual