Home Review TAD CE1TX monitor – off the scale

Review TAD CE1TX monitor – off the scale

6

Pros

  • Insane build quality
  • Very neutral
  • Insightful display
  • Layering

Cons

  • Pricey
  • The whole chain must be appropriate

Price: € 36000

Build quality
Controlability
Sound
Price
Alpha-Audio Approved

Conclusion and Measurements TAD CE1tx

Contents

We measured the TAD CE1TX in our listening room. Anything below 200 Hz should be taken with a grain of salt: there are reflections from the room there, too, know that.

The measurements were done with a DPA 4091 microphone on an Audient ID14 pre-amp. This goes through an Illusonic IAP8 processor that also runs the measurement software.

Frequency and distortion

Anyone listening to the TAD CE1TX will not be surprised that it measures pretty neutrally. There is a very slight belly around the midrange. That’s about 1.5 dB or so relative to the center axis. That’s almost inaudible, we estimate. We moved the microphone to see if it moves with it, but it doesn’t. That also shows how stable this speaker is. The response shows that the speaker is tuned for some longer listening. It is nowhere aggressive.

Distortion is very low. The “Peak” you see is at -50dB, which corresponds mte 0.3%. The rest is around -60dB, or 0.1%. This is really very good and shows that TAD is not talking nonsense in their story around pushing down distortion.

Impedance

It is abundantly clear that TAD wanted to make a friendly speaker with the CE1TX. The impedance is incredibly flat in the bass, which makes it easy to drive. Toward the treble there is a spike, but that’s not a problem. Except perhaps with tubes: they will add some coloration, but not clip, because the impedance goes up, not down. The impedance doesn’t dip below 4 ohms. Perfect.

Conclusion

What an incredibly beautiful monitor speaker this is. Both optically and playback-wise. The reproduction comes across as particularly uncolored, fast and insightful. And it doesn't seem to bother the TAD at all. And that's what characterizes High End Audio: everything flows into the room without you feeling like you have to work for it. Delicious. Alpha Approved!
Type test
Single Test
Speaker class
Monitor - bookshelf
Speaker type
Dynamic
Speaker system
Bass reflex
Signal control
Passive
Frequency range
34 Hz - 100 kHz
Crossover
3-way
Efficiency
85 dB
Impedance
4 Ohm
Dimensions
  • Width: 29 cm
  • Depth: 45 cm
  • Height: 51 cm
Weight speaker
29 Kg
Production country
Japan
Sound Samples
Measurements
TAD CE1-TX - phase
TAD CE1-TX - phase
TAD CE1-TX - Impedance
TAD CE1-TX - Impedance
TAD CE1-TX - impedance - phase
TAD CE1-TX - impedance - phase
TAD CE1-TX - impulse - 1m - straight
TAD CE1-TX - impulse - 1m - straight
TAD CE1-TX - perceptual simultain distortion - 1m - straight
TAD CE1-TX - perceptual simultain distortion - 1m - straight
TAD CE1-TX - Response - 1m - straight
TAD CE1-TX - Response - 1m - straight
TAD CE1-TX - Response 30ms - 1m - straight
TAD CE1-TX - Response 30ms - 1m - straight
TAD CE1-TX - simultain distortion - 1m - straight
TAD CE1-TX - simultain distortion - 1m - straight

Winkels met TAD

Hennesweg 20
6035 AD Ospel, NL

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