Technical Audio Devices Laboratories is owned by Pioneer Corporation and the company’s loudspeakers are used in recording studios and professional sound production environments worldwide. Defining a new direction in style, the TAD-CE1 cabinet uses a mix of high quality materials for its construction including high rigidity birch plywood, medium density fiberboard (MDF), and precision cut 10 millimeter aluminum panels.
“We’ve taken a different approach to the TAD-CE1, both in mechanics and cosmetic design,” said Andrew Jones, director and chief engineer for TAD products. “We wanted to maximize its performance by incorporating a new bi-directional slot-port, as well as give owners the ability to customize its looks with interchangeable panels.”
Embodying the single point source concept, the Coherent Source Transducer (CST) used in the TAD-CE1 places the tweeter diaphragm concentrically within the midrange cone to produce sounds with consistent timing and great imaging, from 250Hz to 100kHz. To reproduce high frequencies accurately beyond the audible range, the tweeter is made of vapor deposited beryllium, renowned for its low mass and high rigidity. The midrange emanates from a magnesium diaphragm that combines stiffness, low mass, and durability resulting in sound with low coloration and astonishing accuracy.
Lower bass response is formed by a one-piece cone woofer, reinforced with multi-layered aramid composite material. The one-piece construction of the dustcap and cone significantly increases the strength of the cone and eliminates weak points that can cause distortion, especially helpful at higher sound pressure levels. The cone construction is further strengthened by TAD’s own MACS (Multi-layered Aramid Composite Shell) process, using multiple layers of aramid fibers to provide low mass and high rigidity that can withstand the back pressure produced in the cabinet.
Innovative slit-shaped ports integrated onto the sides of the cabinet help to create rich and powerful bass output. Slots centered on each side of the enclosure flow into flared cavities sandwiched by an aluminum panel, creating long vertical front and back slits. The unique ADS (Aero Dynamic Slot) port design moves the air in a bi-directional pattern and eliminates unwanted resonance and standing waves within the enclosure, resulting in a natural-sounding bass response.
To achieve the most accurate audio response from the speakers, the structural integrity of TAD-CE1’s enclosure uses highly rigid birch plywood combined with medium-density fiberboard (MDF) to achieve a cabinet with great strength and low resonance. The inside of the cabinet is treated with acoustical material, carefully positioned to minimize internal standing waves. The center section of the cabinet is finished in olive wood veneer, protected with a high gloss lacquer finish to provide a look of pure elegance.
The North America version of the TAD-CE1 has side trims treated in a satin-black finish, matched with a 10 millimeter thick gunmetal grey brushed aluminum side panels. Varying custom colors of the side trim and aluminum panels will also be available by order.
TAD will also offer the TAD-ST2 custom designed stands as optional accessories. The stands raise the speakers to the perfect listening height and serve as a solid base to withstand resonance from the speaker.
www.tad-labs.com
