The TAD-GE1 boasts TAD's proprietary CST Driver, which controls the directivity of the concentrically mounted midrange and tweeter over an extended frequency range from the point of matching phase. This culminates in clear and solid imaging, as well as natural sound field reproduction. The 5.5" midrange cone controls the directional characteristic of the concentrically mounted tweeter to bring the phase and directivity of their output in line in the crossover region. The result is an extended reproduction from 250Hz up, achieving a natural attenuation characteristic and directivity pattern across all bands.
Inside this driver is a light yet rigid vapor deposition 1.3" beryllium diaphragm for its tweeter, formed using TAD's unique optimization technique. The midrange’s diaphragm is made of magnesium with a hybrid chemical conversion coating and painting to the surface to give it additional hardness for a clearer, distortion-free reproduction. In addition, the resonance in the mid-to-high frequencies generated by interactions between the suspension and diaphragm is effectively controlled to achieve an even lower distortion and a greater transient response.
The two 7" woofers employ TAD's second-geration multi-layered aramid composite shell diaphragm. These refined drivers are made of five layers of woven and non-woven aramid fabric, integrating the center cap and cone into a single piece for coloration-free reproduction in the mid-to-low frequency range.
Finally, the TAD-GE1 comes in a structurally inert laminated enclosure, which combines sturdy birch-plywood braces with medium-density fiberboard (MDF) panels for superior vibration-dampening characteristics. Moreover, the combination of acoustic tubes placed inside the enclosure as part of TAD’s Acoustic-Filter-Assisted System Tuning (AFAST) is reinforced with acoustic absorbent materials placed inside.
The ISO (isolation) Drive Technology, originally incorporated into the top-of-the-line TAD-R1TX speaker system and tweaked for the TAD-GE1, was applied to the way the CST Driver was mounted to the enclosure. With this technology, the CST Driver is acoustically and mechanically isolated from the enclosure by a mount base and damper bushes. This is designed to keep vibration generated by the CST Driver from traveling to the enclosure. The sturdy base to which the CST Driver is mounted to the enclosure was machined from a 25mm-thick solid aluminum plate and is shaped in such a way to offset the slant of the baffle and orient the CST Driver directly toward the listener.
The Bidirectional ADP (Aero-Dynamic Port) system positions a port on the bottom of the enclosure with its openings to the front and rear of the enclosure. The port has a horn-shaped interior that reduces port noise and achieves greater efficiency supporting the mid-to-low frequency response. The combination of the port flare made of die-cast aluminum and the symmetrical front-back layout of the port effectively offsets the physical force that vibrates the enclosure and, as a result, helps reproduce a powerful bass.
Moreover, the 15mm-thick aluminum base plate attached to the bottom of the enclosure increases the stability of the speaker system when placed on the floor and counterbalances the reaction caused by the powerful driving force of the twin woofers. The elegant wood enclosure of the TAD-GE1 matches the TAD-CE1TX with a mirrored polished finish to accentuate the wood’s natural grain.
"The GE1 delivers the sound field and imaging performance comparable to that of the Reference Series speaker systems," says Dave Malekpour, president of PAD HiFi, TAD’s US distributor. "It’s an impressive speaker and we can’t wait to debut it at Capital Audio Fest in November."
The TAD-GE1 will be available for purchase through select dealers starting November 2023. The MSRP for the pair is $65,000 USD.
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