Полочная акустика — TAD COMPACT EVOLUTION ONE CE1TX

The Compact Evolution One, sold under the model code TAD-CE1TX, is a stand-mounted three-way loudspeaker from TAD Laboratories of Japan, a maker whose three letters abbreviate Technical Audio Devices. It belongs to the Evolution family, which sits below the Reference models in the TAD catalogue, and it is built in Japan. Two versions exist - the CE1TX-WN with a mirror-finished wood grain enclosure and the CE1TX-K in mirrored piano black, both hand-coated, buffed and polished by craftsmen.

Key specs that matter

The bass-reflex design combines an 18 cm cone woofer with a coaxial unit that places a 3.5 cm beryllium dome tweeter at the middle of a 14 cm magnesium midrange cone. The network divides the band at 250 Hz and 1.8 kHz. TAD quotes a response of 34 Hz to 100 kHz, a sensitivity of 85 dB measured at 2.83 V and 1 m, a rated impedance of 4 ohm and a maximum input of 200 W. Each cabinet is 287 mm wide, 510 mm tall and 447 mm deep, with a mass of 29 kg. The box contains a woofer grille, two short jumper cables, four non-slip pads, a cleaning cloth and the owner's manual.

Engineering and use context

TAD calls its coaxial unit the CST, or Coherent Source Transducer. Mounting the midrange and tweeter concentrically lets one point radiate everything above the lower crossover, with the directivity of both diaphragms matched. The beryllium tweeter dome is produced by a vapour-deposition process developed in-house, while the magnesium midrange cone was newly created for this generation. The woofer uses an upgraded MACC II diaphragm made of five layers of woven and non-woven fabric, driven by a large neodymium magnet and held in a moulded rear cradle shaped to reduce air turbulence behind the cone. Its corrugated surround is coated with damping material. Rather than using a port on the baffle or back panel, the cabinet vents through slit-shaped Aero-Dynamic Slot openings in both side panels, flared toward the front and the back. TAD says this symmetrical layout lowers port noise and stops standing waves inside the box from leaking out through the vent.

Pairing

With its low sensitivity and low impedance, the CE1TX suits transistor amplifiers able to hold their output into low loads with steady current, rather than low-output tube designs. TAD offers the TAD-ST2TX-K stand, sold only in pairs, at 591 mm tall and 18.5 kg each, supplied with cone spikes, spike holders, cork sheets and screws that fix the speaker to the top plate.

Alternatives

The TAD Compact Reference One CR1TX moves up to a 20 cm woofer, a 16 cm coaxial unit and a 46 kg cabinet.