Напольная акустика — TAD TAD-E1AX

The TAD-E1AX is the Evolution One, a three-way ported tower speaker made in Japan by Technical Audio Devices Laboratories. It brings the Coherent Source Transducer (CST) concept of the company's professional-grade designs into a domestic cabinet, and it adds a glossy white finish (GW) to the black (K) version offered for its predecessor.

Key specs that matter

Two 16 cm woofers use Multi-layered Aramid Composite Cone (MACC) diaphragms. Above them sits the concentric CST driver, with a 9 cm magnesium cone for the midrange and a 2.5 cm beryllium semi-dome tweeter at its centre. TAD quotes a frequency response of 29 Hz to 60 kHz, crossover points at 420 Hz and 2.5 kHz, a sensitivity of 88 dB at 2.83 V and 1 m and a rated impedance of 4 ohm. The maximum input power is 200 W. Each speaker measures 347 mm wide, 1,146 mm tall and 518 mm deep and weighs 54 kg.

Engineering and use context

In the CST unit the tweeter is mounted inside the midrange cone, so both share one acoustic centre. TAD states that this driver alone reproduces everything above the woofer hand-over with a consistent attenuation and directivity pattern across that span. The beryllium diaphragm is made with the company's own vapour-deposition technique, which yields a light and rigid dome. A Linear Drive Magnetic Circuit (LDMC) is used for its linearity. Bass loading relies on a bidirectional Aero-Dynamic Port (ADP) with a horn-shaped interior and a die-cast aluminium flare, which lets air leave the cabinet through slots rather than a single round tube, a design aimed at lowering port noise. The woofers, concentric driver and port all share the one enclosure. The cabinet stands on a 10 mm machined steel base plate that adds stability to the tall enclosure. TAD describes the whole design as an attempt to bring the acoustic performance of its professional monitors into home hi-fi systems, and the two finishes give buyers a choice of a dark cabinet or a bright glossy one.

Pairing

Because the rated sensitivity is moderate and the load is low, the E1AX suits a transistor design that copes with such loads and offers good current reserves. The maximum input rating matters when pairing it with a very powerful amplifier, and the steel base plate makes the speaker suited to hard floors as well as carpet. Given its bass extension, a room of at least 20 m2 lets the woofers work without crowding the listening position.

Alternatives

The TAD Evolution One TX (TAD-E1TX) is a second floorstanding version within the Evolution One family.