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Final Speaker Decision: TAD R1 vs SF Strad

Final decision coming up.... I have listened and auditioned and hemmed and hawed long enough.

Narrowed down from Wilsons Alexia/Sasha 2, Vandersteen 5A Carbon, Martin Logan Summit X, Magnepans, and BW 800 Diamond to these final two.

Both sound good to me, but I am unable to audition both back to back, nor in the same room.

Would like to get some opinions on the two from the group. I am looking for a speaker with longevity. Really hate to change up speakers prematurely from here.
joey_v

Showing 3 responses by joey_v

joey_v OP
651 posts
 
Yep, heard the Ref1 twice in very good conditions. I even had teh dealer move them to sort of mimic my room - moved to 8.5 feet tweeter/tweeter and 11 feet tweeter/ear. Sounded lovely and recreated stage well.

My only problem is that I had no goosebumps. But I could sense that it was a great speaker.
joey_v OP
651 posts
 
Sorry guys, didn't respond for a while. The TAD Ref 1 were powered by some top shelf pass lab amps... the XS 300. The preamp, I forgot. The source, I also forgot, but I can assume that they were all top shelf.

I passed on the Ref1. They sold for around 29K if I recall from the last listing, but they just didn't do it for me. I tried to convince myself that this was the speaker for me, but it just wasn't in the cards.

Today, I am looking at the SF Strads or the BW 800 Diamonds. Both are good, Strads have an ear popping image effect.
joey_v OP
651 posts
 
Just to complete my thread.

I ended up with the Strads during this debacle.
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