TAD Evolution 2
Contents
TAD stands for Technical Audio Devices. The company is an offshoot of Pioneer and was initially founded to serve – primarily – the pro-audio market with high-quality loudspeakers.
TAD is a huge believer in coaxial units, but this new Evolution 2 does not have one. To purchase a true coaxial TAD, your author had to dig a little deeper financially…. that was a bit too much.
However, this TAD is a real TAD. The tweeter is a Beryllium model with the same philosophy as the other TADs. The two woofers are in 2.5 way configuration and connect seamlessly to the tweeter. At the bottom of the base is the bass reflex port. This port flows both forward and backward and should give an even distribution of bass. We have never heard woolly or boomy bass from the Evolution: it stays full of detail and remains tight.
Regular readers of Alpha Audio know that this is our new reference speaker. After a year of searching and having heard more than ten floorstanding speaker, the TAD remained. The reason: calmness, impressive layering, richness in timbre and control.
The sound
Actually, we have already described it here. If you want to know more, read the full review with measurements here. We still agree 100% with these statements. The TAD is truly a competition killer. Also in this class of around 20,000 Euros the Evolution 2 just comes along.
The only point of criticism is that we hear less overhead. We feel that the TAD cannot play as loud as the Perlisten and PMC. Those simply accept a heavier load. And in a room like the Artone Studio you are going to hear that.
However, in terms of speed and certainly layering, the TAD just keeps up. Indeed, the layering remains remarkably good; even in this class. Does it have the speed of the PMC? No. Does it have the dry tight layering of the Perlisten’s bass? No.
But the TAD does show a very fine balance and manages to lay down every layer in the music with verve. Very pleasing! And it is that balance of detail, layering, richness that is so fine with the TAD.
Conclusion and specifications
| Specification | Value |
| Technology | 2.5-way bass reflex |
| Units | 2 x 15.5cm woofer, 2.5cm beryllium tweeter |
| 6 Ohm – 4.5 Ohm minimum | |
| Frequency Range | 30 Hz – 60 kHz |
| Dimensions | 101 x 32 x 40 (h x w x d) |
| Weight | 32 Kg |
| Price | 14.250 Euro per pair |
