Audio Research and TAD speakers

by arcl60 on Opinions Please
TAD speakers
TAD speaker in detail
VT150SE amplifier
VT150SE and Ref3
The Ref300MKI
The VT150SE and Audia Pre

Description

I can describe myself as an Audio Research lover since I heard in 1999 the Classic 60 amplifier. At this time, I have had several systems based on kit speakers (Focal-JM-Lab) and Cochet Preamp P1, Conrad Johnson PV2a, Quad 405 amplifier, Teac Esoteric P700 drive with Teac Esoteric D1 Dac.

First experience with Audio Research Equipments

When i had my first experience with Audio Research, my system was composed with Kenwood L1000 series (Preamp and Amplifier), then the Classic 60 listening session has been a revelation, nothing will be as before I bought the Classic 60 and an LS2 line stage. I built at the time also experiences for changing tubes and to properly bias the amplifier. I kept this system for 3 years and I had the opportunity to buy an LS5MKII for a reasonable price, even if the Classic 60 was not the right amp to match with LS5MKII. I found also at this time a BL1 to be able to plug RCA source on the LS5MKII.

My TAD Speakers story

I have been always attracted by Speaker design, build (I should have built a dozen of pairs for friends at least !) so I wanted to build a pair based on TAD components. I bought a pair of TAD Horms with 2445 JBL drivers to match with my Focal 12 inches woofers, the association was not optimal then I decided to build 2402 TAD speakers. I got on used marker a pair of TAD TD-4001 in very good condition and buy a new pair of TL-1601a woofers. I designed the box to reach 37.5 Hz at -3db on bass reflex design (as the original TAD design), I kept the volume of the original TAD cabinet, but I separated the woofer volume from the Driver + Horm volume leading to speaker with longer height than the original cabinet. I decided to run to TAD speaker on active mode then I bought a second Audio Research Classic 60 Amplifier and an active crossover BSS FDS-366 used on recording studio environment. I have been disappointed by the sound result, which was leaded by the active crossover adjustments, which were extremely difficult to set appropriately for my speakers. After several attempts, I decided to run the speaker on Passive mode in 2 ways first then with JBL 2405 tweeters which have improved a lot high frequency response and has also brought even more transparent in the medium. Source at this time changed from Teac Esoteric to Audio Research CDT1 + DAC1 and North Star design 192 as well for Dac.

Amplification improvements

I had the opportunity to buy a used VT200 Audio Research Amplifier for improving the current Classic 60 configuration and to run the LS5MKII on the best possible way. I had the VT200 re tubed with Electro Harmonix KT88 very successfully, I also bought an LS25MKII which provided more flexibility with source (accepts RCA and XLR source) and provides also remote for the full set of functions. I run the VT200 with both LS25MKII and LS5MKII for 1 or 2 year, I would say the LS5MKII sounds more natural over the LS25MKII especially on human voices, on the other hand the LS25MKII is more open, and dynamic and proposes a better bass response, I kept the LS25MKII and sell the LS5MKII to a friend of mine who is very satisfied with this preamp up to now.

Source improvements

A friend of mine imports Audia flight in France and he proposed me to run a test with CD1 CD player on my system. I made the test, and I don’t have any regrets as the Audia has outperformed CDT1 + DAC1 and North star design 192. The CD1 brought a lot of clarity, a better response on bass and improved the overall quality of sound which contains more details now. When I did the test as good professional ! my friend provided me some XLR cables which were imported by him. In particular, I has been impressed by the Crystal cable reference XLR cable and decided to buy 2 pairs from Source to Preamp and from amplifier to preamp even if the big sound improvement is between source and preamp.

Several improvements over the years

My friend who imports Audia flight, imports also Delta Sigma who is a company based in Italia too. Delta Sigma proposes a huge type of equipment in particular power filter, power amp, preamp, cables..

My fiend marketed me the Delta Sigma power filter to be one of the best in the market, I decided to run a simple test on my system as I never been convinced by power filter at all ! The Delta Sigma has brought more clarity, fluidity to the signal, everything was just better. The power filter stayed at home, and i cannot now live without...

Last improvement

During the 20 last years, I had some dreams with Audio Research components which were not in my budget range when new, but which become more reasonable on the second hand market. A pair of VT150SE, was really a dream when I saw them the first time into a Stereo magazine. Their qualities of build and appearance were just outstanding The reviews written for the VT150 were also very attractive and convinced me of the high level of sounding of those mono blocs. I bought a pair of VT150SE in silver color in Feb 08 and they really sound fantastic When compared with VT200 I would say the VT150SE sound with more air all around the instruments, and sound even more natural. Bass response is similar but the image is improved. On the other hand the VT200 can really be considered as a killer amp, it is on the second hand market a very good opportunity for someone who looks for a good and powerful tube amp at reasonable price. So I more than happy but the VT150SE !

Update from Nov08

I bought a Ref3 during the summer. To be honest i've been disappointed at the beginning, the sound was nice but i've still have the LS25MKII in mind. I did tubes change (Sovtek 6H30 + 6L6GC) and power cord change as well. After 30 - 50 Hours of use the Ref3 sounds now really fantastic...

I even did a comparison with my old LS25MKII, and the Ref3 is just in another league. The 3D image is just amazing, compare with the LS25MKII which produce a flattest image. Next step now is the power cable for the Ref3, i've replaced the computer cable provided with my Ref3 by the original one with European plug, now i bought a Oyaide Tunami cable. I need to finish this cable and test it on my system, opinion will follow !
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Components Toggle details

    • TAD TSM2 2402
    High efficiency speaker with 2 inches driver (TD-4001), 15 inches woofer (TL-1601a), JBL tweeter 2405
    • Audio Research VT-150 SE
    Mono Blocs, built for the 25th anniversary of Audio Research
    • Audio Research Ref300MKI
    Mono Blocs
    • Audio Research LS-5 mkII
    Full symetric preamp 10 tubes
    • Audio Research Reference 3
    Tube Preamp with 6H30
    • Audia Flight CD-1
    Italian brand
    • Crystal cable Reference
    XLR interconnect
    • Audio Research Litzlink speaker cable
    Single wire

Comments 9

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Owner
Hello,
Yes a rug has been added and the overall result has been improved. Regarding the other acoustical treatments, to be honest i didn't really think about those as we will probably move on another home. I know my room to be not an excellent one, my previous one was really better.
For the speakers, they are home made, but they are very similar to the TAD 2402 speaker monitor. The bass volume is the same, the bass and driver are the same. Only the horn is a copy of the TAD TH-4001 which is no more available on the new market and impossible to find on the second hand market. The crossover is not the original one, but i kept the cutting frequencies. I'm not sure that the original crossover will do a better job, i know the configuration of TN-2 crossover, and there are too many components on the bass region which really affect the dynamic of the system. My crossover is a little bit less complicated, maybe a little less linear than the original one, but i think the result is more dynamic and it has allowed me to had a JBL 2405 for the high frequencies with very good results.
The main quality of this kind of speaker is really on the middle frequencies, the voices are extremely natural, and even if the overall resolution is very dynamic it's not aggressive.

arcl60

Owner
System updated :
The pair of Ref300MKI amplifier are now at home since the end of January. The have been checked by a technician for the tubes condition, and i have decided to upgrade all the 6922 tubes which were quite old. The amp have been upgraded with Philips 6922 ECG tested for noise and perfectly matched. To be honest i has been a little bit disappointed by the overall sound quality at the beginning. I know that tube rolling is important, then i maybe did not wait too long for that. Anyway, i have upgraded 2 of the 4 inputs tubes of each Ref300MKI by Telefunken E88CC tubes. The result is just fantastic, the system is sounding very similar to the VT150SE, a lot of air all around the instruments, the image is extremely realist, it is really sounding true. Both preamp (Ref3 and LS5MKII) give very good result but with some major differences :
- The LS5MKII produces not a very large image, but it is very accurate for the voice realism. The bass region is well managed.
- The Ref3 has very a huge image size versus the LS5MKII, it's larger, deeper, with a huge authority and presence of the voice also.
The principal differences of the Ref300MKI vs the VT150SE are a better management of the bass region, and the overall dynamic of the system which has been improved.

arcl60

Owner
System updated :
I bought an LS5MKII which was a known preamp which i had in my system 4 years ago. The LS5MKII is an excellent preamp with a lot of quality and which is a perfect match with the pair of VT150SE. I cannot say that it sounds better than the Ref3, but it produces at least the same level of emotion of the Ref3. The Ref3 is really an awesome preamp for the 3D image and definition.
I will need to see which preamp will match the best with the REF300MKI Mono which have been purchased 1 week ago.

arcl60

Owner
Hi Dbla,
My VT150SE drive my Tad speaker which are built with 15In woofer as well. I've never tried solid state amplifier on the TAD but i guess we should get a better bass control. For the medium and high frequencies i don't think a pair of VT150SE can be replaced by any solid state amps, VT150SE sound so liquid so natural. High End is a matter of compromise so if you are attracted by Bass resolution you should stay with Solid state, if you want a very natural and liquid resolution the VT150SE will play on another league...

arcl60

Owner
I Just bought a REF 3 preamp which replaces the LS25MKII
I will comment the improvement when my REF 3 will run new tubes

arcl60

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