TAD R1TX, M700S, DA1000TX and Full Suite of Innuos Products Launched in Malaysia

Its like the HiFi and AV industry in Malaysia is back into the good old days. More and more shops are bringing in more variety to the audiophiles. A long pending components to be open to the fans are the TAD R1TX speakers, M700S stereo power amp, DA10000TX DAC and also the full suite of Innuos Products. Although TAD has been traditionally part of Audio Visual Designs Sdn. Bhd list of brands, the Innuous has just came onto the list and is now officially available for demo and purchase for local fans.

On Friday 7th July, these products have been officially launched at their outlet. Attended by the usual audiophiles and other media reps, the full capability of the set up was demoed to all attendees.

Excerpt of the event report from my article in hifi4sale.net is as below:

'Audio Visual Designs Sdn Bhd (AV Designs), the official distributor of TAD Laboratory products in Malaysia, launched the R1TX flagship speakers along with the M700S power amp and DA1000TX DAC on July 7. Apart from these TAD products, AV Designs also launched the full suite of Innuos products into the Malaysian market. AV Designs only recently took up the Innuos distributorship.

The launch event started with a quick recap of the R1 speakers' evolution over the past 16 years, followed by an introduction to the Innuous products. Guests and media folks were then entertained with various music genres prepared and presented by local hi-fi celeb Joseph Ki.

  

   

  

The original R1 came out in 2007, followed by R1MK2 in 2012 when the woofer cone design was upgraded. The R1MK2 remain as TAD's reference speaker until 2019, after which the R1TX was officially launched. However, due to the pandemic that followed, the R1TX could only be brought into Malaysia this year.

Although the R1TX retains the original cabinet design, TAD has enhanced its forming and processing method for the baffle. This new cabinet is made by Tendo Mokko, where the reinforcement and fitting methods were improved; the side to back panel configuration was also changed from three pieces to two. Besides these, TAD also enhanced the woofer suspension system. The R1TX comes in a full black design, apart from the traditional wood design on the side panels.

The M700S was also launched in 2019 by TAD but only reach our shores early this year. This stereo power amplifier (a mono version is also available) replaces the M600 which was launched back in 2009. The enhancements include an upgraded transformer from 2kVA to 2.8kVA, increased wattage from 600W to 700W, aluminium chassis instead of iron and also a new spike construction.

 

 

                                              

On the source side, the full Innuos suite of streaming solutions is now available officially in Malaysia. During the launch, the flagship Statement model was used as the source for the demo of the TAD set up. The Statement is a two-piece dedicated streaming unit with a separate power supply box. This brand from Portugal is not new name to streaming fans in Malaysia. The full range, from the entry-level called PULSEmini to the Statement, is now available from AV Designs.'

AV Designs has also taken the liberty to list Bassacontinuo HiFi racks as one of the brands on their list.

When I lookd at the size of the speakers, I had a concern of an overwhelming bass response. I am not fond of bass that gives out literally a physical impacton my body. One of those too hard of hitting that it makes it uncomfortable to listen to. But not with these TAD R1TX. Excellent balance of low frequency response coupled with high clarity in the mids and highs. The bass drum and also the percussion sounded really enegrized going through this system. It really gets me going, bringing me back to my younger days of clubbing. Now, on another piece, the sound of saxophone was really melodious and engaging. It matches well with the Innuos source. 

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Sampler 1

Sampler 2

For a demo session, please contact AV Designs (03-6241 1237).

New TAD Set Up in AV Designs

If there is one hifi brand that I like but have yet to review in my house is TAD. Exclusively distributed by Audio Visual Designs Sdn. Bhd. in Malaysia, I have only enjoyed its majestic sound in their show room either back in Rohas Perkasa or in their existing shop along Jalan Kuching. When James Tan informed me of the arrival of the classy looking Evolution 1 E1Tx floorstanding speakers, C600 pre amp and M700S power amp, I knew that I have to go and have a listen to the set up.

Given I am about to start my 1 week annual vacation, I told myself to go and have a listen to this set up on 25th Feb before I go on leave...... and it was all worth it.

The M700S stereo power amp weighs about 75 kg and the chasiss and the 4 legged platform is actually comes as a 1 piece unit! Maintaining its industrial look but in a such classy and minimalist design that will get the WAF approved. It will be a challenge to get a rack that will fit this so most probably for potential owners, it will be set up on the floor.

Its unique design includes:

• Vibration-Suppressing technology
• Lower Centre of Gravity
• High Power Ampification (175 wpc on 8 ohm)
• Extra large capacity power supply
• Simplified First Stage Circuitry
• Dual Logic circuit technology

The Evolution One E1TX is in its class of its own. From physical shape to its finishing, it is another TAD product that will have high WAF. It is a 3 way bass reflex speakers with a 16 cm woofer cone and 9 cm mid and  2.5 cm tweeter berylium dome. It is designed with 88 dB sensitivity.

Standing tall at 1215 mm with a width of 350 mm and depth of 512 mm, this speakers weighs about 46 kg each.

I spent about 1.5 hours here and this is my first impression of the whole set up. TAD have given serious thoughts across the whole sound flow from source to pre amp to power amp to the speakers. The seamless integration throughout the chain was effortless. You can play any genres and it will just adapt itself to provide a presentation that somehow to me is limitless headroom. The sound just keeps on growing as if the sound stage just keeps filling up the room.

The bass was taut, extended just the way I like it. At no stage ever it overpower the mids and highs. It was so coherent that the musicality was just mesmerizing. My initial expectation of this set up was actually to be more laid back given my experience listening to other Japanese hifi. Boy...I was wrong. This is a very convincing, engaging and upfront system.

The price range is out of my reach at the moment as the retail price goes to about RM500K for all 3 pieces (pre, power and speakers) but I still can savour the musical experience. 

Do go and have a listen to this set up as to me, it is one of the rare set ups one can experience in Malaysia.

Contact AV Designs through James Tan on 016-3280237

Sampler 1

Sampler 2

Technical Audio Devices (TAD) - A Full Set Up Private Experience at AV Designs

The MCO made me realised how much I miss visiting HiFi shops. So as soon as I received a message from AV Designs, I arranged for a visit on 3rd July. This was mainly just to meet up and hear some updates on their future plan with the incoming products from Revel, Lexicon, JBL and Mark Levinson.

But first, I was in for a treat as this was quite a private session to sit down and listen to a full Technical Audio Devices (TAD) set up. The last time I heard them was many years ago in Rohas Perkasa. Surreal experience from this set up. It has somehow being shadowed by other makes of hifi in this showroom in the past few years. Glad I had time to listen to them.

The set up consists of:

1. D600 CD/SACD player (and we also used the Bryston BDP2 and feed it into the DAC section)
2. C2000 preamp
3. M2500 power amp
4. CR1 Mk2 speakers

5. Cables by WyWire

 

THE LISTENING SESSION

This is not so much of a review but I must say that I am pretty amazed with this set up. Not sure whether I should call the CR1 Mk2 as bookshelf as the sound coming out from these pair can be mistook coming from huge floorstanders.  It is no way a bass shy speakers and the high level of clarity is one of the highlights. The whole set up has such a low background noise even at low volume you can actually enjoy a sweet musical presentation.

AV Designs played it loud. I mean really loud. Level that my Audiologist wife will not approve of :). But I didn't feel any listening fatigue for that 2.5 hours session. The highs.... instead of sharp, it was actually very sweet and tender to the ears. The bass was extensive but not punchy. The attack is there but its not hard hitting.

The overall set up is indeed a well matched and engineered set up. From source to speakers, TAD have fully thought through the musical chain. Granted, it is not a cheap set up to own (speakers is in excess of RM200K, CD player in excess of RM100K retail price) but one who has the dough should not miss the chance to listen to this set up before more new stuff comes in. Who knows, AV Designs may be able to come up with a suitable price for you. Hint2!

Give them a shout should you feel like experiencing a full TAD system. 

H-2-6, Block H, Boulevard Business Park, No. 115, Jalan Kepayang
51200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Get Directions

03-6241 1237

TAD/Passlabs System

Had a chance to listen to this beautiful set up today. Kudos to the owner who has done a fantastic job in room acoustic for this system to fully shine.

TAD Evolution Series Launch Event

AV Designs  again have hosted a launch event for TAD (Technical Audio Devices) Lab Inc latest Evolution Series disc player and DAC, appropriately named as the TAD-D1000 and TAD-DA1000. The event was held at their showroom in Rohas Perkasa on Thursday, 21st Jan 2014.

The event was a semi-formal affair with the attendance of the usual Malaysian faces of audiophille, journalists and bloggers.  The event was graced by the attendance of Mr. Takahashi of Pioneer/TAD Malaysia. He emphasized that TAD is very proud with this latest product as it was built for accuracy in music reproduction which came from an engineered approach. It is to deliver a natural and realistic musical experience.

A brief info sharing of TAD history was given by Ryan Lee, their sales and marketing executive. TAD was established in 1975 to develop professional level speakers or monitors. As it grows to develop other products for domestic market, TAD still is well known across the world for its accuracy in reproducing sound in over 200 professional sites. Capitol Records, Pixar, Walt Disney are some of the famous places that employs TAD products for their studios. George Michael, RHCP, Coldplay and Michael Buble are some of the big name artists that uses TAD in their album recording works.

And of course, their products have been highly reviewed by What HiFi, Stereophile and Techradar magazines to name a few.

Some of the key main features:

1. A newly developed unltra high carrier to noise ratio master clock UPCG

2. DAC circuit equipped with Burr Brown PCM1794A

3. A-synch USB transmission engine that faitfully reproduces high res sound sources up to 32 bit, 384 kHz.

4. Aluminium chassis and structure with low COG to minimise effect of external vibrations

5. A proprietary large sized toriodal PSU enables effortless playback of sounds with fast attack

6. Unique CD mechanism for outstanding precision loading and quietness

7. Simple and high sound quality system configuration made possible through a line output volume function in the DA1000

8. The DAC also comes as a headphone ampilfier with dedicated volume function.

The 2 products were then jointly launched by Mr. Takahashi (Pioneer), Mr. James Tan and Mr. Tony Low (AV Designs).

After that, it was all musical pleasure. James Tan demonstrated the capabilities of these 2 items. 4 tracks were played, first straight from the CD player into the full TAD system. Then it was followed by feeding the CD player to the DAC. Most of the audience were in consensus that the sound via the DAC was more luscious. Eventhough its the same DAC chip in both the CD player and DAC, the latter still sounded more appealing.

Overall, it is true what Mr. Takahashi said that its all about naturalness and realistic. Strumming of guitar sounded sharp and detail was given on every chord, the hollowness of the bass drum on one of the tracks can actually be heard and vocals were extremely mesmerizing with sweetness and lusciousness. There was also a complex piece arangement on one of the tracks but the CD player and DAC had no issues in detailing the multiple instrument piece.

I have seen and heard a few hifi equipments that has a price tag that can make a person goes 'You got to be kidding me'.... and even if I do have the dough, I will not purchase it. But this is one product that I believe is priced appropriately. You get a lot from it.... the built, the estatic design, the sound quality....just pure musical pleasure.... I love it.... But I still can't afford it :)

The D1000 disc player is priced at RM 66,999 and the DA1000 DAC is priced at RM56,999 and can be auditioned and purchased only from the sole distributor of TAD in Malaysia... at AV Designs in Bangunan Rohas Perkasa, Kuala Lumpur.

If you are into high end equipments and sound but dont want to hit that RM 6 digits territorry, have a listen to these 2 items. You will be surprised....but just be carefull that you might extremely mesmerized and you will just swipe that credit card to purchase one :)

Other information on the specifications are as below:

TAD D1000 CDP and DA1000 DAC: OFFICIAL LAUNCH

Feast your eyes on these beauties while a full write up is posted.