It was 1975 and Pioneer was developing a new line of high-end loudspeakers designed specifically for professional use. The project was called TAD and the initials stood for Technical Audio Devices rather unimaginatively. TAD continued to develop as a sub-brand until it was separated from Pioneer and established as a standalone company in 2007.
Today, TAD has evolved into a respected high-end manufacturer of loudspeakers and electronics, and the new DA1000TX digital-to-analog converter is a fine example of what the company does. Like many of the TAD’s designs, it’s an understated product, built and engineered with obsessive care.
To build
When we say understated, that doesn’t apply to the size of the thing. It’s easily larger than many of the premium power amps passing through our test rooms, weighing in at a whopping 16.5kg. Just make sure your hi-fi rack is strong enough to support it.
Go beyond the bulk, though, and you’ll find that TAD has a thing for simplicity. The front panel of the DA1000TX is pleasantly uncluttered with all controls in the dark strip at the bottom of the unit. There’s a small, simple but clear display alongside a few scattered buttons to control volume level, switch inputs and power up the unit. Couch potatoes needn’t worry, TAD also includes a nice metal remote control for those who prefer not to have to get up to change things. This remote control is just as clear and easy to use as the main unit.
Functions
The brand’s focused simplicity-first approach extends to the way the device works. While most DAC competitors offer a host of filter settings and other tweaks that allow users to tweak performance, TAD takes a more dictatorial approach by offering nothing in the way of fine-tuning. You hear what the engineers think is best. It’s a bold move, but also one that shows the company’s conviction in its approach to sound quality.
Connectivity is good, with the usual trio of USB (Type B), coax (x2) and optical digital inputs alongside the less common AES/EBU option. There is also a pair of digital outputs for those who want the option to do additional processing. On the analog side, there’s a choice of balanced XLR and single-ended RCA outputs as standard, and a 6.3mm headphone jack is on the front panel. The DA1000TX is unconventional in that plugging in headphones does not attenuate the line output. The headphone and line level outputs are controlled independently of each other, which is useful at times, but also takes some getting used to.
Take a look inside the DA1000TX and you’ll find an impeccably constructed product with dual-differential DAC ICs per channel alongside independent power supplies for the analog and digital sections of the circuit to minimize unwanted interaction. Great care has been taken with the main clock signal to minimize jitter and the overall circuit design to reduce noise.
TAD DA1000TX technical specifications
Maximum file compatibility 32bit/384kHz PCM, DSD256
Digital inputs USB Type B, AES/EBU, coax x2, optical
Digital outputs AES/EBU, coaxial
Analog outputs Stereo RCA, stereo balanced XLR, 6.3mm headphone output
At a distance? Yes
Weight 16.5 kg
Dimensions (hwd) 15 x 44 x 41 cm
TAD has taken the trouble and expense to develop its own asynchronous USB engine. Most rivals buy off-the-shelf third-party modules to do the job, potentially giving the DA1000TX a performance advantage in this area. As always, the proof is in listening.
This DAC can handle virtually any audio file type, from 32-bit/384kHz PCM to DSD256. We certainly didn’t run into any compatibility issues with our music collection, although completists would probably like to add MQA decoding capabilities to the spec sheet. Our only complaint here is that every time we change file types we hear a slight click coming through our speakers. Surely TAD can mute this? Other companies can.
Any product at this level requires a top class system, and this DAC is no different. We use a Naim ND555/555 PS DR as our main digital source and have a MacBook Pro (loaded with Audirvana music playback software) on hand to test the USB input. We also have a Chord 2go/2yu available as an alternative digital source. The rest of our reference system consists of Burmester’s 088/911 Mk III amplifier and ATC SCM50 loudspeakers, all connected with high-quality cables from Chord and Vertere.
Sound
The DA1000TX delivers impressive performance as soon as it settles into our system. It has an excellent analogue output section and before long we bypass our 088 preamp and connect the TAD directly to our Burmester power amp. The sound is noticeably brighter and more neutral with this configuration, but still retains a good sense of authority; this is a trait that is often sacrificed when most class rivals are used this way.
We would describe the TAD’s sound as clean, precise and cultured. It has a sophisticated presentation that digs up many details and organizes them into a musically cohesive performance. Play a demanding recording, such as Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 and the DAC responds with a wide-open soundstage populated with brightly drawn instruments. There’s a good sense of depth here and the stereo image remains stable even when the piece gets demanding. The sense of scale is pleasing and extends our system’s sounds well beyond the outer edges of the ATCs.
This is not a particularly characterful sound, and that is a compliment. The DA1000TX doesn’t go out and color the presentation to make it sound more interesting; it is balanced, neutral and revealing. That also means imperfect shots are relentlessly exposed, though the TAD’s innate sophistication means it won’t be made into a meal. We’re impressed with the calmness on display and the way this DAC is able to render delicate instrumental textures so gracefully.
We switch to Nick Cave’s Honey, I’m on fire from 2003 Nocturama set and stay impressed. This is a full throttle shot and the agility and articulation of the DA1000TX come through. There is so much going on in this production but the TAD keeps things under control. We love the top-to-bottom cohesion of this DAC and the way it can track multiple instrumental strings without losing traction. There’s subtlety in the way Cave’s exuberant vocals are drawn and real clarity in a recording that usually sounds pretty messy.
We’re pleased to report that the sound is equally good through the headphone output. We try a range of headphones, from Focal’s Utopia and the Sony MDR-Z1 to Grado’s RS1x, and the TAD powers them with no problem, bringing out the individual character of each. We can’t ask for more than that.
Despite all these great things, there are still a few areas where we think there is room for improvement. One involves rhythmic drive. Cave’s Babe, I’m On Fire has real momentum, but the DA1000TX can’t quite capture that energy. Our feet are still ticking, but we know the similarly priced Chord DAVE would capture more of the track’s verve and drive. It seems that TAD’s quest for refinement, analysis and control has sacrificed a bit of the fun of the music in the process. So is the way he does his best when it comes to delivering the vanguard of transients and powerful large-scale dynamic shifts. This DAC prefers politeness, and with some more aggressive forms of music we can feel the loss.
Pronunciation
Overall, though, we like the TAD DA1000TX. It’s a hugely capable unit and really beautifully made and designed. If you’re the kind of person who values sophistication and sophistication over brio, it’s really worth a listen.
TO SCORE
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