darTZeel NHB-108 users please check in ...

You forgot to mention, that the dart dislodged the $60k 911mk3 monos from your system :)

911mk3 has a very low input impedance, is it POSSIBLE a preamp impedance mis-match problem? Did you use the Dartzeel 18NS?

TAD CR-1's is 86db, I'm surprise Dartzeel 108 can drive them as well as the 911Mk3 monos.

Ciro71, exactly my thought.

Ciro71, what Avalon do you have?

but I don't believe to the synergy created by the audiophile that mix a lot of components!

Isn't this the only synergy that's important to an audiophile/consumer? "true synergy" is meaningless if it doesn't sound good to an audiophile.

Joeinid, how far from the front wall and amount of toe-in is your TAD CR1?

Jeinid, My TAD Evolution One's arrived last week so been breaking them in and playing with placement.

This is the 1st ported speaker in many many years. They finally ended up in the recommended 24" from front wall and toe-in to ears like your CR-1's. Probably will tweak them until final break-in. Sound is AMAZING and worth every penny!

Thanks Joeinid. Your friend can't go wrong with any TAD especially Ref1. E1 is less forgiving so one has to choose components carefully.

I'm driving my E1 with VAC Sig MKIIa pre and TRL Samson and it's a sounds fabulous and NOT edgy, hard or bright. I would not recommend Samsons for something like Revel Salon 2 but @88db, it's perfect. I was considering Hegel H30 and my TAD dealer recommends Viola but will hold off indefinitely now.

As the E1s are breaking in, I moved them 28" from front wall and decreased toe-in so intersecting 1.5' from back of my head.

Have you ever tried a tube pre with your CR-1s?

Joeinid,

Look forward to your comments on the Dagostino preamp. My GUESS is Dagostino combo a superior match for your CR-1s than Dartzeel.

08-05-14: Audioexcels
Hi knghifi!

Can you explain more about what you mean by the E1 being less forgiving than the R1? Usually the words less forgiving refer to something that is more ruthlessly revealing, in other words, more transparent/detailed/etc. With the E1's midrange being magnesium vs. a BE in the CR1 or R1 speaker, I don't see how the E1 would be less forgiving. If anything, the BE mid would be much less forgiving and require careful matching of components to either CR1 or R1?

Thanks for your input!

Are you familiar with R1 and E1? R1 = E1 + warmer + more musical. TAS E1 review was spot on. Less forgiving is just relative when comparing them back to back. Andrew Jones is a genius with great ears.

I'm very sensitive to brightness and never had a problem with E1 after a year of ownership driving them with both high quality SS and tube amps.