how to tell if a TAD 803 is 2005 2 way version?

well, first it's not really a single driver speaker. it's a wide range driver coupled to an attenuated tweeter. semantics.

i suppose the best way is to open them up. if there's a crossover inside, it's the two-way. if there's no crossover per se, but one resistor in the tweeter circuit, it's the other.

I think Paul put a sticker under the grills of some of the ones he converted to the single-driver model, although I had one pair that was the SD version that didn't have the sticker.

I can tell you that the SD version sounds markedly rolled off in the treble compared to other speakers. It may play "close to flat" on top if "close" is defined as -3dB at 15kHz and around -6dB at 20kHz...

musicdoc, thanks for letting me know how to tell by actually examining the guts of the speaker, but i wanted to know how to figure it out without de-coupling the cabinet/driver...which leads me to a mild complaint about yout post, less about stereos than communication....

"well, first it's not really a single driver speaker. it's a wide range driver coupled to an attenuated tweeter. semantics."

Musicdoc

i know you probably did not mean it, but...
well first...if it is semantics, what's your point? that such usage is evidence that i lack status (or ??) of some sort or degree...even if the speaker designer and everyone else who talks about the TAD 803s refers to them as single driver, even when they point out that lil' horn loaded thingie on top?

if they are all wrong just give them evidence demonstrating the importance of the semantics, admittedly part of a much larger issue, as i simply enjoy sweet sounding monitors like the TAD and will refer to better references than anonymous cybernauts when i feel i need an education, semantic, electronic, or otherwise; i don't pay significant bucks for on-line access to gratify others' insecurities by enduring such passive aggression, i.e., see my prior post relevant to this same egocentrism...IMHO

season's greetings to all (including you musicdoc, whoever you are [remember Zappa at the end of Bongo Fury: "goodnight Austin Texas wherever you are"])

"information is not knowledge, knowledge is not truth, truth is not wisdom, wisdom is not beauty, beauty is not art, art is not music, music is the best"
FZ

cheers

my post was in no way intended to be an indictment, criticism, sarcasm, condescension, or the like.

and no offense, but read your own reactionary post and see if it doesn't in some way reflect what you presumptuously infer about me. everyone is free to his or her own opinion, truth, reality etc.

i was simply making a point, which is the seller is misrepresenting the product to an *eensy weensy* degree. single driver by definition is just that--no more, no less.

that said, i own and enjoy what i would call the "wide range" version.

peace. may we all in some way benefit from each other's input here, even with the limitations of language, the limitations of words on a screen devoid of intonation or intention.

hey music doc dont waist your time on this guy.

well said music doc, you are correct, i overstated my criticism as i am a writer and particularly sensitive to how words come across anonomously, like you said "on a screen devoid of intonation or intention." well said indeed.
in my humble defense, though, i tried to make it clear that i was not inferring anything about you personally, only pointing out how the language came across without knowing you personally. still this is no place to hash out issues like that so defintely my bad.

and johnk, while i still think your usage was in fact condenscending, i have no way of knowing if that was your intention or not (ie., if you really are condenscending) and in any case it simply does not matter as, again, this is not the place for that. i should/will assume the best instead of the worst in the spirit of the season.

again my apologies to all and most of all thanks for your willingness not just to help but to attempt to address my non-audio related issues along the way.

still interested in whether your speaker is a crossover model or crossoverless. i listened to both, and imho the latter is considerably better. fyi the last time i checked the site the crossoverless model in black was $189 (shipped price when using a postal m.o.).

Paul Grzybek e-mailed me that most crossover-less TADs have two cut outs in the grill frame (which mine do not), but then the person who sold them to me said he got them from Paul in 2006 when the crossover-less design was first produced, then Paul asked for the guy's name to check the invoice to make sure but i'm betting they are crossoverless (i just moved and have no allen wrenches to check anyway). i still haven't heard back from Paul, but considering i'm not even a customer, i must say he was very accomodating. and i really do like the speaker for the price.

i'll let you know if i hear back from paul.