As most Chinese would be ‘all in‘ preparing to celebrate Chinese New Year 2026, I was equally excited in preparation to receive the first unit of Technical Audio Devices’ (TAD from JAPAN) first High End integrated amplifier, the TAD Evolution Series A1000 (retail at Ringgit Malaysia RM111,300 for the standard silver colored) from their MALAYSIA distributor, Audio Visual Designs Sdn Bhd.
According to TAD website, the TAD A1000 was…
No mere After Thought and No Follow the Trend kind of Audio Product.
It was an almost ‘From the Ground Up‘ fusion of advanced preamplifier technology taken from their ‘Reference Series‘ preamplifiers with…
specially selected matching pairs of FET Devices…
for the positive(+) and negative(-) elements to optimize signal complementarity, and an analog power supply circuit that comprised of…
Twin High-Capacity Toroidal Transformers
– directly connected to its power supply circuit where the cross-section of the transformer core was designed in a circular shape to enhance the contact between the core and coils, thereby minimizing unwanted leakage magnetic flux and vibrations,
and Electrolytic Capacitors
– TAD’ s proprietary 33,000 μF electrolytic capacitors,…with a Class-D output stage that generated minimum heat (therefore no heat sink required) and delivered an impressive 250 watts (into 4 Ω) of power per channel,…
Fully Balanced Stereo Amplifier Designed.
In addition to the aboves and to improve further, the TAD A1000 employed…
Ultimate Symmetry in Circuitry and Layout…
to suppress even the slightest amplification errors/ signal errors, achieve optimal structural weight distribution and vibration balance,…
Custom-Designed Ball-Bearing-Supported Electronic Volume Control,…
Four [4]-Chambered of Vibration-Controlled structure,…
Three [3] Feets with Internally Inverted Spikes,…
and Heavy-Duty Terminals
—identical to those used in the ‘Reference Series‘ power amplifiers.
QUICK INSTALLATION.
Fortunately, the team at AV Designs carried the heavy 29Kg, TAD A1000 into my Audio Den before CNY 2026. They smiled and joked that I would be having fun throughout the Festive holiday (and that they be picking it back after the holiday, therefore my time with the TAD A1000 was limited,…however, I did manage to have it for a few weeks!). Without delay, I connected my convenient digital source, the HIFI ROSE RS150B Server and Streamer (for streaming Tidal) to the TAD A1000 and from it to the AUDIOVECTOR R 10 Arreté (reviewed) Flagship Loudspeakers via the TELOS AUDIO DESIGNS (TAIWAN) BRANDA SIGNATURE (reviewed) speaker cable.
THE SOUND QUALITY THAT OTHERS MISSED?!
After having listened to some serious High End integrated amplifiers from GRYPHON, JADIS, BRYSTON, DARTZELL, VITUS, AUDIO NOTE (UK), KONDO (JAPAN), NAIM, 47 LABS (JAPAN), FELIKS AUDIO, etc (etc, etc…), I found that the TAD A1000 has its own Uniqueness in Sound Quality, that others may have (intentionally?) missed (…Odd?).
Here at Yim Hok-Man‘s ‘Flying Dragons and Leaping Tigers‘, it was obvious to me that the TAD A1000 integrated amplifier has a powerful amplifier that was able to present in Good Orderly Fashion a powerful and (power-) demanding orchestra presentation,…where each instrument was Separated and Spaced filled with Audible Air,…that also contributed in the Images (of instruments) Floated and more Distanced from one another,…and that there was Deeper Depth in soundstage than what was usual (for me),…
thus Great Soundstaging!
In addition to the aboves, I was treated to the High Level of Transparency that reminiscented to Refine Detailing,…
as if the Music was treated with Care and Attention!
Even amidst the complicated and heavy musical content, yet the stringeth instrument sounded Smooth, Natural and with Accurate Transient of Energy…
without any Frequency Exeggeration.
Whatever reservation one may have in the TAD A1000‘s power delivery would easily be dispelled as it (has for me) succeeded in presenting the ever demanding ‘Holst: The Planets, Op.32: 1. Mars, The Bringer of War‘ with the…
required Aplomb(!), Granduer(!), Dynamic(!), Articulate Deep Bass(!) and yet in all Good Orderly Fashion(!).
To my pleasant surprise, I was treated with a slighty (positive) change at the vocal presentation of LiSA (Ms.Risa Oribe, a renowned Japanese singer-songwriter known as the “Queen of Anime Music” for her powerful vocals and energetic rock style) at her famous track, ‘Gurenge‘ (from the hit anime, Demon Slayer). Her Vocalisation flowed with the sense of Tangibility and Easeness that
reminiscented to the ‘Transparency of Unplugness‘.
Within that, I got to hear more Intricate Details and experience the Dimensions and Layerings in her vocalisation,…at that time, I said to myself,
“What a Revelation and an Enlightenment”
That same revelation and enlightenment continued even at the instrument (piano arranged and played by Mr.Ryo Eguchi), where I got to…
Hear and Feel the pianist’s intended Intensity, Emotional, Presence, Weight and Transient of Energy (dynamic) of each note from his play.
Here, even from a ‘LIVE’ Recording of ‘A Case of You‘, I found the presentation of Ms.Diana Krall‘s vocalisation to be Natural and Direct,…
as if I was ‘led to believe’ to hear Details or Resolution directly from the Recording Mike itself.
That same transparency was extended to the sheer Size and Dimensions of the instrument (piano played by Ms.Krall),…and even highlighted, the often missable, Bass pedaling (low notes) coupled with Spacing and Differing Weight,…as for each higher note, it was presented with clear Delineation and at the Right Tempo.
Therefore, the entire presentation was easily Followed, Convinced and sounded Musically Natural.
Here, at the top charted track, ‘Come Away with Me‘ by Ms.Norah Jones, the presentation of her vocalisation was Smooth, Ease and Relax (as intended and recorded),
however the TAD A1000‘s Transparency went Deeper…
to highlight her Artistry, Resolute and Presence, even admist a number of known and talented musicians. So much so I was able to hear the Airiness (that contributed to the Dimensions and Layerings in her vocalisation) at, around and/or from her mouth and throat amidst the other instrumentations (or music).
THE UNIQUENESS THAT SET APART!
I would not say that the TAD A1000 was the best integrated amplifier that I have heard, for there were those ‘more powerful’, ‘more tonally colorful‘, ‘more energetic (dynamic)’, ‘more exaggerated at certain bandwidth/ frequencies’, etc…, but I would say that it managed to leave a Deep Impression in me
with its Unheard Transparency – a Testament of its Extreme Low Noise, that went Deeper into the Core of the Music.
For me (and some audiophile) to be able to…
Hear Deeper into the Music is worth GOLD!
Key Specifications & Performance.
- Power Output: Delivers 250 watts per channel into 4 ohms.
- Amplification Type: Utilizes a highly efficient Class D output stage that minimizes heat and eliminates the need for traditional heat sinks.
- Signal Path: Features a fully symmetrical signal path and a “Bridge-Tied-Load” (BTL) topology for precise control over speaker diaphragms.
- Frequency Response: 10 Hz to 50 kHz.
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 100 dB or higher.
Advanced Engineering.
- Preamplifier Section: Based on a single-stage current-feedback circuit derived from TAD’s Reference Series, using individually matched FET pairs.
- Volume Control: Employs an electronically switched resistance-ladder system for ultra-low distortion (less than 0.0005%).
- Power Supply: Built around a high-capacity toroidal transformer with a linear regulator and proprietary 33,000 μ𝜇F smoothing capacitors.
- Vibration Isolation: The chassis is divided into four separate chambers (preamp, power amp, transformer, and control) and rests on three feet with internally inverted spikes to decouple it from floor vibration.
Design & Connectivity.
- Aesthetics: Available in Silver (TAD-A1000-S) and Black (TAD-A1000-K) with a center-mounted, ball-bearing-supported volume knob.
- Analog Inputs: Includes 4 balanced XLR inputs (100 kΩΩ) and 2 unbalanced RCA inputs (50 kΩΩ).
- Build Quality: Features heavy-duty, extra-large speaker terminals identical to those in the Reference Series power amplifiers.