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TDL Speakers - Pls. Read & Share Your Thoughts

Hi,

I have been using TDL REFERENCE STUDIO MONITOR 'M' speakers for quite a few years now.They have kept me very happy & content through these years .

TDL speakers are rarely spoken of & i know only a few people who own them. I thought it will be interesting to share the experiences of pepole who have owned or heard TDL speakers.

IMO TDL's ref monitor's are very well balanced speakers.I have heard quite a few expensive and well reputed speakers in the $10k - $20k range, but none has made me want to give up the TDL's. Some were good at doing one thing well but the overall picture was somehow not complete. Many of them fell far short in the lower frequencies and this is where the TDL's trully excelled, reaching down to nearly 18 Hz.

I guess as with any system matching is crucial and i found tubes to be the best match but to enjoy the bass depths these speakers reach you need SS control. I settled for a Supratek Chardonnay tube pre with a Mac MC352 power amp. This combo works *** MAGIC *** for me. I have something to look forward to at the end of every day. Something us audiophiles have in common i guess to keep us sane in this crazy world. Sit back and let it flow !!!

I would love to hear from any A'gonners who have owned or experienced these trully special speakers. There's next to nothing to be found on the web about TDL's so i think it would be nice to start a thread on this one time great company.

Pls. pay your tribute to " TDL " by sharing your experiences with ANY TDL model you would like to mention along with various sys. combinations you might have tried on them.

From a TDL fan !!!
dilly

Showing 4 responses by dilly

dilly OP
113 posts
 
Hello Yot.
Nice to hear from another fan. I have heard the
Studio 1'M' . I am not suprised you have kept them for 12 years.

Thanks for the tip on the Cardas wiring. Is there a particular type you would recommend ?
This was a long term option i was considering as well.
Also have you considered vandenhull cables before opting for cardas.

Cheers,
dilly OP
113 posts
 
Hello Rico,

Nice to hear from another fan! You have a vast collection!!!

Recently met a gent who had owned IMF top model (can't remember the model) 20 years ago which he had to let go way back. He mentioned he has been missing these for nearly 15 years since then. Recently he found himself a pair of Reference Studio Monitor M used & said this will be his "last set of speakers"! I know he meant it though we audiophiles tend to use this term a lot. Just thought I would share this.

I too have another TDL pair. A pair of Studio .5 M. Supposed to be "worlds smallest full Transmission line speakers" according to their brochure at the time.

Cheers,
dilly OP
113 posts
 
Oh and this Kharma Grand Ceramique review gives you an idea of how good the TDL Reference bass really is.........

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue13/kharmagrandceramique.htm
dilly OP
113 posts
 
Hello Dan,

I started this thread 14 years ago, it seems so long ago. My systems have gone through numerous changes but happy to say the TDL Studio Monitors are still with me! I still like them as the day I brought them home and they are still in excellent shape after all these years. They are truly speakers for the long run.

Regarding the bass driver I can confirm the model is 3021 GT03. As I understand they will be very difficult to come by. I believe the KEF B139 driver is a direct replacement. TDL has improved the performance over the B139. I am afraid I don't have any information on the crossover circuit diagrams to share. The TDL Studio Monitor 'M' speaker, the fronts of the speaker is also vineered as the sides where as the Studio 4 it looks black. I presume yours is the former with front veneer. 

I came across some information on the TDL's on AVS Forums, you can have a look. You can also contact Falcon Acoustics for suitable replacement drivers. Falcon also has a white paper on the driver specs. 

I hope you will be able to restore the speakers back to the original condition. They are worth the effort IMO.

If you come across any more information please do post it here for the benefit of other TDL owners. I wish you best of luck with the  restoration!







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