T+A Talis R 330 Stand-mount Speakers Review

T+A elektroakustik GmbH & Co. KG is a high-end audio equipment manufacturer based in Herford, Germany. Founded in 1978, the company’s name stands for “Theory and Application,” reflecting its engineering-driven approach to designing audio systems. T+A is renowned for its meticulous craftsmanship, proprietary technologies, and innovative designs across a range of products including amplifiers, DACs, speakers, and CD/SACD players. The company manufactures nearly all components in-house, ensuring quality control and performance consistency. T+A products are characterized by a neutral, transparent sound signature and are highly regarded by audiophiles worldwide for their precision, durability, and attention to sonic detail.

T+A is a name that European audiophiles are very familiar with. Founded in 1978, they offer a complete variety of products that afficionados lust after.

The T+A Talis R 330 stand-mount speakers represent classic German engineering, combining elegant design with cutting-edge acoustic performance. As part of T+A’s prestigious Talis series, these compact yet high-performance loudspeakers promise an audiophile listening experience. T+A, known for its dedication to technological excellence and sonic purity, has engineered the R 330 to deliver exceptional clarity, dynamic range, and precision that rivals larger floor-standing models.

Designed for audiophiles, the Talis R 330 showcases an advanced two-way design featuring a 1” magnesium tweeter and a 6.7” bass reflex-tuned mid/bass driver. The rigid aluminum enclosure enhances durability and minimizes resonance, allowing the speakers to produce a clean, low-distortion sound. With an emphasis on neutrality and detail retrieval, these speakers are positioned as a reference-grade option for those seeking high-end audio in a more compact form.

But do the Talis R 330 truly live up to their premium reputation? In this review, we’ll explore their design, build quality, technical performance, and overall sound signature to determine if they stand among the finest stand-mount speakers in their class.

We have reviewed a pair of their headphones and headphone amplifier in 2024 (https://hometheaterhifi.com/reviews/ta-solitaire-p-planar-headphones-and-ha-200-headphone-amp-review/), and the Talis R 330 stand-mounts are the first set of speakers into Secrets for review.

The T+A Talis R 330 speakers are a testament to precision engineering and modern aesthetics, featuring an enclosure crafted entirely from aluminum. The construction is seamless to the naked eye, with precisely machined panels forming an elegant yet acoustically inert housing. The front panel extends around the front edges, blending smoothly into the side walls, while the rear and remaining sides are composed of expertly joined aluminum panels. The top and bottom surfaces are finished with separate aluminum plates, completing the speaker’s refined and minimalist design.

At the heart of the R 330’s acoustic performance is a carefully engineered driver array, optimized for both accuracy and musicality. The 1-inch magnesium dome tweeter is designed for exceptional high-frequency reproduction, delivering crisp, airy treble with impressive detail and resolution. Magnesium’s inherent lightness and rigidity allow for rapid transient response, reducing distortion and preserving the delicate nuances of a recording. Complementing the tweeter is a 6.7” polymer woofer, engineered to provide tight, controlled bass and a natural midrange. This woofer’s material choice ensures both strength and flexibility, allowing it to handle dynamic passages while maintaining tonal richness. Together, these drivers create a balanced and immersive listening experience.

The speaker is quite heavy at 33 pounds, so the overall build is massive for a stand- mount speaker.

The overall look is attractive yet restrained.

Knocking on the sides or top of the speaker yields a very well-damped “thump.” I suspect the enclosure is filled with some sort of damping material. The matching black stands came with the speakers, and they are also well-damped, so you don’t need to worry about filling them with sand or cat litter.

The rear panel has one pair of heavy banana plug connectors. (Some of the speaker photos are on a white stand in order to make the border between the speaker and the stand easier to see.)

I listened to the T+A Talis R 330 Speakers using a laptop connected via USB-B to an AURALiC ALTAIR G1 Digital Audio Streamer, Pass Labs XP-32 Preamplifier, and Balanced Audio Technology VK-500 Stereo Power Amplifier. Cables were provided by Clarus. The speakers were placed on the included stands, 12 feet apart, toed in at 15⁰.

First up, the usual suspects.

And now, the newly released albums:

At 50 Hz, 87 dB SPL (figure 1), distortion was 0.33%, and the 2^nd-ordered harmonic was the largest. There is some resonance in the 5 kHz – 10 kHz range, but it registers at 5 dB SPL, so it is inaudible.

At 100 Hz, 89 dB, 0.36% THD. Still, the 2^nd-ordered harmonic was the largest (Figure 2). Resonance again in the 5 kHz – 10 kHz range, now at about 10 dB SPL.

The crossover frequency is 2 kHz, so the 1 kHz sine wave shown in Figure 3 below is still reproduced by the woofer, and its 89 dB SPL, with 0.13% THD still has the 2^nd-ordered harmonic as the largest. This is very good performance for a small woofer driver. The resonance at 5 kHz – 10 kHz is no longer there, so it appears to be something excited by low frequencies.

5 kHz, shown in Figure 4, is now in the range of the tweeter, and at 93 dB, still primarily 2nd-order harmonics. Distortion was at 0.10%.

Figure 5 below shows the spectrum for 10 kHz. SPL was 85 dB. Distortion was 0.39%, and just as with the other spectra, the 2^nd-ordered harmonic was the primary one.

IMD is shown in Figure 6, below, at 1%. The resonance in the 5 kHz – 10 kHz range is there, probably because of the 60 Hz low-frequency signal that is part of the 60 Hz, 7 kHz IM test.

In Figure 7, below, the X axis is expanded to show the individual IM peaks.

In Figure 8, below, the spectrum with a 19 kHz, 20 kHz signal is shown. These two sine waves are produced only by the tweeter. There is a 17 dB SPL 1 kHz B-A peak.

Figure 9 shows the 19 kHz, 20 kHz side peaks in an expanded X axis.

Figure 10 has the spectrum using a 1/10^th decade test signal, which shows where the largest concentration of distortion occurs. In this case, it is in the 600 Hz to 2 kHz range, which is all coming from the woofer.

Here (Figure 11) is the frequency response. There is a rise above 15 kHz, and the bass attenuates below 50 Hz. This is with no port plug.

Figure 12 shows the 2^nd-ordered (yellow), 3^rd-ordered (magenta), and 4^th-ordered (green) harmonics for the audible range, from the frequency response spectrum in Figure 11.

Now, the frequency response spectrum for the speaker with the port plug inserted into the port on the rear panel (Figure 13). The low frequency response is further attenuated below about 85 Hz,

Note that the distortion is lower in the attenuated range with the port plug (Figure 14). If you are going to use these speakers with a subwoofer, I would suggest using the port plug on the Talis R 330’s, and crossover to the sub at about 70 Hz.

Figure 15 shows the Cumulative Spectral Decay. Resonance above 10 kHz is well controlled. The cabinet does have some resonances which are over by about 2.5 msec.

In Figure 14, we see the Impedance/Phase plot. The impedance is a maximum of 28.5 Ω at 72 Hz, and a minimum of 4 Ω at 170 Hz. The phase is a maximum of +50⁰ at 730 Hz, and a minimum of -51⁰ at 85 Hz.

Conclusions

The T+A Talis R 330 are superb loudspeakers. Their performance aligns perfectly with their price, offering a listening experience that is as refined as it is immersive.

T+A is known for producing exceptional audio equipment, and the Talis R 330 stand-mount speakers are a testament to their commitment to high-end sound. These speakers deliver an impressive level of detail, allowing listeners to hear every nuance in their favorite music. The bass response is particularly noteworthy, providing depth and richness that enhance the overall listening experience. While some measurable resonance may be present, it remains below the threshold of audibility, ensuring that the sound remains pure and uncolored.

Although the Talis R 330 speakers come with a premium price tag, their performance justifies the investment. The build quality and engineering reflect the high standards expected from T+A, resulting in a product that not only looks sophisticated but also delivers sonically. These speakers are designed for discerning audiophiles who demand both precision and musicality, making them a worthy addition to any high-end audio setup.