Stereonet tests TAGA’s latest speaker creation TAGA Nostalgic TH-12, which is made in pure retro spirit but with today’s technology. Here we have a speaker that is incredibly lively and has the ability to vanish into the soundscape like the best hi-fi speakers.
Below is an excerpt from the test, but you can read the full review here: https://www.stereonet.com/au/reviews/taga-harmony-nostalgic-th-12-floorstanding-loudpeakers-review
THE LISTENING
This loudspeaker has an attractively balanced sound, yet is still capable of generating real excitement. It has a big character to match its size, and can sound great at low listening levels – and then go loud with very little sign of strain.
I enjoy listening to Chad Crouch's compositions playing softly as background music while I’m researching and writing. I sit well off to the side, in the part of the room where my desk is, and even there, I can enjoy the realism of the naturally recorded birds and instruments on the track Part 17. Even when the track has no bass content, the Nostalgic TH-12 still sounds smooth and even in the treble and midrange, and shows a seamless transition between its drivers. There is a fine sense of flow, steadiness, and calmness to voices and piano, in particular, which is very enjoyable and makes me want to listen longer.
With the ability to adjust treble and midrange levels, the TH-12 is capable of delivering a fairly even frequency response – certainly one that should suit most people’s tastes. Listening to The Rhythm Divine by Yello featuring the amazing voice of Shirley Bassey, I can hear a satisfying sense of detail, speed and air. The music sounds spacious, with well placed backing vocals and sparkling cymbal work. It’s a warm and friendly sound, with no harshness or irritation at all.
Rachets by Hedegaard is a track with strong rhythmic bass, and this TAGA Harmony speaker delivers room-filling energy, plus a thump in the chest from the kick drum...
The sound staging is very good indeed. I loved how the speaker practically disappears from the room at higher volumes, letting the listener focus on the music playing. In this respect it is more convincing than many other speakers I’ve heard, even at many times the TAGA Harmony’s asking price. For example, the blues-tinged Evil Memory by Crystal Shawanda has a broad spread of sound that pushes well beyond the speaker boxes, with the vocal line clearly set forward of the instruments. This speaker recreates the recorded space convincingly, helping to fully convey the realism of the performance.
THE VERDICT
TAGA Harmony’s Nostalgic TH12 is an interesting-looking loudspeaker with real sound skill and charm, especially on well-recorded material. Whether you like the styling is a personal matter, but there’s no denying that a pair of these will quickly become the centrepiece of your listening room. Overall, it’s a solid thumbs up for this design, which offers very good value for money—especially when you include the bundled stands. Do try to listen to a pair if you get the chance.
