Taga TAV-500B v.2 Review: The Perfect Start to HiFi

If you think that HiFi audio is a hobby for the wealthy and that being an audiophile is out of reach if you have a limited budget, a compact space, and realistic goals, you need to keep reading. The Taga Harmony TAV-500B v.2 active speakers can shift perceptions about the quality and performance available at this price point.

Design & Build Quality

Those bookshelf speakers are quite small. They still need to fit a 6.5-inch driver. The weight is also not a problem. It’s important to note that one speaker weighs a bit more than the other, due to the amplification elements inside.

Does the weight make for a low-quality feeling though? For some, most likely, yes. But they’re priced at around 250 euros. For a pair! The finishes aren’t going to blow your mind, as on most high-end speakers just the finish costs more than 250 euro. However, when we look at other similarly priced speakers, their finishes are rarely veneers, as is the case with this one. There are 4 colors to pick from - modern wenge, oak, walnut, and black - which is the one I have on hand. The colorway I’ve got is perhaps the most universal, but all of the more natural finishes just look fancier and more interesting.

Regardless, the enclosure itself isn’t a perfect squared-off box, and that’s for a reason. The top of the speaker is angled at around 4 degrees from the front to the rear, helping to limit unwanted resonances and turbulences. It’s a very smart idea to do something like this, as the standing waves practically disappear from the speaker’s top to its bottom. They can bounce off indefinitely, as they don’t have a perfectly parallel surface to do so. I think it’s a trickle-down technology from their Diamond series of speakers, which have curved edges and no parallel surfaces whatsoever.

The enclosure uses a wide, rectangular port to enhance bass output. Color-matched gray drivers and rings around create a clean, understated aesthetic. There are 4 holes though for the included fabric grills. You might not be a fan of the grills being non-magnetic, however, I don’t see that as a real problem. The grilles themselves sit securely mounted to the speaker, yet they are easy to remove without damaging anything. Their fabric is rather thin, so it should be acoustically transparent for the most part.

Technologies

A new premium damping material is used to effectively disrupt standing waves, reduce resonances, and minimize distortions, enhancing the clarity and quality of sound across all ranges. They didn’t put just regular foam inside.

The tweeterA small, lightweight driver designed for frequencies above approximately 2kHz, using a dome or ribbon diaphragm for low mass and fast response. is an upgraded 1” silk dome driver equipped with an oversized magnet, ferrofluid cooling, and a heavy-duty copper voice coilThe coil of wire wound on a cylindrical former that sits in the magnetic gap of a speaker motor; carrying audio current creates the force that moves the cone. for accurate, clear, smooth, detailed, and airy highs, even at high power. Housed in a re-engineered second-generation waveguideA flared horn or lens around a tweeter that controls directivity and can improve crossover behavior by matching the tweeter's radiation to the woofer's pattern. with concave diffusers, it enhances sound dispersion for a more natural and immersive soundstageThe perceived three-dimensional acoustic space in a stereo recording - width beyond the speakers, depth front-to-back, and sometimes height information. by improving sound flow and reducing distortions.

The midbass driver is made from ultra-light polypropylene with a rubber surround, large magnet, and heavy-duty voice coil that handles high power efficiently. Its rigid chassis ensures stability at high volumes. This design aims for a smooth, rich midrangeThe frequency range from approximately 250Hz to 5kHz where most musical information, vocals, and instrument fundamentals reside. and deep, musicalA subjective quality where a system seems to convey the emotional content of music effectively, often (though not always) involving some euphonic coloration., precise bass, aided by a flat dust cap for improved airflow.

The internal Class-D amplifier is highly efficient and paired with a 24V 4A power supply. This combo ensures plenty of headroomThe decibel margin between the loudest expected signal and an amplifier's clipping point. 10-20dB of headroom is generally needed for unclipped reproduction of dynamic recordings at realistic listening levels. and minimal distortion, for pristine audio reproduction.

As if that wasn’t enough, it’ll even charge your phone from the USB output! I’m not sure why you’d need it, but it’s there if you do.

Inputs & Outputs

Practically all of the I/O is located on the back of the active “master” speaker. You’ll find:

• A standard C7 power connection in the shape of a figure 8
• A pair of RCA inputs for connecting analog sources like a DACDigital-to-Analog Converter - a device that translates binary audio data into an analog electrical signal that can be amplified and heard. or preamp
• Optical TOSLINKAn optical S/PDIF digital audio interface using a plastic fibre and a red LED, common on TVs, soundbars, and consumer DACs. Limited to 24-bit/96kHz stereo PCM in practice; longer runs need glass fibre for stability. for CD or DVD players, consoles, TVs and such
• A USB-A port - something you’re not very likely to see on most powered speakers. So, you don’t even need a streamer or computer for this thing. You can just plug in a USB drive and boom, you’ve got music.
• Bluetooth built-in for wireless streaming from a phone or tablet
• A speaker out, which is used to connect the 2nd, passive speaker and supply it with an audio signal, so both of them can play music in a stereo configuration
• A single-endedAn amplifier configuration using one output device for the complete audio waveform; produces even-order harmonic distortion considered "euphonic" by many., mono subwoofer output for more bass extensionHow low in frequency a system accurately reproduces sound; good bass extension means 20Hz output, not just 60Hz.

You’ll also find the volume control potentiometer and playback buttons back here. They all interact with the display on the front to indicate the current input, volume, and status.

Technical Specifications

The crossoverA network of filters that divides the audio signal into frequency bands before each reaches its appropriate driver - passive (in the speaker) or active (before the amp). point is at 3.5kHz, so not the lowest, but it’s a 2-way design with just two drivers, so we can’t expect it to break the laws of physics. The amplifier is rated at 2× 40W RMS into 4Ω, with a 100W peak power output, and uses a Class DA switching amplifier using pulse-width modulation to achieve 90%+ efficiency; modern Class D designs rival linear amplifiers in audio performance. design.

The frequency responseA graph showing output amplitude vs. frequency - the most fundamental measurement of any audio component's tonal character. goes from 30Hz on the bottom, to 20kHz on top. It’s an impressive result for a stand-mount speaker. They have to be doing some DSPDigital Signal Processing - manipulation of audio in the digital domain for room correction, crossover implementation, EQ, and delay alignment. trickery internally to achieve it. When I got those speakers, I expected their bass extension to end at 45Hz at most, so I was like “Well… I’ll prepare my subwoofer already…” But I ended up not even using it with these speakers once I heard them. Then I looked at the specs and it explained everything, except how they achieved that.

The speaker’s impedanceThe total opposition (resistance + reactance) a speaker or headphone presents to the driving current, measured in ohms and varying with frequency. is 6Ω, and its sensitivityThe output sound pressure level for a standardized input - typically dBSPL at 1W/1m for speakers, or dBSPL at 1mW or 1V for headphones. is 87dB.

Sound Quality

How do Taga Harmony speakers sound? We need to explore tonality, the balance of bass, mids, and treble that defines any audio device’s sound signature. The TAV-500Bs have a unique character worth discussing.

Starting with the low end, they are designed to deliver a noticeable and impactful bass response. They use a 6.5-inch mid-wooferA loudspeaker driver optimized for bass frequencies, typically from 20Hz to 500Hz, with a large cone and long voice coil travel. which, combined with the built-in amplifier, allows them to produce a surprisingly deep and well-defined bass for their size. I’m not kidding, and I’m used to much larger, multi-driver speakers. It’s not just about the amount - it’s about control and definition. You can expect a solid foundation for your music, with enough punchBass impact in the 60-150Hz region - the chest-thump of a kick drum or the snap of a slap-bass note. Distinct from slam, which extends lower; punch is about the leading edge of bass transients, not the depth. to make things exciting, especially in genres like electronic music, hip-hop, and rock.

However, it’s important to note that these are bookshelf speakers, so while the bass is impressive, it won’t necessarily shake the room like a dedicated subwoofer with a 12-inch woofer for example. The bass is designed to be tight and responsive, avoiding muddiness or boominess that can mask other frequencies, but it still comes off as very tactile and fun.

The midrange is where most musical information resides, including vocals and most instruments. The TAV-500B V2s aim for a natural and clear midrange presentation. Vocals sound present and clean, with exceedingly good intelligibility considering this tonal balanceThe overall perceived distribution of energy across bass, midrange, and treble; correct tonal balance is the foundation of accurate reproduction.. While not sounding perfect, instruments like guitars and pianos have a realistic enough timbreThe tonal quality of a sound - what makes a violin sound like a violin vs. a trumpet at the same pitch and volume; determined by harmonic content and envelope. and body. The midrange is neither overly forwardA tonal character with elevated upper midrange or lower treble that pushes vocalists and lead instruments ahead of the mix; can sound exciting or fatiguing. nor recessedA perceived dip in a frequency region (commonly the upper midrange or lower treble) that pulls instruments backward in the soundstage and softens overall presence., maintaining a good balance with the bass and treble. This balance is important for accurately reproducing a wide range of musical styles. You can expect a decent, but not mindblowing level of detail in the midrange, allowing you to appreciate the nuances in your favorite tracks.

The treble is not overdone. It’s not aggressively bright or forward, which is good for avoiding listening fatigue that plagues some speakers even 20 times the price. Instead, the high frequencies are rather clean and present, providing sufficient detail. For the most part, it allows you to notice the low-level information in music without becoming harsh or sibilant. The resolutionA system's ability to retrieve and reproduce fine detail in the recording; high resolution reveals micro-dynamics, spatial cues, and timbral nuance. is what I would describe as medium - you’ll hear the shimmer of cymbals and the airiness in vocals, but don’t expect the micro-detailThe very lowest-level sonic information in a recording - the subtle sounds like breath, bow rosin, and room ambience that reveal what a system can truly resolve. retrieval of higher-end speakers. It’s a good balance: enough detail to make the music engaging, but not so much that it becomes analyticalA presentation that prioritizes detail retrieval and accuracy over harmonic richness; analytical systems reveal flaws clearly but may lack emotional engagement. or fatiguing. Taga Harmony knew how much this speaker could resolve, and fortunately, they didn’t try to make it seem like it could do more, by boosting the treble. This characteristic contributed to the overall easy-listening nature of these speakers.

Soundstage and Imaging

The TAV-500B v.2s offer a respectable soundstage for their size. While they won’t project a massive, room-filling soundscape like larger floor-standing options, they create a decent sense of width and some depth.

ImagingThe ability to place individual instruments in precise, stable positions within the soundstage - good imaging means you can "point" to a violin in the mix. is also reasonably good. You can generally discern the placement of vocals and instruments. However, don’t expect pinpoint accuracy or laser-sharp instrument separation - these are bookshelf speakers, not high-end monitors. Dynamics, the ability to handle sudden changes in volume, are handled surprisingly well with punchiness.

Conclusion

These speakers are a great option for those seeking a versatile and enjoyable listening experience without breaking the bank. They are not analytical or clinical and don’t have any major flaws - they are designed to make music sound good, and they succeed at that.