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Tannoy Speaker Owners

I have Tannoy DC8Ti speakers.  I'm planning to retire sometime this year, and want to try tubes before I do. I'm wondering what amps, tubes or otherwise, other Tannoy owners have. I'm only interested in power amps.  I've tried the Tannoy's with each of my three solid state power amps: Pioneer SPEC-4 (~36 years old) ; McIntosh MC2600 (~ 25 years old); and NAD M22v2 (1 year old). The NAD sounds best in my system: wider sound stage with better instrument separation, timbre, musicality, detail, etc.  

My current system:  Herron VSTP-3A(r02) pre amp, NAD M22v2 power amp, Innous Zenith MKII media player, Small Green Computer i7 for Roon DSP, Audio Mirror Tubadour III SE DAC, Parasound JC3jr phone pre, and Technics SL-1200G TT w/ Ortofon Quintet Black.

My listening room is small ~13'x12'x8'.  I listen to contemporary jazz (no John Coltrane , Miles Davis, etc) and old school R&B (none of today's Hip Hop or Rap).  I love vocals (e.g., Gregory Porter, Diana Krall, Angela Glaupo, Randy Crawford, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Chicago); non-vocal music (e.g., The Crusaders, Arne Domnerus, Brad Mehldau, Dave Grusin, Stanley Clarke) and the combination of both (e.g., War, Earth, Wind, and Fire, Santana).

I'd like to audition whatever I buy in my system.  I'd prefer to start looking at amps that others are using. My budget is ~$7500, and I'm in no rush.

I'm not opposed to used, and there are several deals on agon at the moment. In particular a Zesto Audio Bia 120 that is about 60% below retail.  In my area, there are several high-end audio stores and independent manufactures that produce high-quality / reference grade components.  I realize there's the usual suspects (Cary, Rogue, PrimaLuna, Luxman, etc.).  I also plan to visit the local manufactures.




128x128oldschool1948
gadios
94 posts
 
I think muleys got good point. upgrade to some used Tannoys from 
the Scottish made line. Get a 12'' or 15" Dual Concentric.
You can push these with any amp. 
VACs are pricey and quite good. Rogue would be the way I'd go.
Now that said I do have Tannoy FSMs I bought used. Made in the late 80's, mine are in excellent condition. I was using a Cary 120MKS ll 60wpc triode. Sound was lush, warm and enraturing. Then when the amp went in for service I picked up a used pair of Pass Class A diy monoblocks at 6 wpc. $350/pair.
The new clarity was an eye opener. Sold the Cary and now am shopping
used Pass Labs gear.
Good luck and keep us posted please!
cd318
2,636 posts
 
@oldschool1948,

"I've given him my NAD M12 pre/dac w/ BluOS module, M22v2 amp, vintage Technics SL-1600MK2 TT, and vintage DCM TimeWindow 3 speakers."



Good man!

That's possibly the most heart-warming thing I've read here on Audiogon. 

Well in that case you should be able to enjoy auditioning as many tube amps as you want!

I know next to nothing about how good modern tube designs sound but I don't know any that look better on the eye than the Leben integrateds.

https://www.audiostream.com/content/leben-cs600-appreciation

Perhaps one day I will be able to donate my Creek amp to my son or daughter (or future son-in-law) and follow your example.

Anyway, good luck with your auditioning.

 
cal3713's avatar
cal3713
1,421 posts
 
@gadios Nelson Pass has a pair of Tannoy's and tests much of his First Watt gear on them (see https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/pass-labs/280649-question-pass.html).  Many of those amplifiers should be a great match.
oldschool1948's avatar
oldschool1948 OP
503 posts
 
@cd318  Thank you.  I truly appreciate your comments.  I also had way too much 80's and 90's era stuff from my military days, and began giving it way last year to my nephew, godson, and goddaughter.  In the end, I can't take it with me:  NAD 7140 receiver each; original Bose 901s w/ equalizer and chrome stands, JBL L100, and Boston Acoustic T1000 speakers.  I set them up with Raspberry PI DACs so they can stream Tidal via Logitech Media Server.  

@mulveling @gadios.  If I do change to another Tannoy model, it will mostly likely be the Turnberrys.  I wanted the Ardens, but they are too wide for my listening room.  Also, the chief-of-staff (my wife) gets a say, so whatever new speakers I buy have to look "nice" and fit our home decor.  Know that I mean?

Today, I visited Linear Tube Audio and listened to their ZOTL40 Reference and ZOTL Ultralinear power amplifiers.  Both sounded really good; I liked the  ZOTL40 best.  Next step is to hear the ZOTL40 in my listening room. 

I'm anxious to hear how the ZOTL40 compares to the Pioneer SPEC-4 that I'm currently using (since I've given away the M22v2).  The SPEC-4 pushes the Tannoys with ease and sounds really nice (after I changed the Herron's gain from High to Low and set the SPEC-4's gain controls appropriately).  
mulveling's avatar
mulveling
2,005 posts
 
@oldschool1948 In that case where Legacy series are ruled out for width and/or WAF, check out Fyne Audio. A lot of Tannoy engineers started it up after Tannoy’s last ownership change (and a lot of outsourcing to China). Fyne speakers are all made in the UK and carry on the tradition of the dual-concentric, but with their own spin on things. They also have some sleek looking models that seem to have disappeared from Tannoy’s lineup. The F703 in particular look like they’d be amazing.

If I were you I'd probably have gone F703 and kept the NAD amps!
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