Looking for opinions on Tannoy Prestige line.

Disclosure: I retail Tannoy Prestige, Departure Audio.
You put it best in your original post - "I'm a little burnt out on hifi." Tannoy's are a final stop. IMO, It's not really relevant to compare them with other speakers. Other speakers will measure better, spec better, image better, etc. but that's not what Tannoy's are about. That big, fat, juicy, whole, gripping, emotional presentation of the music either gets you or it does'nt. The cliche that it's about the music and not the sound is really true in this instance. The magic is due,I think, to Tannoy's 80 plus years of refining the fundamentally correct dual concentric technology. There's something magic about a dual concentric done right that can't be replicated by other approaches.
My bias is that if you can fit a 15 incher, do it. Also try to spring for a model with the alnico and pepperpot. I demo the Canterbury SE's.

Joc3021 sums it up best.

I have been into hifi since 1996. Ever since then I have been trying to capture that magical experience I had when i first heard vinyl in the 70's at my neighbours, when I was a little boy.

There are only 2 hifi products that have been able to communicate music like that to me.

1)leben CS300XS integrated amp -GESTALT !!!!!
2)current Tannoy Prestige line-up - PURE MUSIC

I was originally going to buy the Sandringham SE as i auditioned these and fell in love.After discussions with some members in this forum I went with the Kensingtons (unheard) and have never regretted it since.

I tried WIlson and all the usual (marketed) suspects and found them to be all about PRAT with no real ability to communicate music like the Tannoys do.

They are the only product I have bought were people come over and just go "WOW".

If you want to hear how big a bass line can sound or marvel at the high hat appearing 2m above your speaker line; then go for Wilson and the like.

If you are after a speaker that lets you lie on the couch and "trip out" with an immense emotional experience; than the Tannoy's are for you.

I have been told by others who have the Tannoy Prestige line up that, the alnico/pepperpot models are far superior to the tulip design models. However, i loved the Sandringham far more than the Turnberry and Strirling models.

hope this helps you feel free to ask me anything else and good luck

Good points from Dsholl1. On amplification, don't write off high quality solid state amps with these speakers. I use Herron and Blue Circle amps and the results are wonderful. I also find, despite their sensitivity ratings, Prestige speakers respond well to high power/current. Dynamics become even more effortless and bass even more subterranean. Tubes can work well, but a minimum of 40-50 watts in a moderate sized room. More is better. Low power and SE tube amps sound gutless with these speakers in my experience.

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to post good detailed replies. This turned into a very good informative thread for me. Over the last few weeks I have read just about every scrap of information I could fined on the Kensingtons and I am very interested to hear them.

At their asking price they are a little much for me to spend on an unheard pair of speakers. I will have to hear them before I buy them so I guess the hunt begins... I travel for work a little bit and will try and run a dealer down when I am out of town (no "local" dealer)

I have just about demoed every pair of speakers on my list to hear at this point and have been left somewhat empty. Last on my list to demo was Revel and I demoed the Salon 2 (they did not have the Studio 2 which is what I was looking into) yesterday and if you asked me to say anything bad about them I really can't. I can't think of a speaker with better bass or highs and their mids are really great too with a VERY stable soundstage. BUT at the end of demo I felt a little empty. I was changing CDs a lot (not a good sign) an never really got into the music. Maybe it was my mood, I am not sure but came away from a nearly flawless pair of speakers uninspired. Maybe I am searching for something that is not there, maybe my humble system is better than I give it credit for, maybe I am just barking up the wrong tree... sadly I am coming to the conclusion than the quality (recording) of the music I like is holding the equipment back.

Thanks again,

James, do not be disheartened. From long experience, I know it is the lack of musicality in the speakers that let you down, not the recording qualities of the music you love.

Best,
RoyJ