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Amp recommendations for Tannoy Canterbury SE

I have just purchased the Tannoy Canterbury SE speakers and am driving them with my existing Ayon Audio Triton II KT88-based monoblocks delivering 100 Watts per channel. My only source Ayon CD-5 is connected directly to the Ayon monos, since the CD-5 has got a decent volume control. I listen to mostly very fast and dynamic music including rock, techno and others.

My initial impressions are that I am not getting speed, punch and tight bass. I am wondering if this is possibly due to an amp mismatch. While the tube amp's 100 Watts seem more than adequate for Canterburys 8 ohms and 96db spec, I wish I could get better results.

I am seeking recommendations on what could be the best suitable amp for the Tannoy Canterburies. I am open to both tubes and solid state.
- What could be some of the best Tube Amps as well as Solid State Amps that could be a good match ?
- Existing Tannoy Prestige series speaker owners - what amps do you use ?
- Should I be looking at tube amps which are based on tubes other than KT-88 ?

If you have any other recommendations in positioning/configuring the Canterburies please let me know too.

Many thanks in advance
Wilfred
wilfredt
maril555
619 posts
 
I don't know how much you can extrapolate from this, but as Islandmandan mentioned above, Kevin Hayes had been using various Tannoy models at the shows lately.
At the last CES he used the top of the line Tannoy Kingdom Royal speakers with his Statement stereo amp (450 Wt/Ch) and it sounded pretty good. I would imagine, the lesser VAC amplifiers to be a good match with your speakers, provided, they have adequate power to drive them. Don't let "high" sensitivity rating fool you.
maril555
619 posts
 
On the other hand, I think your Ayon Triton should be perfectly fine, as well.
The answer to your concern lies elsewhere- room placement, acoustic treatments, support system under the speakers, etc.
i can tell you from my experience, that moving a chair just a few inches made a difference b/w "no bass", "boomy bass" and "good bass". Had I not spent time with the setup, I'd be chasing different amps, cables and speakers right about now with the corresponding spending budget.
Mulveling is absolutely correct- the most return on the investment ($0- $ minimal)comes from the careful system setup.
Slightly more expensive, but still much better option is to hire a setup specialist. As a matter of fact, Jim Smith, the author of the "Get Better Sound" book, just purchased your exact speaker, and posted here, how much he loves them.
Just hire him!!!
sksos1
387 posts
 
Wilfredt ~ there's also more than just watts that goes into the equation. Consider the gain in the pre-amp as a big part of that equation. Using a passive pre may require more watts and using a pre with 20 + of gain (although never heard a pre with a lot of gain I liked myself....YMMV) would require a lot less watts. Room size, type of music, levels you like to play all should be factored in. But again at Kwame's place we listen loud and never have any issues with the 25-30 watts of power.
wilfredt OP
36 posts
 
Maril555, thanks a lot for your inputs. I have very high regard for Jim Smith and the fact that he had bought the same speakers also motivated me to go for the Canterburies. You are absolutely right, I would have loved to hire Jim Smith, however I am outside US and am based in Dubai and hence not practical.

I am right now going thru the "Get Better Sound" Book and DVD to position the speakers properly. Hopefully I can get it better...
wilfredt OP
36 posts
 
Sksos1, you have pointed out another important area - the gain in the preamp. In my case, I don't have a preamp and also just switched from Ayon CD5 to Oppo BDP-95 to play directly into the amps. This could be a problem area too and I need to revert back to CD5 and play with the gain settings on the CD Player to see the effect.
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