2. speakers
  3. 1329468063

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
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.
hornguys
180 posts
 
'
IMO, the Canterburys sound pretty good set up any old way. But they do benefit from voicing, right down to very small adjustments.

It's unlike any other speaker I've worked with in that way.

Once broken in, they are so musically compelling, it's almost like, "why fix it if it ain't broke?"

But once they are dialed in, it's all over for most folks - their "desert island" speaker has arrived.

Re amplification, I've had good luck with amps in the 30 watt region, both SS & tube. The first pair I voiced a few years ago had a 60 watt amplifier on them.

I'd like to hear if a more powerful amp might sound even better but then we get back to "if it ain't broke..." ☺
.
dave_72
1,399 posts
 
Canterburys sound good with both solid state and tubes, imo. I wonder how a bi-amp configuration would sounds with tubes on the midrange/tweeter, and solid state for the bass.
More to discover