Bad idea to use pro Tannoy speakers for home use?

I would have no reservations about monitors like yours at all (aside from the same "looks" issue!). I'm actually considering a pair as a different option. The very first speakers I ever had were Tannoy monitors actually (given as a gift in high school). There are so many write-ups of the monitors too, that it's easy to sort/weed things out just by reading reviews. These V300s though have a few unique issues. I can find almost nothing written about them (there is a little but not much, and some of it is about church installs and things like that). The specs are written up quite differently than consumer speakers (and therefore a tiny bit confusing). They actually recommend 500w for these things which doesn't make sense to me given their sensitivity (assuming I understand the specs right). And, finally - calling them "sound reinforcement" and Tannoy advertising saying that they are good for churches, clubs, PAs, etc. makes me wonder if they've been modified in some way as to make them bad for home. I'd just go listen to them, but they are about 120 miles away, so I don't want to waste time until I have more confidence in them.

Specs:

Frequency Response (-3dB) (1) 70Hz - 22kHz
Frequency Range (-10dB) (1) 56Hz - 28kHz
System Sensitivity (1W @1m) (2)
Passive - Full Range 98dB (1W = 2.83V for 8 Ohms)
Biamp (LF) 98dB
Biamp (HF) 104dB
Dispersion (-6dB) 90 degrees conical
Driver Complement 300mm (12.00”) constant directivity SuperDual™
Crossover Passive 1.8kHz
Product can be reconfigured for bi-amped operation.
Bi-amp system parameters in user manual
Directivity Factor (Q) 7.4 averaged 1kHz to 10kHz
Directivity Index (DI) 8.4 averaged 1kHz to 10kHz
Rated Maximum SPL (2) Passive - Full Range
Average: 122dB
Peak: 128dB
Biamp (LF)
Average: 122dB
Peak: 128dB
Biamp (HF)
Average: 122.5dB
Peak: 128.5dB
Power Handling Passive - Full Range
Average:250W
Programme:500W
Peak:1000W
Biamp (LF)
Average:250W
Programme:500W
Peak:1000W
Biamp (HF)
Average:70W
Programme:140W
Peak:280W
Recommended Amplifier Power
Passive - Full Range 500W @ 8 Ohms
Biamp (LF) 500W @ 8 Ohms
Biamp (HF) 140W @ 8 Ohms
Nominal Impedance
Passive - Full Range 8 Ohms
Biamp (LF) 8 Ohms
Biamp (HF) 8 Ohms
Distortion 10% Full Power (14.14V)
2nd Harmonic
250Hz: 0.63%
1kHz: 0.92%
10kHz: 1.45%
3rd Harmonic
250Hz: 0.08%
1kHz: 0.20%
10kHz: 0.17%

1% Full Power (4.47V)
2nd Harmonic
250Hz: 0.32%
1kHz: 0.28%
10kHz: 0.41%
3rd Harmonic
250Hz: 0.02%
1kHz: 0.02%
10kHz: 0.08%

I see what you are saying....
my DMT10 Mk2 have a specified sensitivity of 94dB/1W/1m & they are rated for 250W RMS & 350W peak, if memory serves me correctly. my speakers do get loud in a hurry as i turn up the volume control (as expected) but my DMT10 Mk2 do not distort at the higher volumes - they maintain their composure & then some. These speakers sound even better with a high current amp (I tested this in my primary system). So, don't let the high sensitivity lull you into pairing these speakers with a small or modest amp. Pair it with a high current amp & don't excessively kid-glove this speaker - it's meant to boogie without losing its composure .
I believe that these pro monitors like the DMT10 were designed to operate in sound-mixing rooms which trend toward anechoic chamber type acoustics meaning that all/most the sound has to come from the speaker without much/any help from the walls/ceiling/floor, etc. I suppose these sound mixing rooms are done this way to get a truer feel for the actual music without anything else getting in the way. The mixing-wallas must be cranking the volume during the process hence the high max power handling rating.
In a similar vein if your pro speakers are meant for public spaces then they'd want max volume with min amp power (to keep cost & heat generation down) hence the even higher sensitivity for the V300 & the even higher max power handling rating.
I've found the dual-concentric design to be really very good - i can sit on the floor with my ear under the driver height or stand up with my ear well above the driver height & not hear much change in the sound. Reading the manual informed me that the sound pattern was a 90 degrees around the dual-concentric driver. I believe it!
I found the sonics to be very true - no sugar-coating (which is OK with me) - and well very well balanced. No part of the audio spectrum sticks out giving the sound a cut-from-one-piece-of-cloth sound. After I installed the speakers in my 2nd system & turned on the music, I did not do a "wow" (as I was expecting myself to) but as I kept listening, i discovered all the music was there in its right form. And, that was the "wow" for me - it wowed me by just being true to the music. I also found out that my DMT10 Mk2 have a 1st order x-over, which is very much to my liking as I believe that 1st order x-overs have the least phase distortion (this parameter has a lot to do with listening fatigue when it is high with higher order x-over ckts).
Based on this I would recommend your listening to the V300. See if you can get a 14-day/30-day home trial. it might save you a trip & you'll only be out of a small amount of return shipping money. FWIW.

A friend of mine has a pair of 15" Tannoys (not sure if they are Golds or HPD's) that were part of the sound reinforcement for the musical "Cats" on Broadway. They served the entire run without issue.

He put them in custom enclosures for home, and is still using them. I'm doing much the same with 12" HPD's.

May not relate, but close.

Regards,
Dan

I'd be more worried about the Tannoys falling onto the baby or toddler or child than about Magneplanars. I have had SMG, MG12 and MG1.6 around children of all ages. No mishaps. If the Tannoys are very heavy, they could be much more dangerous than Magneplanars. (Internal bleeding, etc.)

Its as good an idea as using any speakers you like that can be had for the right price.

You might want to give them a good cleaning with antiseptic wipes once home. Who knows where they've been? :^)