Is there Tannoy Magic / Should I buy a pair of Tannoys as "accessory" speaker?
I have a decent system, and am running JBL 4367, with either Parasound A21+ (300w solid state) or Canary M600 (50w tubes) and am Tannoy-curious.
I'm familiar with the current state of the brand, I understand that the "new" speakers aren't made at the old factory, and that much of the "shine" has worn off the brand over the last several years. I'm also aware of the newer company with much of the former Tannoy brain trust.
I have never heard a Tannoy speaker.
My room is just barely, small, at 16' wide 13' deep and 9' ceilings. It opens at the rear, almost but not perfectly symmetrically, behind the listening position, via a set of pocket doors that remain open, to a much larger room. The JBLs, with their 15" driver (thanks to a bunch of acoustic treatments) are not "too much" for the room, so I don't know that the Ardens (for example) would be, either.
I'm not saying I wouldn't get rid of the JBLs, but the plan is to buy a set of Tannoys, hopefully like them enough to keep them, and slip them in the system as desire dictates.
The JBLs do everything that I know of, that I want a speaker to do, I'm just looking to be inspired.
I think I need realistic bass, and so perhaps a 12" or 15" (I don't know, just guessing) model might suit me better.
Other than figure out how to demo some Tannoy speakers in a store like a normal person would, what do you think I should do?
Thanks @jayctoy +1 @veerossi There aren’t many speakers that are capable of connecting you to the music so intimately and emotionally like the way Tannoy does so effortlessly. It takes little getting used to birch wood cabinetry (some dig it others don’t). I am sure you’ve already read about dual concentric drivers so I won’t take up your time here. Just like anything in audio, I recommend an audition with ‘right’ electronics. Your M600 are very likely a match made in heaven with Tannoy’s. |
Lots of speakers have come and gone but my Tannoy Monitor Gold 15s in Canterbury style boxes stay.I also own horns and have owned several high end purist audiophile speakers like Dynaudio C5.To me the appeal of the Tannoys is the coherence and timing that comes with the point source /time aligned arrangement Plus a fair bit of the ease and dynamics you get from horns. The only caveat is that they are far more amplifier fussy than many people think.The compression drivers are highly revealing things and will show up weaknesses and tonal annoyances in many amplifiers .Some people say they do not like the treble but it is not the speaker it is the amplifier.Even amplifiers which sound really good on most speakers like Accuphase and which are known for their refined treble do not sound good on Tannoys.I suspect anything with a fair bit of negative feedback and high damping factors are not the right choice.Which is why push pull tube amps of around 20 watts or more are favoured.The best amp I have used however it is a Darzeel NHB 108 copy.Which is class A/B SS but it has no negative feedback and a highish output impedance by SS standards.It sounds more like a triode tube amp.
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“Even amplifiers which sound really good on most speakers like Accuphase and which are known for their refined treble do not sound good on Tannoys” That’s interesting, which Accuphase did you try with your Tannoy’s. M6 experience was quite opposite than yours…I preferred the E-650, Class A-30W paired with Canterbury’s over Dart’s CTH-8550 and T+A PA3100. |
I have Tannoy Devon’s, Klipsch La Scala’s and JBL 4301B. Don’t have my rig in my profile: Sources are Bifrost DAC and Hana EL on a Vinyl Nirvana TD145 to a Herron VTPH-2. Amps are dehavilland Ultraverve + Pass XA.25 and Mac 4100. Room is 24x16. For jazz, acoustic, etc. Soundstage is best on the LaScalas. Like the band is in the room. Unbelievable. For rock, funk, soul or anything with thump I find myself wanting to listen to the tannoys. So much that I’m kicking tires on some Arden’s. They blend the treble with miss and lows exceptionally well. Not a fan of the 4301B, they sound clinical to my ear, but are small studio monitors, so maybe should be expected. Anyway. My $0.02. |
