Yup, Tannoy Yorkminster for $12,000. Heard them this weekend.
I have never heard a speaker that does dynamic shading like the Tannoy. In 1 second I could hear how flat and lifeless my burned CD's were compared to orginal. Avante Gaurd horns claim to do it but, while they play LOUD there is no contrast ie. dynamic shading anywhere near the league of Tannoy.
Second - texture. Not detail as in hyped up HF, but texture which is the actual frequency of the instrument, not upper harmonics. Never heard a speaker that reproduces textures like the Tannoy.
Sound is somewhere betwen the lush sound of Cremona's and anylytical B&W. I would say closest is the new Spendor's or Wilson's.
As a bonus:
* point source sound.
* phase and time coherence
* Imagine a single driver speaker with F-R from 20 hz to 22kHz with silky smooth HF and bass in line with Wilsons.
* 94dB efficient.
You will be hearing raves about this speaker in the years to come at Stereophile but why wait for the mainstream to catch up?
