Informed/Insightful information requested on Tannoy GRF loudspeakers

I think you posted this question on the Tannoy FB forum. Anyways, just be aware the GRF90 is a little different than the Prestige models above & below it. It has rear reflex porting, which makes for amazing bass output, but perhaps at the slight expense of the vibrant, sweet & rich midrange you’ll get with Kensington (below) or Canterbury (above). I’m basing this on my own experience with Yorkminster SE (GRF’s 12" predecessor which has the same acoustic configuration despite very different looks), plus user reports on GRF90 which are inline with what I heard in the Yorks. 

The other Tannoys use front "vented" cabinets, which is really an "Onken" type configuration (multiple ports at various lengths to spread out the response). The Yorks still sounded great to me (compared to my Kensington SE at that time), but I wished for a sweeter midrange and so went to Canterbury SE as my upgrade at the time (and later Canterbury GR). The bass was amazing though - best I’ve ever heard in a Tannoy. Better than even Canterbury GR.

If I’d kept the Yorks, I would’ve looked for a lusher tube amp to sweeten those mids. 

The premium 12" pepperpot driver gives you a sonic image that’s between that of the 10" and 15". The 15" Canterbury renders a very large-sized image with a lot of vibrance; it’s lush and warm and has fantastic midbass but roll soff before the very lowest notes. The Yorkminster (and therefore GRF90) goes deeper for sure. But there’s really nothing like the immersion factor of that 15" driver, which is why some Tannoy aficionados won’t accept anything smaller!

I am a longtime Tannoy fanboy, have 7 (or is it 8?) pairs now, and possibly won’t buy anything else for the rest of my life. So if I have a choice of GRF90 versus another brand? GRF90, for sure. But within the Tannoy line - I’m definitely choosing Canterbury first, then maaaybe Kensington. 

These pepperpot models (Kensington, Yorkminster, GRF90, Canterbury, Westminster) are also very detailed (especially the 12") and very sensitive to gear partners! You do NOT want harsh / bright / etched components partnered to any GR series Tannoy - they are unforgiving to this. Tubes are always a good choice. These Tannoys should also be way, way more refined than Klipsch.

You will no doubt get recommendations to look at Fyne instead. But they are now very expensive and have abandonded some of the traditional features that made the top of Prestige line special: paper/pulp cones, treated textile surrounds, pepperpot tweeter with huge alnico "omni" magnet. I also vastly prefer the traditional styling of Tannoy Prestige cabinets to what Fyne is doing (even in their own Classic and Vintage lines). The GRF90 in particular is quite gorgeous! No Fyne looks half that good, IMO.

That said, if I'm in your shoes with that money, I'd probably wait until one of the following models pops up for a good deal, from a seller that can pack & ship them properly via freight (e.g. TMR):

• Canterbury SE or GR - Preferable but usually more expensive
• Glenair - Comes in 10" and 15" verions; the 15" benefits greatl;y from a crossover fix/upgrade
• Churchill

All of these have a 15" driver. The Canterbury is the only one with pepperpot/alnico. The others are tulip waveguide/ferrous. All of these have what I'd consider a "good" Tannoy voicing, with the Genair and Churchill being more neutral and Canterbury SE being warmest. 

I’d drop $500 into a quick trip to hear them. Out early morning Saturday… back Saturday night. Probably a five minute decision… but worth days of speculation.

this is exactly the inputs/information i am seeking; it's all going into account before i go with Tannoys "unheard/not listened" too ever...it's owning a little piece of UK/Scottish history and coming up on the 100th year of Tannoy, albeit no longer UK quality...currently, i would be pushing the  new Tannoy's with Prima Luna EVO 400 monoblocks and a 400 PL EVO preamp; the amps have 16 KT120 tubes and sound great on my Wilsons; hope they'd do as well, if not better on the GR.s.....

Nice, you've already got lots of tubes; Tannoys will like that :)
Lots and lots of KT120 is a particular favorite of mine; yep 16 will do it! 

For what it's worth the Prestige cabinets have been built in a Polish factory for many years, not Scotland - I didn't know that either until recently. Fyne cabinets are built in the same factory! And the Poles do a great job IMO; I Iove my Tannoy cabinets.

The Drivers were built in Scotland / UK until ~ 2018 ish? But don't fret; I actually have a set of Kensington GR drivers made in China and they sound great and are built to the exact same spec as before. All my other drivers were made in UK. I don't consider the Chinese drivers any less.

The history of Tannoy is long and admirable; the legacy lives on with the wonderful sound these speakers - new and old - still produce today!

thanks so much for all the information thus far......it's memorial day weekend here in the USA and it gives me time to reflect back on what has been stated thus far..and maybe new info as it seeps in.....reading what owners have to say is so much more important than listening to salesmen or reading reviews from magazines which are supported by Tannoy advertising......this section and it's comments has as much value as any review from even highly respected sound people...i'll keep reading as long as you all keep sharing.....

Based on my experience, I too endorse Tannoy. I’ve also had Klipsch. Tannoy prestige are more detailed in my 4000 cubic foot, sound treated, dedicated 2-channel listening room. Since purchasing my Kensingtons, I’ve added Tannoy super tweeters and a pair of HSU subs. It’s all powered by Allnic push pull amp with KT170 tubes. I’m old and now disabled, so cannot still go to music venues to listen to jazz and R&B. I aim to reproduce the small club venues like Blues Alley in my home. Analog is my old guy choice, especially open RTR. Mulveling does a great job keeping the word: fact ratio appropriate. He offers sound advice. I grew up in Memphis TN hanging out at Stax and Sun Records, and Beale Street. So my music ear and life experiences align with many of the ole skool greats who’d treat us poor black kids to music in their homes. Issac Hayes, Booker T & MGs, Al Green, Aretha, Elvis. As I rapidly approach my expiration date, I hopefully will rejoin them in Rock and Roll Heaven — which will not be like the one described in a Stephen King short story 😉 All the best with your selection.

I haven't heard the Tannoys I took long but I have listened to Fyne SP series and you'd be nuts to dismiss them. I greatly prefer their design/build (actually made in Scotland) and building on the Tannoy evolution. Their engineers didn't jump ship for nothing and are doing a great job. Your ears should make the decision. 

You could reduce the risk and get a pair of mofi 888 for 5000 dollars perhaps, (concentric driver n all..less than half the risk price wise)

Who knows? You might even sell the Wilson if the lowly 5000 dollar speaker grew on ya somehow and beat it out..

i know a guy who recently sold his Rockport after he bought the mofi for his secondary room. The lowly 5000 dollar speaker became his primary somehow..So, who knows? Who knows? Who knows? these days...

Thinking about dropping about $13500 on a new pair, without hearing them, concerns me; 

I owned the Fyne 501SP and found them to be a little dull. I powered them with four amp over time (I like amps) amps- Leben 600, Luxman 550AII and Audionote Cobra and a Coda CSIB. There was something I just couldn't get into with the mids. They just lacked expression in my opinion but wouldn't say the speakers were bad, more my tastes didn't alight. The build quality was OK, lots of plastic that I thought was metal.

I'd love to hear the larger Tannoys anf Fynes, and I'm sure they get more captivating as the range goes up $. 

I own Kensington GR and Mini Autographs.  Moved from Harbeth to Focal to Rockport and am a total Tannoy fanboy.  I’ve also auditioned Canterburys and GRFs.  The Canterburys are an experience in a medium sized room - but too much for my space I thought (the dealer agreed).   To me, the GRFs simply don’t have the same Tannoy “magic” as the Kensingtons, Canterburys, or even the Mini Autographs.  I A/B’s them against Wilson Sasha’s, and they sounded more on the clinical side - more like a Wilson, Magico or Rockport.  Not there is anything wrong with those brands, obviously.  But if you are looking for the “Tannoy sound”, I don’t think GRF is entirely representative.  

Another A’gon member who is much more technically experienced and familiar with Tannoy (can’t find the post, sorry) agrees with me and offered several technical/design reasons that may explain what I am trying to describe.  OTOH, it’s a great sound - just perhaps a bit less warm than I was looking for.  
 

If you plan on living with your investment decision for a long time, I’d definitely find a dealer who can audition them for you.  Best of luck!

I wouldn buy any speaker without listening. I would not buy Tannoys without listening to them several times. I have never lived with a Tannoy, but every time I have heard the larger models at shows I havent been even remotely impressed. I simply do not like speakers which share the design characteristics of many of the classic British speakers. 

From what I hear, Fyne are doing things correctly by comparison. 

thanks all for your comments and insights....it is all worth while when considering what I was going to do....spend over $13K/US on a pair of Tannoy speakers that I have never heard....not knowing what they sound like or anything about them other than history, build quality and sales persons "nuggets" to motivate the sell.....the price point was the main consideration; fully 50% off what UpScale was charging for the same speakers 18 months ago......I have decided to reluctantly forgo the Tannoys for now; and maybe listen to a few models on up the scale at a future date...and the money saved now will go into my next speaker which, after I trade in my six month old Wilson Audio SashaV's, will go a long ways toward purchase of the AlexiaV......so, thanks again....your information provided clues to insight for my consideration....