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Informed/Insightful information requested on Tannoy GRF loudspeakers

I respect this forum and that's why I opened this discussion.  I live nowhere close to any Tannoy sales/distribution point and have never listened to any of their speakers.  Those of you who have, may be able to provide me invaluable insights.  I am very interested in purchasing a pair of new GRF speakers, as UpScale Audio is having a sale to finally clear out all remaining Tannoy stock, as they are no longer the North American distributor.  I WANT, but don't really NEED this pair of speakers; but I am so into the history of the Tannoy brand, up to the point it turned into a Chinese asset/moreless....build quality is way down; production turns out more blems than A Stock....so I am just asking anyone who's listened, heard, or own a dual concentric speaker, especially the limited production GRF90 or it's follow on GRF speaker, to provide me their insights.  I've purchased speakers before without listening to them, such as Klipsch Hersey3 and Klipschorn AK6s; which i enjoy; but not sold on them for reference.  I recently listened to Wilson Audio SashaV's for about 4 visits to the stereo store....and i bought them....and I love them............BUT....the Tannoys still interst me; maybe for a 2nd audio room for different or refined listening; or just a new experience.  Thinking about dropping about $13500 on a new pair, without hearing them, concerns me; most people tell me "it's a different sound; more detailed and warm" and such things....this forum always seems real....and i can take the good, bad and the ugly of what comments may come forward, but I will appreciate ALL of them as they will guide my decision....i've learned; the two pair of Klipsch speakers are in storage; the pair of Bose 901s as well........I would hate to purchase Tannoys and they be dust collectors somewhere.  Thanks in advance to everyone who provides guidance...i have maybe 25 years left in this life and retirement approaches, and I get so much pleasure out of my stereo system....and music will help, if the speakers are great...which i hope them to be.........I do love my Wilson Audio speakers for sure....Thanks all....

curthuff
mulveling's avatar
mulveling
2,232 posts
 

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. 

ghdprentice
8,113 posts
 

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.

curthuff's avatar
curthuff OP
15 posts
 

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.....

 

mulveling's avatar
mulveling
2,232 posts
 

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!

curthuff's avatar
curthuff OP
15 posts
 

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.....

 

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