2. speakers
  3. 194531-195194

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
dickieboy's avatar
dickieboy
71 posts
 

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. 

deep_333
1,867 posts
 

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; 

bjesien
1,397 posts
 

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 $. 

cantorgale's avatar
cantorgale
161 posts
 

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!

audition__audio
1,647 posts
 

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. 

More to discover