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Looking for opinions on Tannoy Prestige line.

I have been looking around at the Tannoy Prestige line. I was curious about how these compare to more modern designs. I am a little burnt out on "hi-fi" and I am having an "enjoy the music" moment. I demoed a few pairs of Tannoys when I first got into audio and I remember liking them pretty well but it has been awhile scene I have heard them. I would be looking at the Kensington SE (and down) or either of the Glenair models. I do not have room or budget for anything bigger. I would be looking on the used market and have no dealer in my area. I am currently using Thiel CS2.4s.

Do they have much horn coloration? Does the bass have punch (I like hard rock and typical audiophile stuff too). How detailed are they compared to more modern designs?
james63

Showing 3 responses by douger

douger
104 posts
 
I have been a Tannoy lover since discovering them in 1972. I have had 12" Monitor Golds in Altec Santana cabs since 1972,
SRM 15X monitors for a year, (15" HPD, 7cu.ft. cab) and just
received my Canterbury SE's 9 days ago. They have just started to relax and lose any artifacts of glare or harshness. I am using a Primaluna Prologue 5 amp with KT88's,
AVA Super PAS 3i pre with Amperex 12AX7 line tubes and Mullard 12AX7 phono tubes, NAS Interspace/RB250/Grado Gold1,
(well-tweaked), it is glorious and naturally musical. I have
a Robertson 4010 amp and a pair of Bottlehead 300B Paramounts which I have not hooked up to the Canterbury's yet. The 300B's are a little cleaner but challenged on orchestral/choral workhorses. The Primaluna has no neg feedback so is very good.

I value the 15" woofer a great deal, there is no problem at the crossover, and these are very modern speakers.
douger
104 posts
 
I am ready to update my experience with my Canterbury SE's. After nine months I have learned quite a few things that I did not know back then. From Jim Smith (Get Better Sound) I learned to elevate my speakers to ensure the tweeters are at ear level, a huge difference. I am also using Clarity Cable Organic speaker cable, very neutral but they enable my 300B Paramount monoblocks to run with the big dogs... 8.5 wpc but very little is lacking, even with Beethoven's Ninth, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, hard rock...

The Canterburys are very revealing of any changes and very faithful to the music.
douger
104 posts
 
Hello Cptaz,
In the thread about the Kingdom Royal I see you expressed interest and I am sure they would be great. If the price is too steep I would suggest the Canterbury's. After breakin they are really special.
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