Proac Response D 48/Tannoy Kensington

I have heard them both with high marks for each, but never in a head-to-head shootout.

Thye are not clones of each other sonically. Which you prefer is entirely a very personal bias choice with no consensus.

What they DO share is two-fold:

(1) what makes each soar performance-wise is VERY dependent on the supporting gear. With the proper and well thought-out system synergy factor considered, each is a terrific choice,

(2) You will assuredly need to have the rest of your system quality in-line (or better) with the price to preformance matrix strata of the speaker selected. Each brand will either favourably convey the strengths of the source and amp if paired with quality build gear.

conversely, they will mightily expose the warts and performance limitations if paired with budget to mediocre electronics..... the warts will be exposed graphically. Simply put, don’t chintz or just make-do on the other components.

Just me, but these are too good and very different from each other sonically to improperly fail to audition personally , so I would not risk a blind purchase on either for these reasons. BUT..... If you ultimately do go commando on a blind purchase for ?? reasons , then the TANNOYs would be my first choice.

FWIW.....

Thanks very much for your response.  I have heard the Proac 48 a number of times and the Kensington just once, 2 or 3 years ago.  I don't believe it was the latest version.  I do have reasonable access to the Proac's but not the Tannoy's.  That is a stretch.  

I agree very much with your comments on the supporting gear and I am quite comfortable that the rest of my system can handle either the Proac or Tannoy's.  I currently have the Pathos mono block amps, the BAT 51 SE preamp (tube), Accuphase CD player and my primary source is the Transrotor Dark Star turntable.  

Thanks again in for your comments.

Nice choice problem to have.....

here's how I would characterize the sonic signature of the two:

TANNOY .... bespoke refined, ethereal, XO Cognac snifter 
PROAC .......forward striding, bold, Quatro-Cinco tequila shooters...

Ive heard the entire TANNOY PRESTIGE line. They just get better and better as you go higher up the model line. The KINGDOM ROYALS can compete, nay slay, with anything out there 

tuff choice..... BUT if you reconsider to go higher up the PRESTIGE line, then the choice becomes easier IMO.

If looks enter the equation at all, I think the Proac D48 have a better WAF.  As for everything else, akg_ca covered it.   I have the D48 on order, and yes I bought it blind.