Tannoy Canterbury, KEF Reference 5, Fyne Vintage Twelve, SF Serafino

@mulveling Thanks for a very thorough post. I’m sure you’re right re comparative sweet spots. I wasn’t able to A/B Ks and Cs at the same dealer. (Although I remember distinctly disliking the GRFs. Didn’t have that Tannoy midrange “magic” to me.). Met a Tannoy guy at AXPONA a few years ago. He suggested the smaller K driver was the “sweet spot” in the range. Consistent with your observation about K’s sweet midrange.

Interesting comment re STs also

All I know for certain is that my journey from Focal to Harbeth, back to Focal, then Rockport, and now Tannoy has me a confirmed fanboy for the Tannoy house sound

(Although I remember distinctly disliking the GRFs. Didn’t have that Tannoy midrange “magic” to me.).

That's funny, because the GRF is basically a repackaged Yorkminster SE - same specs, driver, and porting - and I felt exactly the same about York SE as what you wrote about GRF (haven't actually heard a GRF yet). The bass was amazing, though - even better than Canterbury. I remember wanting to wave a wand and get York bass with Kensington midrange. 

@mulveling I couldn’t A/B the GRFs with the Ks bit the dealer had smaller Wilson’s. Sasha’s I think.  They really didn’t sound much different at all from the Wilson’s - pretty clinical and not at all the warmth I had heard from my Mini Autographs and which I was trying to find in a larger Tammy.  I knew I wanted off the Focal/Rockport/Magico merry go round.  They had a pair of Turnberrys, which although too small for my room did sound more like Tannoys than the GRFs.