Tannoy Autograph-HE Owners manual

Autograph HE

The Autograph HE

The Tannoy Autograph is known more fully as the ‘Guy R Fountain’ Autograph, the name of Tannoy’s founder. With a production span of 24 years, three different Dual Concentric drive units were offered in this unique horn loaded corner design:

1954 – 1958 15” Monitor Black 1958 – 1967 15” Monitor Red 1967 – 1974 15” Monitor Gold 1974 – 1978 15” HPD385

Working from the original drawings we are proud to be able to recreate this classic design, built using traditional crafts. Each loudspeaker in this limited edition run is numbered as proof of identity.

The specially designed twin-roll impregnated fabric surround used on the drive unit’s cone, to ensure midrange purity combined with tight, controlled bass. The drive unit still utilises an alnico (Alcomax 3) magnet system.

The Autograph HE offers a compound horn loaded enclosure driven by classic Dual Concentric technology. Based around the Alcomax 3 version of the famous 15-inch Tannoy Dual Concentric the Autograph HE now features the benefits of signal handling by gold-plated terminals with Bi-Wire/Normal wiring and a Hard-Wired time compensated crossover network. This Alcomax 3 magnet system endows the Dual Concentric with an exceptional transient response and increased sensitivity. The massive cabinet design conceals a complex horn loading system that gives greatly increased efficiency and a wavefront area approaching the wavefront area from real instruments.

At low frequencies (below 200Hz), the output from the drive unit low frequency cone is handled by the rear folded horn. From 200Hz to 1kHz, radiation is from the front horn only, before electrically crossing over to the horn loaded high frequency unit.

The Autograph HE is effortlessly capable of the realistic reproduction of truly low frequencies and the widest dynamic range. Silver-plated Van den Hul wiring is used throughout. High frequency energy can be tailored through high current gold-plated switch blocks with controls for both treble energy and roll off.

Autograph HE

Tannoy---A Short History

In the early days of broadcasting radio sets needed both low and high voltage DC power that had to be supplied by batteries. The lead acid batteries used in the radio sets of the time needed regular recharging.

In London, in 1926, Guy R. Fountain perfected a new type of electrical rectifier with the aim of designing a charger more suitable for use in the house. His rectifier consisted of two dissimilar metals held in a special electrolyte solution. One metal was tantalum and the other an alloy of lead. So successful was this invention that Guy Foundation founded a British Company called Tannoy (a contraction of the words ‘Tantalum’ and ‘Alloy’). Tannoy soon became internationally known and highly regarded in all aspects of sound reproduction.

Moving coil loudspeakers with DC energised magnets began Tannoy’s continued success in the field of loudspeaker technology. A discrete two-way loudspeaker system followed in 1933 and shortly after a range of microphones and loudspeakers capable of high power handling.

Tannoy has always been at the front of the communications revolution, developing its own equipment and production technology. The company built a fund of knowledge and experience, that has proved invaluable in the development of loudspeakers for a truly wide range of applications. The now famous Tannoy Dual Concentric principle was created and developed under Guy Fountain’s direction around 1950. It is highly regarded by music enthusiasts, and recording and broadcast studios because of its unique properties in faithfully reproducing sound to an unusually high quality standard.

Guy Fountain retired from the company in 1974 but the Tannoy Company continues his philosophy, dedicated to the accurate and realistic reproduction of music for both enthusiasts and professionals around the world.

The Tannoy Research & Development unit has further refined the innovative Dual Concentric principle. Using the latest design and material technologies, with sophisticated circuit techniques in crossover design; Tannoy has produced a loudspeaker system with superb reproductive capabilities and exceptionally wide dynamic range.

Tannoy is now part of TGI plc; this makes the group one of the largest manufacturers of quality loudspeakers in the world.

Autograph HE

Unpacking Instructions

Caution:

This loudspeaker weighs 101 Kg. Do not lift the cabinet by using the wooden grille mouldings. Two methods are recommended for unpacking. The choice depends on particular local circumstances.

Method 1 (5 persons)

Remove the cardboard packing and top cap to reveal the loudspeaker standing on the transit pallet. Locate and remove from the carton the accessory pack. Lift the loudspeaker vertically up off the pallet by 100 mm (4 inch) to clear the interlocking pallet. Remove the pallet and lower the loudspeaker to the ground. The loudspeaker may then be wheeled conveniently into position.

Method 2 (3 persons)

Remove all packing beneath the top cap to reveal the top of the loudspeaker and mark the face of the carton immediately behind one side panel of the loudspeaker. Locate and remove from the carton the accessory pack.

Replace the top packing and top cap; tape the top packing in place to prevent movement. Invert the loudspeaker by rolling over onto the side panel and rolling over again onto the top cap. Do not roll over onto the front cover. Remove the wooden pallet and roll the loudspeaker back again using the marked face of the carton only. Remove the outer cardboard carton and end cap to reveal the loudspeaker. The loudspeaker may then be wheeled conveniently into position.

Important:

It is essential that only the side top edge of the cabinet is used as the hinge point in rolling the cabinet over. If any stress is placed on the front top edge it may be damaged.

Examine all pieces of packing material and inspect the carton for signs of external damage. If there is evidence of excessive damage to the packing and resulting damage to the loudspeaker inform the carrier and supplier immediately. Always keep the packing in such circumstances for subsequent examination. Tannoy strongly suggests that you store the complete packing set for possible future use.

Initial Positioning

Place the loudspeakers into the corners of the room, as close to the walls as possible. Note: the loudspeakers are handed left and right The adjustment and terminal panels should be located on the inside. Next position the three metal cups, provided in the accessories pack, so that they sit under the three support cones, on the underside of the loudspeaker. These are positioned two at the front and one at the rear. This will give maximum stability, and enable your loudspeaker to provide their full dynamics and resolution of detail.

WARNING: This operation should be carried out by two people, to avoid the risk of personal injury, should the speaker slip or fall.

Amplifier Connections (Figure 1)

Connect the loudspeaker to the amplifier using a suitable high quality cable. Arrange the connections so that the right hand amplifier channel terminals are connected to the right hand loudspeaker as viewed from the listening position.

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