Tannoy TURNBERRY GR, STIRLING GR, CANTERBURY GR User Manual
Owner’s Manual
Contents
5 The Prestige Dual Concentric™
Gold Reference
6 Tannoy - A Short History
8 Over 80 Years of Audio Innovation
18 Unpacking Instructions
20 Initial Positioning
22 Cable Choice
23 Amplifier Choice
24 Connection in Single Wire Mode
26 Connection in Bi-Wire Mode
28 Bi - Amp Mode
30 Connection of Earth or ‘Ground’ Lead
31 Grille Removal
32 Loudspeaker System Adjustment
34 Tannoy Dual Concentric Drive Unit
35 Running In
36 The High Frequency Section
37 The Low Frequency Section
38 The Magnetic Circuit
39 Alcomax Magnet
40 The Crossover Network
41 Care of the Cabinet
42 Tannoy Quality
43 Fault Finding
44 Warranty
46 Technical Specifications
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4
The Prestige Dual Concentric™ Gold Reference
Thank you for investing in high performance
loudspeakers incorporating Tannoy’s world
renowned Dual Concentric driver technology.
First developed and patented by Tannoy’s Chief
Engineer, Ronnie H Rackham in 1947, the 15”
Monitor Black offered class leading performance
from a true full bandwidth point source transducer.
As the most accurate loudspeaker available,
initial usage was as a calibration instrument
for microphones, before finding favour as
monitors in the most famous recording studios
in the world, and with major radio and television
broadcasters. This heritage has underpinned
Tannoy’s global success in audiophile and
professional loudspeakers for over 65 years.
Over this period of time, evolution and
development of the Dual Concentric concept
has seen the technology continue as the preferred
choice of audiophiles, recording engineers and
musicians around the world. This has been as a result
of implementing new materials and developing
bespoke manufacturing processes. While today,
the designs benefit from advanced computer
aided design and software modelling, we have not
lost sight of the traditional values that form the
most musically rewarding loudspeakers available.
Building on the strengths of the drivers launched
in 2006 as part of the Prestige SE series, the Gold
Reference DC drivers benefit from technologies
developed from Tannoy’s Kingdom Royal flagship
speaker project. These include new HF compression
driver assemblies with Mylar™ roll surrounds
and new cone materials which blend traditional
paper pulp fibres with advanced synthetic microstrands to give a dynamic bass performance with
a low colouration midrange. Along with a number
of other revisions across the series, the Gold
Reference Dual Concentric drivers and the Prestige
GR loudspeakers represent Tannoy’s most refined
and accomplished loudspeakers to date, while
remaining faithful to the original design principles.
5
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 Fountain founded a British Company called
Tannoy (a contraction of the words ‘Tantalum’
and ‘Alloy’). Tannoy began to diversify and
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 terms of technology. A discrete two-way
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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 forefront of
the communications revolution, developing its
own equipment and production technology.
The company built a wealth of knowledge and
experience, which has proved invaluable in the
development of loudspeakers for a truly wide
range of applications.
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.
Tannoy is now part of the TC Group, whose
goal is to design, produce and distribute the
best engineered, most recognised and respected
brands of audio products in the world.
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Over 80 Years of Audio Innovation
Tannoy has been involved with audio related manufacturing in the
UK for more than 80 years. The company’s core business is, and
always has been, loudspeaker design and manufacturing. For nearly
40 years, the hub of this activity has been in Scotland where the
company’s headquarters and manufacturing facility are located.
Few companies’ products have such a profound
impact on our lives that their names enter the
dictionary as generic descriptions for their
inventions. The word Tannoy is synonymous
with sound, recognised not only as a proprietary
Brand name in the Oxford English Dictionary
but also defined as a word that is commonly
used within the English language:
to call (someone) by public address system.
Audio related manufacturing commenced at
Tannoy in the late 1920’s at a time when other
landmark industry events were beginning to
8
v. trans.,
take place. This era saw the first commercial
electrical recording by HMV and, soon
after that, the first release of records from
The Decca Record Company. At the same
time the company became interested in the
world of Public Address and early in 1930
Tannoy won a contract to supply the most
famous circus in Europe, Bertram Mills, with
a sound reinforcement system. From that time
onwards the company never looked back.
Introduction of the
15” Monitor Black and
12” version later with an
Alnico magnet system, where
uniquely the high frequency
compression driver horn flare was
continued by the shape of the bass
cone, giving previously unheard of
low colouration levels.
Introduction of
12in Monitor Silver -
the first Canterbury enclosure.
Monitor Gold series, with
slightly lower sensitivity to suit
smaller enclosures and with new
compression driver rear chamber
using an advanced thermoset
moulding, still used to this day.
Along with some of the existing
designs, the Monitor Gold
enclosures, Lancaster and IIILZ were
some of the most famous enclosures.
1947
1953
Upgraded to Monitor Silver,
with more open chassis and separate
crossover, initially in the famous
compound horn Autograph cabinet
and later corner GRF.
9
1955
1967
1958
Introduction of Monitor Red in 15”
and 12” variants, with a 10” model
appearing three years later. The ‘Red’
offered improved power handling
over the silver and were used in the
famous Monitor Red cabinets.
Pioneering use of Anisotropic
Barium Ferrite (ABF) magnets to
replace Alnico on the Mk. 2 HPD’s
bringing, amongst others, the
imposing Buckingham and Windsor
monitors.
Westminster Royal sees a return
to Alnico magnets, and a larger
high rigidity birch ply cabinet.
Canterbury 12 and 15 follow a
year later.
19 74
High Performance Dual (HPD)
series introduced, with a foam
low frequency surround, and
strengthening ribs on the rear of the
cone, a feature still used on our
new 15” Prestige drivers.
1978
1982
First Prestige range, featuring
Westminster, GRF Memory, Stirling
and Edinburgh, was set to conquer
the Japanese audiophile market.
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1987
1992
Tulip Waveguide (TW) Prestige
series introduces, with Stirling,
Edinburgh, GRFM and Westminster,
using ferrite magnets. The
Westminster Royal and Canterbury
models continued to use Alnico
magnets.
Kingdom flagship introduced, with
18” bass driver, 12” SuperDual
and 1” SuperTweeterTM.
Smaller 15” bass/ 12” Dual version
a year later, and 12” bass combined
with 10” Dual model in 2000.
TM
ST100 and ST200 SuperTweeters
introduced, to complement wide
bandwith sources such as
SACD, and enhance the
Prestige listening experience.
Sandringham, Kensington and
Yorkminster HE models added, with
8, 10 and 12” drivers respectively.
1997
1998/9
HE (Hard Edge) versions of the
Prestige Dual Concentric driver
featuring twin-roll fabric surround.
2000
2003
2001
Return of the famous Autograph
(with HE cone surround).
Produced as a special limited
edition for selected markets.
Prestige upgraded to SE
(Special Edition) status, featuring
Westminster Royal, Canterbury,
Yorkminster Royal, Kensington, Turnberry
and Stirling. Featuring PCOCC
carefully chosen selection of audiophile
components, to deliver optimal tonality
and transparency.
TM
and a
GR (Gold Reference) Prestige models
introduced. Westminster Royal, Canterbury
and Kensington feature technology
pioneered with the Kingdom Royal, such
as optimally terminated Mylar compression
driver surrounds and cryogenic crossover,
while Turnberry and Stirling models feature
new computer optimised crossovers, backed
up by extensive listening tests. All models
display an unsurpassed quality of cabinet
work and trim detail.
2005
Autograph Mini, with 4” cone
introduced, the smallest Dual
Concentric ever but with a
surprisingly large presentation.
2006/7
2013
2010
Kingdom Royal flagship
loudspeaker launched, with 15”
bass, 12” Dual and 1” magnesium
SuperTweeter, building upon the
SE cable and crossover component
philosophy, but enhanced with
cryogenic treatment.
6481 0637/210813
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Timeline
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Heritage, tradition and timeless styling...
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