Question for Joel

These obviously look like classic Tannoy enclosures:-

http://www.utopianet.co.jp/product/enclosure.html

Can you tell me more about this company and the products. Eg. do they only make enclosures?, if not, whose drivers do they use? Probably, re-con units?

Thanks.

P.S. Don't look too far down, you might get excited by some JBL cabinets

 

couple of designs on that page use Goodmans Axiom drive units
spotted some Celestions too http://www.utopianet.co.jp/product/enclosure/img_enclosure/15_fk_celestion.jpg

 

When will these wretched bafoons realise that a vast potential market speaks and reads English - the universal business language as used on green backs. Time for some to wake up I feel Baaah!

 

Absolutely. The international language of business learn it now or be a failure.
Dev:
These guys make cabinets for your vintage drivers (ie you supply the drivers and they'll make the cabinet. There are a few comapnies that offer similar services. The Autograph mini with 30cm Tannoy Reds would go quite nicely oin the remodelled room...
They are in Yokohama. Maybe next time I'm down that way I'll pop in.

 

Thanks Joel.

Very impressive range they do, and not just Tannoy.

 

oh man, that link has got me drooling.

Some spanking new autographs or GRF's would be very nice, thankyou santa

The 'family king' JBL's look like an interesting speaker too.

Wish I was in Yokohama too Joel!

Chris

 

A man of taste

 

I really liked them Dev!

I heard some GRF's at the emporium, and they are so even handed, that point source thing of the centrally mounted horn in a big 15" woofer really works. Using the woofer as the horn radius is just design geius IMHO. I was tempted, but the price (4k) was a bit rich for my blood.

Also, I thought a really good compression horn like an altec or a vitavox sounded a lot more complete to me.

Still, a world beating genius of a speaker. Love it.

Nick really summed them up ''they are bloody good'' I think he said.

 

Chris,

£4k? Are you referring to the corner units? I think you already know the GRF's are still manufactured by Tannoy, but they are not the corner units that you like.

http://www.tannoy.com/images/prestigegrfmemoryHE.jpg

They do have a 15" DC driver though and if you have the space they retail for about £5.5k.

"Even handed"

 

They are also butt f*cking ugly! One of the most ugly speakers I have ever seen.

 

and your point being?

edit : would you like them with grills sir?

http://www.tannoy.com/images/GRF_g_on_large.jpg

 

I cant see why anyone would want to give them house room! Give me an industrial looking big black box anyday.

 

They won't fit in an average house. Now when I win the lottery...

Seriously though, I think the cabinets are very well made with tasteful understated decor, ideal for a large mansion with dark wood furniture. In a modern house, forget it!

But feel the chest thumping bass from that 15 incher

 

Dev, you're wrong, and Robbo is right. Sorry

Michael.

 

Bet they sound great.

When I find a bunch of serfs to build me a castle I'll try them out.

-- Ian

 

They are not ugly in the flesh, and in any case there are a wide variety of cabs available, and if none of those suits, just get a custom cab made to suit.
Another good thing is that you can just jam Tannoys in the corners, so they actually take up less space in the room than many conventional large speakers.
The big Tannoys are seriously good (as they should be for the price). I think there is less treble colouration than I've heard with compression-driver speakers, but the midrange has some of that harbeth-like immediacy and naturalness. The bass is, er, present and correct. I think I would maybe avoid 18" drivers and make do perhaps with a twin 15-inch configuration, but I'd like to spend more time with a pair to make sure
King Records vinyl mastering studios apparently use a pair of Tannoys as their reference speakers
That Utopia place is suspiciously close to these guys.
FWIW, "Theatre King" and "Family King" are designs that use Lowther drivers as far as I'm aware.

 

I didn't think Tannoy made 18" DC drivers. Do you mean the bass drivers of the Kingdoms?

I agree with you about the quality of the speakers and the cabinets. Maybe this uncultured lot would prefer the DMTs. The smallest body AFAIK for the 15", but they are monitors.

.http://www.tannoy.com/images/system15dmt_detailed.jpg

 

Yes. They certainly look and feel like 18-inch drivers

Teac Page for the Big Kingdom

 

Yes, they are 18". I'd like to hear them actually. I read a review by Paul Messenger and IIRC he said that these speakers were the ideal candidate for biamping. His reference amp (a Naim pre/power combo, I think) couldn't drive these beasts properly due to the speakers' very low minimum impedence.