Amp to match my Tannoys ?

[Marco]

Been a great discussion, most of it over my head...

Indeed, and that's the point I was making earlier... 90% of hi-fi enthusiasts are subjectivists, who aren't technically minded; they just want something that sounds good to their ears, plain and simple. Therefore when discussions on forums become too technical, most will switch off and lose interest.

Or worse... Attempt to understand what's being discussed, but get it wrong, and then use that information as the basis on which to buy equipment, often with the result of said equipment not delivering, sonically (which is all subjectivists ultimately care about), what they'd been led to believe by the 'numbers' (or graphs).

Or perhaps also being adversely influenced by so-called 'experts', who can talk a good technical game, but have the discerning ears of 'Derek the Deaf'!

You can see, therefore, in that respect how easy it is for mistakes to be made by laymen, using measurements or technical spec to 'prejudge' the efficacy of equipment...

Last night, even though my setup is sitting in the middle of the room all pushed together the speakers started to come on song, most likely due to having been run for about 7 or 8 hours a day since they came back.

No doubt, Mike, as speakers only fully come on song when a signal has been passed through them for a while. In that respect, they need to 'warm up' like anything else

Marco.

[struth]

Indeed, and that's the point I was making earlier... 90% of hi-fi enthusiasts are subjectivists, and aren't technically minded; they just want something that sounds good to their ears, plain and simple. Therefore when discussions on forums become too technical, most will switch off and lose interest.

Or worse... Attempt to understand what's being discussed, but get it wrong, and then use that information as the basis on which to buy equipment, often with the result of said equipment not delivering, sonically (which is all subjectivists ultimately care about), what they'd been led to believe by the 'numbers' (or graphs).

Or perhaps also being influenced by so-called 'experts', who can talk a good technical game, but have the discerning ears of 'Derek the Deaf'!

You can see, therefore, in that respect how easy it is for mistakes to be made...



No doubt, Mike, as speakers only fully come on song when a signal has been passed through them for a while. In that respect, they need to 'warm up' like anything else

Marco.

oh there is so much wrong with that statement

[Marco]

Such as?

It's certainly the result of my experience to date, which is why before I'm going to have a 'serious' listening session (reviewing equipment or when people are visiting for a bake-off), I put a CD on repeat and turn the volume up to normal listening levels, for an hour or so before they arrive, along with making sure that the equipment itself isn't being judged from cold.

Oh, and I also ensure that the room itself is warm (but not too warm), not only for guests to be comfortable, but because hi-fi equipment (especially speakers and cartridges) sounds crap in a cold room!

Marco.

[struth]

Such as?

It's certainly the result of my experience to date, which is why before I'm going to have a 'serious' listening session (reviewing equipment or when people are visiting for a bake-off), I put a CD on repeat, and turn the volume up to normal listening levels, for an hour or so before they arrive, along with making sure that the equipment itself isn't being judged from cold.

Oh, and I also ensure that the room is warm (but not too warm), not only for guests to be comfortable, but because hi-fi equipment (especially speakers and cartridges) sounds crap in a cold room!

Marco.

most objectionalists would say the speaker wont change after its initial 5 minute break in. I was of course playing devils advocate hence the ner

[Marco]

Lol@objectionalists - how apt (in many cases)

I don't give a flying toss what they think - I *know* what I can [very clearly] hear!

Marco.

[Pharos]

Speakers do take a while to 'loosen up', particularly the suspension, of woofers and mid/woofers, maybe a couple of weeks at high usage.

With my second pair of ATC 50s A.J. of ATC said that the bass resonance would shift by about 10% after 'break-in', and that was exactly what happened. I do not think that they change over a two hour working period after that initial break in.

Also, getting the electronics up to equilibration temperatures makes much sense, they probably being optimised for that temperature.

The lovely woman in post 80 may make me go deaf.

[Marco]

Ha, you've better taste in women than in your hi-fi proclivities!

Marco.

[tannoy man]

Croft or Radford work well with Tannoy.

Leak ST20 should be on that list

[walpurgis]

Leak ST20 should be on that list

Yes. The Stereo 20 works surprisingly well driving Tannoys. It's an amp I've used with them several times. Not to mention it sounds pretty good.


I had a phone chat with my mate (who really ought to be a member here ) earlier.

He has Tannoy Chatsworth's with Monitor Golds and normally uses an EAR 861 or Monarchy Audio SM-70 Pro to drive them. Today he took delivery of a Creek Destiny 2 integrated and he advises me that (unsurprisingly) it sounds absolutely marvellous with the Chatsworths.

It's an amp I've been wanting to try myself for some time. Sooner or later, the right one will come my way.

[NickGazz]

I'm really nervous about suggesting this, but.... I'm with the "go with your ears" guys.
I bought a pair of Berkeleys when they were new (donkeys years ago), and partnered them with a Quad 33-405 II combo, and a Thorens TD125 etc. The Tannoys are really efficient, so you don't need the grunt to drive them, but frankly, this combo has a lake of spare transient power, and the Berkeley's could more than handle it. CS80 harmonics on Vangelis, kick n the gut rock, Bach Toc and fudge, utterly fab, as well as chamber classical, I found playing with the roll off on the speakers and pre-amp allowed me to engineer the balance of warm to bright. I've had Linn, Axis, and currently Shahinian Arcs, so do know what post fossil sounds like. I still miss them, and wish I'd never parted. Don't know if this is heresy?