Mr RotaryConnections' GRF-R's

[adrian]

Hi Gareth and all

Today I was lucky enough to get to hear Gareths' Tannoy GRF-Rs!!Thanks mate.

Built by Steve,who I don't know ,but I am a great admirer of his work.They looked stunning in sealed natural wood.Superb workmansship.Such attention to detail.! The curved grills,designed by Gareth.... 'outasite'.....


The speakers themselves are Lockwood reconed ,to Prestige spec.
I did expect a forward midrange and a weak bass. Not at all.
I found the bass to be full.and the midrange just fractionally rolled off.I think the bass sound is lower mid bass,where most bass is on a recording.They are firing across the end of a long room.
As we talked about today,the cabs are probably not in the most ideal location,but the sound is impressive.Classical violin and piano sounded big and spacious as did most of what we listened to.
At this level of loudspeaker,its ALL good. You get What ever suits your requirements. You could party down to these.Loud,no distortion........or wind down to some nice classical.... great.

Lots of good stuff to explore and find in the wonderful world of VINTAGE!!

REGARDS

Adrian

[RotaryConnection]

Thanks! Will write some notes tomorrow morning-I enjoyed the session too.

[RotaryConnection]

Thanks for your comments Adrian, seems fair!
Always good to have someone elses opinion even if inviting a complete stranger round is a bit nerve-wracking: will they hate it? Insist on listening to Celine Dion etc etc
I'm listening to them fairly near-field as you say, but it would mean getting rid of furniture and family to place them elsewhere here!
At least I have enough room along the sidewall to get a good stereo stage and show off the Tannoys' pin-point imaging.
They work pretty well within the rooms size limitations (about 12x22), more room wouldbe good, don't think I'd get away with much less.
I'd describe them as 'casually great' considering that I haven't played around with placement, room treatment etc.
Here's a list of what music I can remember playing, aside from your own (thanks for bringing the Brenda Russell cd to my attention, well off my usual radar, but very well recorded.)

Capucon and Braley-Beethoven violin and piano sonatas
Tim Buckley-Happy/Sad (Sing a song for you)
Grace Jones-Libertango
Rolling Srones-Sympathy for the Devil
Cantoma-Essarai
Soiree-Zim Zim Zah Zah (Can't leave it alone)
Tangerine Dream-Stratosfear (Invisible limits)
Spacemen 3-Playing with fire (Let me down gently and Suicide-sorry 'bout the tinnitis with the latter!)

Anyway, enjoyed the chat about hifi and the old days-you are very lucky to have seen the bands you mentioned and likewise scoring a pair of MGs in payment for your work-wish I could negotiate something like that with my employers!

[adrian]

Hi Gareth and all

Yes,thanks for asking me over.It does take a bit of nerve to ask a complete stranger round.Nice one.I appreciate that.

Lets say the journey home was 'interesting'

The cabs I got last year (not MG's but HPD'S) were from a very old mate, who I was in a band with in the 70's.I remember when he got those Berkely clones back in the 70's.,for his studio.They seemed so big.Did some work in my capacity,and he gave me the cabs.He's got new nearfields now.Adams.

Lots of bands around in the 60's/70s,but here's the one to beat.................How about Dickie Valentine, 1956. ha ha ha I am lol ing at that.It's true,with Stan Stennet dressed as a cowboy!. Or eeeeeven The Festival Of Britain........... Yes I was very young.


The Brenda Russell album 'Paris Rain' grows on you.Great sound on that. RECOMMENDED!! A good one for giving the old hi fi a good work out.'Walkin' in New York'.the one that got played a lot,from that album.

I really liked your taste in music!! Nice afternoon! Nice GRF-Rs !!

REGARDS
Adrian