Jazid
08-03-2016, 18:28
For Sale, my Tannoy 12” Monitor Gold speakers in custom cabinets. The drivers are the later rubber surround variant with specs very similar to the HPD model for potentially better bass extension. Sensitivity is the standard 92dB and 8 Ohm impedance makes them an easy drive. This pair are (IIRC) sequential serial numbers and drivers are in excellent condition front and back.
The cabinets are professionally made, a kind of Balmoral variant I believe, designed by the chap who runs Anatek and built for him out of heavy ply, waxed, high quality work, his own personal speakers. They are quite big, 44cm wide x 45cm deep x 92cm tall. The quality of construction is excellent, the finish is somewhat retro industrial - I like it but know it is not everyone's taste. What matter, they sound excellent, I had them at the same time as a pair of Lockwood re-coned Cheviots, and really there was little comparison; scale, heft, and transparency were all much improved with these. I sold the Cheviots and kept these, but they never worked in my room as well as either my Kef 105s or my AN-Es, and I have long since admitted defeat. They are way too good to store and I need space, so off to a new owner to enjoy.
The grilles are in Tannoy style cloth, they seem acoustically transparent to me, and would look fab with the lightning badges added, but I never did this. The drivers are near perfect front and back, the rubber surround which is rather closer to the HPD than the original paper MG in specification is rot-proof of course, unlike the foam on the HPD. The crossovers are original and correct Tannoy issue, re-capped by Dave (La Toilette) with Wilmslow audio polypropylenes but retaining the original Tannoy chokes and autoformers. I tidied up his soldering and wires, and seated them better so the crossover boxes shut properly which is essential for the chokes as their value changes if they are compressed (!). I have disconnected the level and treble lift rotary switches which are still present, they could easily be reconnected if you wanted to, or I can do it, but IMHO the speakers sound better without them. One control panel has a crack, this is not uncommon and caused by tightening the case against them when installing. It makes no functional difference and you have to look closely round the back of the speaker to see it. The binding posts are gold plated banana plugs also on the back.
I bought them from Dave – La Toilette - and this is taken from his sale blurb:
“I've had these drivers for the best part of 10 years after trying out lots of Tannoy models before and during, and these always seemed the best of all of them to me. Originally came in Lancaster cabs and now is really solid birch ply affairs professionally made for the guy who owns/runs Anatek - finished by me with Osmo wax straight onto the ply. I made and fitted the grilles. The cabs are basically repro's of the Balmoral cabs but made with good ply, and they sound l-o-a-d-s better than the Lancasters ever did. Replaced all the caps in the crossovers with Wilmslow Audio supercaps some years ago.
This won't be the end of my Tannoy story I'm sure, but with my kids and loads of house diy I think it's time to make some sort of compromise, and so next it'll be either smaller Tannoys or something in the Harbeth/Spendor/Rogers mould I should think. Anyway, I want to see if there's any firm interest at my valuation of £1350, which given that the cabs cost £600 to put together and the ever-increasing prices of vintage Tannoys....seems pretty reasonable to me. The drivers themselves are in excellent order, these have the rubber surrounds (non-rotting), the only negative:- one treble control panel is cracked in the middle (always been like it and makes no difference to operation, hidden on rear of speaker anyway). I left these controls in circuit as they've always been totally quiet and a handy way of adjusting... the treble! Oh yes and a small scuff on the surface of one cone - totally superficial and not desperately visible.”
They are difficult to photograph and my man cave is (always) a mess. I had them on the ridiculous stands seen in order to get the driver close to my high seating position. The snaps show the grilles as quite transparent, but in fact the grilles are visually pretty opaque and textured as per period finish, and the first pic makes the top look bleached but it is just a reflection.
Up for sale at £1000, basically the current cost of the drivers. I would rather sell the drivers and cabs together as they work so well, the drivers alone would also be £1000 for those interested. These are big, quite heavy, and consequently collection only from W. London. They will not fit in a hatchback I suspect, you will need a medium estate or a van. PM me with any questions.
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb376/fgcouk/12MG/P1070939.comp.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/fgcouk/media/12MG/P1070939.comp.jpg.html)
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb376/fgcouk/12MG/P1060998.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/fgcouk/media/12MG/P1060998.jpg.html)
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb376/fgcouk/12MG/P1060254comp.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/fgcouk/media/12MG/P1060254comp.jpg.html)
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb376/fgcouk/12MG/P1060255-comp.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/fgcouk/media/12MG/P1060255-comp.jpg.html)
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb376/fgcouk/12MG/P1060127comp.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/fgcouk/media/12MG/P1060127comp.jpg.html)
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb376/fgcouk/12MG/P1060125comp.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/fgcouk/media/12MG/P1060125comp.jpg.html)
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb376/fgcouk/12MG/P1060255.jcomp.pg.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/fgcouk/media/12MG/P1060255.jcomp.pg.jpg.html)
The cabinets are professionally made, a kind of Balmoral variant I believe, designed by the chap who runs Anatek and built for him out of heavy ply, waxed, high quality work, his own personal speakers. They are quite big, 44cm wide x 45cm deep x 92cm tall. The quality of construction is excellent, the finish is somewhat retro industrial - I like it but know it is not everyone's taste. What matter, they sound excellent, I had them at the same time as a pair of Lockwood re-coned Cheviots, and really there was little comparison; scale, heft, and transparency were all much improved with these. I sold the Cheviots and kept these, but they never worked in my room as well as either my Kef 105s or my AN-Es, and I have long since admitted defeat. They are way too good to store and I need space, so off to a new owner to enjoy.
The grilles are in Tannoy style cloth, they seem acoustically transparent to me, and would look fab with the lightning badges added, but I never did this. The drivers are near perfect front and back, the rubber surround which is rather closer to the HPD than the original paper MG in specification is rot-proof of course, unlike the foam on the HPD. The crossovers are original and correct Tannoy issue, re-capped by Dave (La Toilette) with Wilmslow audio polypropylenes but retaining the original Tannoy chokes and autoformers. I tidied up his soldering and wires, and seated them better so the crossover boxes shut properly which is essential for the chokes as their value changes if they are compressed (!). I have disconnected the level and treble lift rotary switches which are still present, they could easily be reconnected if you wanted to, or I can do it, but IMHO the speakers sound better without them. One control panel has a crack, this is not uncommon and caused by tightening the case against them when installing. It makes no functional difference and you have to look closely round the back of the speaker to see it. The binding posts are gold plated banana plugs also on the back.
I bought them from Dave – La Toilette - and this is taken from his sale blurb:
“I've had these drivers for the best part of 10 years after trying out lots of Tannoy models before and during, and these always seemed the best of all of them to me. Originally came in Lancaster cabs and now is really solid birch ply affairs professionally made for the guy who owns/runs Anatek - finished by me with Osmo wax straight onto the ply. I made and fitted the grilles. The cabs are basically repro's of the Balmoral cabs but made with good ply, and they sound l-o-a-d-s better than the Lancasters ever did. Replaced all the caps in the crossovers with Wilmslow Audio supercaps some years ago.
This won't be the end of my Tannoy story I'm sure, but with my kids and loads of house diy I think it's time to make some sort of compromise, and so next it'll be either smaller Tannoys or something in the Harbeth/Spendor/Rogers mould I should think. Anyway, I want to see if there's any firm interest at my valuation of £1350, which given that the cabs cost £600 to put together and the ever-increasing prices of vintage Tannoys....seems pretty reasonable to me. The drivers themselves are in excellent order, these have the rubber surrounds (non-rotting), the only negative:- one treble control panel is cracked in the middle (always been like it and makes no difference to operation, hidden on rear of speaker anyway). I left these controls in circuit as they've always been totally quiet and a handy way of adjusting... the treble! Oh yes and a small scuff on the surface of one cone - totally superficial and not desperately visible.”
They are difficult to photograph and my man cave is (always) a mess. I had them on the ridiculous stands seen in order to get the driver close to my high seating position. The snaps show the grilles as quite transparent, but in fact the grilles are visually pretty opaque and textured as per period finish, and the first pic makes the top look bleached but it is just a reflection.
Up for sale at £1000, basically the current cost of the drivers. I would rather sell the drivers and cabs together as they work so well, the drivers alone would also be £1000 for those interested. These are big, quite heavy, and consequently collection only from W. London. They will not fit in a hatchback I suspect, you will need a medium estate or a van. PM me with any questions.
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb376/fgcouk/12MG/P1070939.comp.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/fgcouk/media/12MG/P1070939.comp.jpg.html)
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb376/fgcouk/12MG/P1060998.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/fgcouk/media/12MG/P1060998.jpg.html)
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb376/fgcouk/12MG/P1060254comp.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/fgcouk/media/12MG/P1060254comp.jpg.html)
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb376/fgcouk/12MG/P1060255-comp.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/fgcouk/media/12MG/P1060255-comp.jpg.html)
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb376/fgcouk/12MG/P1060127comp.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/fgcouk/media/12MG/P1060127comp.jpg.html)
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb376/fgcouk/12MG/P1060125comp.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/fgcouk/media/12MG/P1060125comp.jpg.html)
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb376/fgcouk/12MG/P1060255.jcomp.pg.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/fgcouk/media/12MG/P1060255.jcomp.pg.jpg.html)