Tannoy Berkeley with Solid State Amps

[pidge22]

Hi all I have a real itch for a pair of Tannoys with 15" 385A drivers my only concern is my Solid State Linn Klimax Solo Monoblocks rated at 290 watts into 8 ohms.
They are superb amps that i dont want to change but wanted to ask the question if they would work ok with 385A drivers & wouldn't do any damage to a driver that is rated at 85 watts.
I dont play loud rock music mainly Jazz,Female Vocal & Acoustics mainly at low volums because of my tinnitus and my room isn't particularly big at 3.6m x 5m with high ceilings.

thanks for any advice...

[Kember]

I have run both a Quad 99 and a Krell KAV500 into a pair of 15” MGs as an experiment and they sound absolutely fine without any problems but you won’t, indeed, want to be turning the dial up to 11! Having too much power is almost always a better problem to have than too little.

I’d guess you’d need to think whether you’d ever find a situation where a child (or a cleaner, for example,) might interfere with the preamp volume control while the HiFi is unattended.

[pidge22]

Thankyou for the swift reply ..we have no children other than when the grand kids come & my listening room is out of bounds ! & no cleaner always have the volume quite low....

[Lawrence001]

The usual (correct) advice is that your amp should have a higher rating than the speakers so you're fine in terms of overdriving them.

The worst situation is using lower powered amps that you have to force into audible distortion (clipping) to get a decent volume level. Of course high powered amps will damage them if played too loud, there's a limit you will hit with any amp, but from what you say you won't do that, just be careful with the volume.

As an aside, I've not heard of anyone using Linn amps with large Tannoys. That's not to say they won't sound good but there's not a commonly accepted synergy. Maybe that's because nobody's tried!

There's also a debate around solid state vs valve, sweetness vs grip, but that's a whole new can of worms I won't get into here! Suffice to say some experienced members of various forums disagree on this so it's probably down to personal preference.

[Firebottle]

As long as you don't crank it it will be fine.

[pidge22]

The usual (correct) advice is that your amp should have a higher rating than the speakers so you're fine in terms of overdriving them.

The worst situation is using lower powered amps that you have to force into audible distortion (clipping) to get a decent volume level. Of course high powered amps will damage them if played too loud, there's a limit you will hit with any amp, but from what you say you won't do that, just be careful with the volume.

As an aside, I've not heard of anyone using Linn amps with large Tannoys. That's not to say they won't sound good but there's not a commonly accepted synergy. Maybe that's because nobody's tried!

There's also a debate around solid state vs valve, sweetness vs grip, but that's a whole new can of worms I won't get into here! Suffice to say some experienced members of various forums disagree in this so it's probably down to personal preference.

Thanks for the advice in the long term I am looking to go all valve in line with my Tron Seven Phono & Pre so am buying with that in mind but for the forseeable future with be the Klimax Solos...just another question does the speaker inputs on the mk1 allow 4mm banana plugs ...

[walpurgis]

You won't hurt the Tannoys using a powerful amplifier at normal listening levels, you are more likely to damage your hearing before the speakers :).

[pidge22]

You won't hurt the Tannoys using a powerful amplifier at normal listening levels, you are more likely to damage your hearing before the speakers :).

thanks...

[pidge22]

Thanks for all the feedback on this much appreciated just one other question will the Mk1 inputs allow Banana 4mm plugs to be used ...

[struth]

as its in a room only you are likely in then it wont likely be quite as important but its good practice anyway to check the volume setting on amp before powering up

[Lawrence001]

Any versions I've seen with the HPDs have the usual banana type sockets of the period, from the pictures I've seen the things they won't take as well as modern (bigger) sockets are spades and heavy guage bare speaker cable.

[pidge22]

Thankyou for all the info I have decided to hold out & look for a pair of Arden or Amesbury but the info you have given me re my amps is relevant thankyou as same drivers...

[DiveDeepDog]

If you could stand the looks, there’s a pair of DMT15’s on the bay. I’d expect them to be superb.

[pidge22]

If you could stand the looks, there’s a pair of DMT15’s on the bay. I’d expect them to be superb.

Unfortunately I dont think i would get approval from the Aesthetics Board for them...Canteburys have been approved as have GRF memory & I think I would get a decent pair of Ardens through as well LOL...

[The Black Adder]

Hi all I have a real itch for a pair of Tannoys with 15" 385A drivers my only concern is my Solid State Linn Klimax Solo Monoblocks rated at 290 watts into 8 ohms.They are superb amps that i dont want to change but wanted to ask the question if they would work ok with 385A drivers & wouldn't do any damage to a driver that is rated at 85 watts.I dont play loud rock music mainly Jazz,Female Vocal & Acoustics mainly at low volums because of my tinnitus and my room isn't particularly big at 3.6m x 5m with high ceilings.thanks for any advice...It will be absolutely fine. I run a high powered solid state amp on y 15" Monitor Golds.... amazing! Check out my website for more information.

[pidge22]

It will be absolutely fine. I run a high powered solid state amp on y 15" Monitor Golds.... amazing! Check out my website for more information.

thankyou & your website is superb...

[mbic]

I use a Revox B250-s which has a peak power of 160 watts driving a pair of Tannoy HPD 315 in modified Tannoy Chatsworth enclosures, maximum handling 60 watts.
I’ve never had any issues at all. As someone said make sure the volume level is turned down at start of listening, just be sensible with listening levels.
Mike.

[pidge22]

I use a Revox B250-s which has a peak power of 160 watts driving a pair of Tannoy HPD 315 in modified Tannoy Chatsworth enclosures, maximum handling 60 watts.
I’ve never had any issues at all. As someone said make sure the volume level is turned down at start of listening, just be sensible with listening levels.
Mike.
Thanks for the indo Mike much appreciated...