Tannoy Lancasters

[vencel]

I don't want to be stroppy but if there are so many issues with the Tannoy 15" Golds and in particular with the Lancasters, why so many people are interested in buying them and why are the prices are so high?
I know that lifting them up from the floor improves the sound but mine were sounding really nice with my friends 211 tube amp when I tried them before buying.
Naturally I agree that their sound can be improved (that's also suggested by Troels Gravesen here: http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/MG15XO-up-grade.htm), but I think that the sound of the untouched Lancaster is beautiful. On the long run of courser I am also planning to change some of the crossover parts even though I don't really want to drill any holes in the crossover box to take it apart.
Did any of you tried Troels' crossover design?

[vencel]

Hello Marco,

Did you check the value of the original capacitors before replacing them? I've read on Troels' page that some were labelled as 16uF but they were 32uF when measuring them.

When I decided to tune the crossover I will definitely check the values :-)

Regards,
Vecncel

[vencel]

One more thing. Someone told me that it would be worth trying Tannoy Silver's crossover design with the Golds. I guess it would need slight modifications but I would be curios how the Golds would sound with the Silver's crossover.

Did any of you have the possibility to compare the Silver with the Golds?
I know the Silvers and Reds are more rare and they go for more money but are they that better?

[Marco]

Hi László,

Did you not click the link I posted to the circuit diagram I used? If you had done, you'd have noticed that it was Troels'

And it works a treat! But I chose my own components....

As for "problems" with Monitor Golds, well no speakers are perfect, and of course it's all down to personal taste. Some people like the sound of Lancasters 'as is', and others will want to 'modernise' their presentation.

Also, some Monitor Gold drive units were better matched with their original crossovers than others, and better pair matched too, and some components in the original crossovers will be running at closer to their original specification than others - all of which means that the performance of any given pair of Lancasters (or any vintage Tannoys) will vary depending on all of the above

Marco.

[Ammonite Audio]

László

I think that the issue is really that these old speakers do need a bit of updating, particularly in the crossovers. After all, you would expect electrolytic capacitors in a 40 year old amp to need changing, so the same must apply to speakers. I shall certainly put in some good polypropylene caps but whether I change the entire circuit is something to think about. I don't want to change the cabinets because they're such a handy size and do not dominate a room.

I think that the prices are so high simply because of the Monitor Gold drive units. Having heard Marco's Lockwood Majors and Montesquieu's, both of which are in pretty large enclosures, I can hear the potential of these drivers. Both have been 'breathed upon' though.

My amplification is shown below in my signature.


Marco

I'm sure you're right about lifting them up a tad. The Stillpoints Component stands will only lift them by around 70mm because of the recessed plinth at the base of the speakers, but that should be enough to make a difference.

[vencel]

Hello Marco,

I opened and read this link from your post (http://www.guitars-of-love.com/tanno...ssovermods.htm) but I did not realize it is Troels'.
I totally agree with you about Golds sound and people's taste but so far I've read more negative opinions than positive.

Could you share with me what components did you use? Did you also try brands suggested by Troels?

[Marco]

Hi László,

Did you check the value of the original capacitors before replacing them?

Yup!

I know the Silvers and Reds are more rare and they go for more money but are they that better?

Well, "better" is of course highly subjective... However, in my opinion, they're certainly better through the presence region in the crucial midrange (in fact, utterly magical there), but Silvers don't have much bottom end, even 15" ones (as they weren't really designed for the rock and pop era), although Reds fare rather better in that respect, but don't do really deep bass, like Golds.

However, the price one pays on eBay, and such like, for Reds and Silvers is probably more to do with rarity value and collectability, than anything else!

Marco.

[vencel]

László

I think that the prices are so high simply because of the Monitor Gold drive units. Having heard Marco's Lockwood Majors and Montesquieu's, both of which are in pretty large enclosures, I can hear the potential of these drivers. Both have been 'breathed upon' though.

This means sooner or later I should also invest in one of these Lockwood cabinets?! I was asking around which enclosure is mostly suggested for the Tannoy 15" Golds but I did not receive any definite answer.

Marco,
Could you maybe send me some photos of your Lockwood Majors and maybe a plan for it? Are these Lockwoods also use the 15" Gold?
I would really appreciate that.

[Marco]

See my post here: http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=12937

As for plans... I bought my Lockwood Majors as complete units with 15" Monitor Reds inside (later swapped for Golds), but if you contact Roger at Lockwood, he should be able to advise:

http://www.lockwoodaudio.co.uk/

He's extremely approachable and helpful, so don't be afraid to contact him!

Marco.

[Ammonite Audio]

OK - some pictures:





And a view of a Stillpoints Component Stand supporting the Lancasters:



Lifting the Lancasters up a bit has improved the sound, but there is clearly much more to be had. When stoked up (they are relatively inefficient compared to the Avalons) there is quite a lot of heft to kick drums etc but the whole lacks musicality against the Avalons. It feels like they don't "breathe' particularly well. The Sinatra LP that I took over to Martin's last week is not particularly engaging played through the Lancasters and I have an unpleasant feeling that the Monitor Golds really need a bigger enclosure like Marco's Lockwoods or Tom's GRFs - greater size is the one parameter that I cannot accommodate.