Marco's journey to Tannoy-land

[Clive]

Marco, probably it won't make a huge difference but do your output TX's have a 16 ohm tap? This would probably be a better match than an 8ohm or 6 ohm tap, assuming something like a 15 ohm load. I don't know what you copper amp has but 6 ohm TX's is fairly typical to provide a match for modern speakers.

[pure sound]

Big Tannoys of any description though are just a riot with all sorts of music, and right now I can't stop sitting there with a huge 'perma-grin' spread across my chops! I just can't see it getting much better than this

It can, Vitavox

Seriously, I'm glad they are doing the business & I look forward to seeing pictures & maybe hearing them at some point. You must take them to Scalford Hall next time.

I gather those GRF's may be finding their way up north at some point too.

[Ali Tait]

Yeah,bring them to Eggy Marco!

[Ian Walker]

Bollox to that,: i aint liftin them monsters back down his dancers

[Ali Tait]

Ok,you bring yours then!

[Ian Walker]

Aye i'll bring one under each arm

[Ali Tait]

Got a roof-rack?

[Marco]

Ali, if you come down, we can balance them on your middle leg, or on second thoughts, I doubt there'd be enough girth there for that

Marco.

P.S I'll return and deal with the sensible comments later.

[Ali Tait]

I'll have the same problem going to Eggy,my statics are a two-man lift,being made from solid oak.Good job Mo lives nearby!

[Marco]

Guys,

I'd love to bring the Lockwoods to Eggy but they're bloody huge and it'd be just too much of an upheaval. If Al decides to do another fest in Chester I *might* reconsider

My apologies for not being around much at the moment to answer questions, but a combination of being busy work-wise and the Lockwoods dragging me away to listen to music has been the culprit!

These Monitor Reds are just so very special, musically. When listening to recordings, they seem to draw you right in and 'hook' you, and before you know it, two or three hours of listening have passed by!!

Clive,

The Copper amp is fixed at 6 Ohms, so no can do. Interestingly, I can detect no major 'issues' with the Lockwoods/Copper amp combo, despite the former being rated at 15 Ohms, so I guess that, as you say, it doesn't make a huge difference. There is nothing 'thin' about the sound, nor is there an over-emphasis of the midrange - in fact, the midrange of the Monitor Reds is quite the most sublime that I have ever heard, and the top end is explicitly detailed but completely non-fatiguing.

Lower down the frequency range, the Monitor Reds in Lockwood cabinets don't do 'stunt bass', which is just the same as with any other vintage Tannoys. However, bass is very deep and tight, with plenty of impact (when the occasion demands) and, most importantly, ever so tuneful. However, what they do achieve with music in the lower registers is absolutely awesome scale and a sense of effortlessness, such that musical performances sound and *feel* just like that, and are delivered with gravitas and genuine realism. Certain acoustic instruments like saxophone and trumpet can sound so real that it makes you wince, such is the level of dynamic impact. It's something, in my experience, that 'normal' speakers only ever hint at despite some being musically adept in certain areas within the boundaries of their capabilities.

The Lockwoods also image like bitches, envelop the room with a huge 'widescreen' soundstage, and have very little box coloration that I can detect. They're within a smidgen of being as good as electrostatics or open baffles in that respect, but sound much 'bigger' and more real, in a completely unforced and natural way, than I've ever heard from examples of the latter breed.

They also appear to have near-limitless headroom, as turning up the wick just makes the sound swell to mammoth proportions, and grow bigger and bigger, until the room is overwhelmed by 'living and breathing' live-sounding music. I haven't 'pushed it' yet (as I feel that I should respect the fact that the drive units are over 50 years old), but you get the distinct impression that your ears will give in long before they will!

Dave (DSJR),

I agree with all of your points, but the marriage between my TD Cooper amp and the Lockwoods is an excellent one. It would be hard to imagine how things could get much better, although the Vitavox which Guy mentions could perhaps offer something even more. I will however hard-wire the crossovers to the drive units and remove the connector plug, as recommended by Roger at Lockwood, and fit some high quality silver WBT speaker binding posts. I am after all a perfectionist

With regard to 'how good does it get?', I'm also sure that some massive Klipschorns would do a similar, or if not even better, trick. One thing is for sure: having now heard how vintage Tannoys in huge cabinets 'do music' there is quite simply no way that I could ever return to modern 'conventional' loudspeakers at anything approaching a 'normal' size; it would be like exposing one's palate to the horrors of Beaujolais Nouveau after being accustomed to Gevrey Chambertin...

There's a neat saying amongst some females which runs: 'once you've had black you never go back' - it's kinda like that too with big Tannoys!

Marco.

P.S Dave, the lack of digital camera chez-moi is through a combination of laziness and apathy towards taking 'snaps' out with of hi-fi purposes!