Tannoy Gold 5 Monitors

[amanise]

https://www.tannoy.com/product.html?modelCode=0316-AAY

Can't find a SOS review on these, though some other Tannoy models have been given the review treatment. Anyone have any specific experience of these - or any opinions?

[Wonks]

I had one that I bought for mic frequency testing due to the coax speaker design. Ajay_m has it now as part of a pair and he’ll probably be along soon to comment. But I set one up as part of a pair with one of my Genelec M040s, and whilst not identical, there was very little difference in sound that I could make out. So, sound wise, I couldn’t fault them, especially for the money.

My only slightly negative point is that the gold film surround to the tweeter is very reflective, and with light shining on it, it’s movement is quite obvious out of the corner of your eye and a bit distracting. This may depend on the lighting in your studio as to whether you’d notice this yourself.

[Drew Stephenson]

Ajay put a post up in the user reviews section: https://www.soundonsound.com/forum/view ... 0&p=938182

[ajay_m]

I did indeed!. And I remain very impressed with them. Obviously monitors are very much a personal preference but I'm rather fond of the steampunk vibe they exude and they are well worth auditioning in my opinion. Quite a lot of people seem to have purchased them for general hifi use as they are pretty neutrally voiced but of course some people do prefer monitors with a more forward midrange.
One reviewer claims to prefer them to the Neumann KH120s but, well, that's probably being a tad optimistic. But they are to my ears voiced in a similar way, very easy to listen to for extended periods.

[amanise]

Interesting. Thanks very much folks! I like the design, and they do look very favourably priced, and I think British if memory serves. A lot going for them in times such as these.

[James Perrett]

and I think British if memory serves.

Tannoy are part of the Behringer empire these days and everything from their factory in Coatbridge was sold off a few years ago.

[Arpangel]

and I think British if memory serves.

Tannoy are part of the Behringer empire these days and everything from their factory in Coatbridge was sold off a few years ago.

Exactly, Tannoy produced some legendary speakers, but not today, the Tannoys of old are long gone. They could be anything that just have a Tannoy badge on.

along soon to comment. But I set one up as part of a pair with one of my Genelec M040s, and whilst not identical, there was very little difference in sound that I could make out.

That says all you need to know.

[amanise]

and I think British if memory serves.

Tannoy are part of the Behringer empire these days and everything from their factory in Coatbridge was sold off a few years ago.

Oh yes, got sucked into the TCI Group along with people like Midas, Turbosound, Klark Teknik. Very Kidderminster though - but I think even that lot are 'somewhere else' now.
https://www.tannoy.com/our-story.html

Tricky. I wonder how much better these can be than my 20 odd year old Brit built Kevlar transmission line TDLs - with my ears on the other end of them. Hmm. Probably not £0.5k worth of 'better'. But they do look very nice. Hmm.

[Wonks]

The Tannoy Golds are a pre-Behringer acquisition design though.

[amanise]

The Tannoy Golds are a pre-Behringer acquisition design though.

Yes. Legendary stuff. I suppose it all revolves around what current production and QC standards are like. The only real way is to do what you've done and try some. Mostly, I've had nothing but great experience from Chinese stuff like my Squier, and a couple of Berry units. Couple of duff bits of plastic off Temu - that's expected though.

[Wonks]

Just been looking up on what's happened to Tannoy, and it's not all bad news.

This Tannoy history video is only a couple of weeks old at the time of writing.

https://youtu.be/3Arv_8QcLEY?si=rWvPrYm9yHNvfuER

Whilst the cheaper stuff is invariably made in China (some already was before Music Tribe took over), the factory in Scotland has been kept and expanded, so the high-end Tannoy speakers are still being made and development continues.

Sometimes you do need a sheen for your high-end products that a 'made in China' tag fails to bring.

[The Elf]

The weak point with Tannoys frequently seemed to be the bond between the cone and the flexible surround. Check that carefully.

I used to write for Tannoy's in-house magazine, so I got to know their range of speakers quite well. I considered them good value for money. At one studio I still work on a huge pair of soffet Tannoys and some Reveal 5s.

[Arpangel]

I had a pair of Tannoy Cheviots for awhile, they were fine, but there was something about them, that didn’t make me keep them.
Also used the Little Reds for awhile for monitoring, but found them a bit muddy.

[James Perrett]

Whilst the cheaper stuff is invariably made in China (some already was before Music Tribe took over), the factory in Scotland has been kept and expanded, so the high-end Tannoy speakers are still being made and development continues.

I hadn't realised that they kept the factory going. I saw the auction catalogue for the big factory equipment sale and assumed that it was the end of their UK operation.

I'm still very happy with my Tannoy Berkeleys.

[Wonks]

As that YT review states, the initial plans were to move everything to China, but there was such an outcry that I think they realised that doing so would completely devalue the brand. And as Tannoy had lacked investment for quite a long time, Music Tribe put a fair bit of money into new facilities. Probably the best outcome for all in the circumstances.

[Arpangel]

I like the look of these Tannoy Gold's, but I know that they wouldn’t be a significant upgrade or otherwise from my Behringer 3031’s, I'm stuck in Berry Land until I'm drunk enough to splash out thousands.

[DGL.]

AFAIK the Coatbridge factory is gone and the high end Tannoy HIFI speakers are made elsewhere in Europe, the UK research and development base is in Manchester and Kidderminster was relegated to being a customer service/repair place.

[Wonks]

The manufacturing is in Scotland for the high-end stuff.

I'll post this link again.

https://youtu.be/3Arv_8QcLEY?si=rWvPrYm9yHNvfuER

[ef37a]

I have had a pair of Tannoy Reveal 5As for some years now. I am pretty happy with them. They sit on slim CD shelf towers either side of a 50" FSTV. I am often impressed with the bass they deliver.

I want to upgrade at some point, something more accurate but also a higher SPL capability. Yes, the 5As are loud enough for normal use but being deaf I sometimes want headbanging levels!

Dave.

[Arpangel]

I have had a pair of Tannoy Reveal 5As for some years now. I am pretty happy with them. They sit on slim CD shelf towers either side of a 50" FSTV. I am often impressed with the bass they deliver.

I want to upgrade at some point, something more accurate but also a higher SPL capability. Yes, the 5As are loud enough for normal use but being deaf I sometimes want headbanging levels!

Dave.

Something more accurate? be prepared to spend money, a lot of it.
The Reveals aren’t bad, especially as TV speakers! I'd investigate hi-fi tower designs, there are some good ones around, plus, I wouldn’t want something super accurate for listening to TV and movies, often the sound is awful, I'd prefer something that sounds a bit "nice" to smooth over the rough bits.

[ef37a]

Bit miffed at the term "TV speakers" Tone! A bit of context?

The Tannoys were installed in a small bedroom that son used for his recording. Since he is now permanently removed to France I decided the speakers could come into my living room and form part of a replay system. Yes for the telly, via an optical feed to a D/A then onto a Behringer mixer in front* of me thus I can enjoy R3 in pretty good fidelity (Teleman suite in C going atmo...nice) but I can also play CDs through the setup and have recently rigged a Rega TTable and 50W integrated amp in a alcove and will eventually send a feed to the mixer. Mixer is also linked to my MOTU M4 so I can record anything I harken unto.

But I am some 2m from the Tannoys which is a bit unfair on fairly budget monitors if you want "exciting" levels now and then.
I HAD pretty much fixed brain on a pair of Result 6s when/if the time came but that sneaky Phil Ward keeps coming up with newer/better?/more flexible alternatives!
My budget by the way is around £2000. (assuming the jam jar gets through June's MOT!)

*This is why I want to find an AV pre amp with motorised VC. Then I can relegate the mixer to level rationalisation duties and control the 5As from the sofa. Oh! And I do have a pair of Mission 775s but their LF response is bit OTT in my room. The 775s are impressive but the Tannoys are "clearer".

Dave.

[ef37a]

Had an ignoble thought in a shop today (phone related, will tell later in that thread) The guy had a rake of new and used PA gear and it occurred to me that I could spend £99 on a pair of PA speakers and sit the Tannoys on top?

Then I would be able to kick some serious A*! Still want better than the 5As one day.

*Only joking...I think!

Dave.

[Arpangel]

Bit miffed at the term "TV speakers" Tone! A bit of context.
Dave.

They are too good for the TV, I wouldn’t use anything decent, as I find TV sound awful.

[ef37a]

Bit miffed at the term "TV speakers" Tone! A bit of context.
Dave.

They are too good for the TV, I wouldn’t use anything decent, as I find TV sound awful.

"Awful" in what way Arp'? I find the basic quality very good, as I say I listen to a lot of R3 through the setup and it sounds just as good as CD (tho' my 2kHz top chop might be an issue?) to me.
Yes, much of the commercial stuff has overblown bass, as does R1 but not my cup of char anyway. Then the dialogue/background(sort of!) sounds/music balance is often very bad. Radio Times carries letters bemoaning this regularly and it crops up on Points of View all the time but STILL the arty farty producers continue with the practice.
I find that if I raise the average level to about 80dB at my sofa the dialogue gets clearer but then I am going to annoy my neighbour when a gun is fired or a car crashes!

One slight drawback of the "hi fi" setup is that "domestic" noises, a door banging or some phone ring tones can be so realistic they are confusing!

There also seems to be little effort to control random LF noises? I am often left wondering what that low level 'thud' or groan was.

Dave.

[Arpangel]

Bit miffed at the term "TV speakers" Tone! A bit of context.
Dave.

They are too good for the TV, I wouldn’t use anything decent, as I find TV sound awful.

"Awful" in what way Arp'? I find the basic quality very good, as I say I listen to a lot of R3 through the setup and it sounds just as good as CD (tho' my 2kHz top chop might be an issue?) to me.
Yes, much of the commercial stuff has overblown bass, as does R1 but not my cup of char anyway. Then the dialogue/background(sort of!) sounds/music balance is often very bad. Radio Times carries letters bemoaning this regularly and it crops up on Points of View all the time but STILL the arty farty producers continue with the practice.
I find that if I raise the average level to about 80dB at my sofa the dialogue gets clearer but then I am going to annoy my neighbour when a gun is fired or a car crashes!

One slight drawback of the "hi fi" setup is that "domestic" noises, a door banging or some phone ring tones can be so realistic they are confusing!

There also seems to be little effort to control random LF noises? I am often left wondering what that low level 'thud' or groan was.

Dave.

I'm a few k above you Dave, but think of your hearing loss as an unwanted bonus, everything broadcast on the mainstream media is hyped up to excruciating levels.
I know I’m not hearing the full show, but it’s a money saver to me, thats how I look at it.