Tannoy
The Dual Concentric driver — one point source, infinite clarity
History
Tannoy was founded in London, England in 1926 by Guy R. Fountain as the Tulsemere Manufacturing Company. The name "Tannoy" came from a combination of tannium and alloy—materials used in the company's early rectifiers. The name became so synonymous with public address systems that "Tannoy" entered the Oxford English Dictionary as a generic term for PA speakers.
The company's breakthrough came in 1947 with the invention of the Dual Concentric driver by Ronnie Hastings Rackham. This revolutionary design placed the high-frequency driver at the center of the low-frequency cone, creating a true point-source with perfect time alignment—decades before this became a common goal in speaker design.
The 1950s and 1960s saw Tannoy Dual Concentric monitors become the standard in recording studios worldwide. Abbey Road Studios used Tannoy monitors for decades, and they were installed in royal palaces, theaters, and broadcasting facilities across the British Empire.
The Gold and Silver series brought Tannoy quality to domestic listeners. The Monitor Gold (15" and 12"), Red, and Super Gold became legendary for their coherence, dynamics, and the ability to fill large rooms with effortless sound.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Tannoy expanded with the Westminster, Yorkminster, and Arden models—large floorstanding speakers that brought Dual Concentric technology to the living room. The company also introduced the Definition and Revolution series for more contemporary tastes.
Key Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1926, London, England |
| Founder | Guy R. Fountain |
| Key Innovation | Dual Concentric driver (1947) |
| Famous User | Abbey Road Studios |
| Name Origin | Tantalum + Alloy (early materials) |
| Current Status | Part of Music Group (Behringer) |
Legendary Products
Tannoy Monitor Gold (1950s-1970s)
The gold-standard studio monitor. Available in 15" and 12" versions, the Monitor Gold used Tannoy's famous Dual Concentric driver with an Alnico magnet and gold-anodized chassis. It became the reference for countless recordings at Abbey Road and studios worldwide.
Tannoy Westminster (1970s)
A massive floorstanding speaker using a 15" Dual Concentric driver in a large ported enclosure. The Westminster brought Tannoy's professional heritage to domestic settings, offering effortless dynamics and room-filling sound.
Tannoy Arden (1970s)
A more domestically sized floorstander using a 12" Dual Concentric driver. The Arden offered much of the Westminster's performance in a more living-room-friendly package, becoming a favorite among Tannoy enthusiasts.
Tannoy Little Red Monitor (1970s)
A compact bookshelf speaker using an 8" Dual Concentric driver. The "Red" name came from the red surround on the woofer. It brought Tannoy coherence to smaller spaces.
Classic Models Reference
| Model | Era | Size | Type | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red | 1940s-50s | 15" | Monitor | Early classic |
| Gold | 1950s-70s | 15"/12" | Monitor | Studio standard |
| Silver | 1950s-60s | 15"/12" | Monitor | Domestic version |
| Super Gold | 1960s-70s | 15"/12" | Monitor | Improved Gold |
| Monitor Black | 1970s | 15"/12" | Monitor | Later studio |
| Westminster | 1970s | 15" | Floor | Flagship home |
| Yorkminster | 1970s | 15" | Floor | Westminster variant |
| Arden | 1970s | 12" | Floor | Popular classic |
| Cheviot | 1970s | 12" | Floor | Compact floor |
| Berkeley | 1970s | 10" | Floor | Smaller floor |
| Little Red Monitor | 1970s | 8" | Bookshelf | Compact classic |
| Eaton | 1970s | 10" | Bookshelf | Stand-mount |
Sound Signature
Tannoy speakers are characterized by:
- Point-source coherence - Dual Concentric accuracy
- Effortless dynamics - High efficiency, high output
- Wide dispersion - Consistent sound throughout room
- Musical warmth - Engaging, natural presentation
- Room-filling sound - Large drivers fill big spaces
Collecting Tannoy
Vintage Tannoy gear is valued for:
- Monitor Gold - The studio legend
- Alnico drivers - Pre-1980s most desirable
- 15" models - Ultimate Tannoy experience
- Westminster/Arden - Domestic classics
- Crossover variants - Gold, HPD, Super versions
Most collectible models:
- Monitor Gold 15" - The holy grail
- Monitor Gold 12" - More practical classic
- Westminster - Home flagship
- Arden - Popular floorstander
Restoration Tips
Common Tannoy service items:
- Replace crossover capacitors (especially in Gold series)
- Check Alnico magnets (can lose strength over time)
- Recone woofers if needed (specialist service)
- Refinish cabinets (often walnut veneer)
- Replace grille cloth (match original)
- Verify driver matching (critical for Dual Concentric)
Competitors & Comparisons
Tannoy vs Altec: Both efficient designs; Tannoy point-source, Altec horn
Tannoy vs Klipsch: Both high efficiency; Tannoy coaxial, Klipsch horn
Tannoy vs BBC monitors: Different philosophies; Tannoy more dynamic
All Models in Archive (40)
| K3838-(15 inch) | 1970 |
| 2528-10 | |
| 2528 | |
| 3128 12-inch | |
| inch3128-(12 inch) inch | 1980 |
| 3828-(15 inch) | 1980 |
| 3828-15 | |
| 3833gg-(15 inch) | 1975 |
| 3833gg-15 | |
| 3858 | 1990 |
| 4033 | 1975 |
| 4133 | 1974 |
| chester-t165 | 1989 |
| cheviot-mk-ii | 1975 |
| classic-monitor | 1974 |
| DU386 / K3828 (15") | 1968 |
| DU386/K3828 | 1975 |
| HPD-295A (10 inch) | 1974 |
| hpd-295a-10 | |
| HPD 315A | |
| HPD-385A (15") | 1974 |
| K3808-(15 inch) | 1975 |
| K3808-15 | 1975 |
| little-red-monitor | 1967 |
| monitor-black-12" | 1974 |
| monitor-black-15 | 1974 |
| monitor-gold-12-inch-rubber-surround | 1967 |
| MONITOR-GOLD-12 | |
| MONITOR-GOLD-15 | |
| Monitor Gold IIILZ (10 inch) | 1975 |
| Monitor Gold IIILZ | 1975 |
| monitor-gold-iiilz-10 | |
| Monitor Gold Loudspeaker | 1967-2024 |
| MONITOR-RED-12 | |
| monitor-red-15 | 1954 |
| monitor-red-iiilz-(10 inch) | 1974 |
| monitor-red-iiilz-10 | |
| monitor-silver-12 | 2001 |
| monitor-silver-15 | |
| SUPER-RED-MONITOR | 1954 |
Speakers
Amplifiers
- 4133 - 1974
- little-red-monitor - 1967
Audio Equipment
Drivers
- 3128 12-inch
- K3838-(15 inch) - 1970
Equalizers
- 3833gg-(15 inch) - 1975
- classic-monitor - 1974
- HPD-385A (15") - 1974
- K3808-(15 inch) - 1975
- K3808-15 - 1975
- monitor-black-12" - 1974
- monitor-black-15 - 1974
- SUPER-RED-MONITOR - 1954
Speakers
- inch3128-(12 inch) inch - 1980
- 3828-(15 inch) - 1980
- 3858 - 1990
- 4033 - 1975
- chester-t165 - 1989
- cheviot-mk-ii - 1975
- DU386 / K3828 (15") - 1968
- DU386/K3828 - 1975
- HPD-295A (10 inch) - 1974
- Monitor Gold IIILZ - 1975
- Monitor Gold IIILZ (10 inch) - 1975
- Monitor Gold Loudspeaker - 1967-2024
- monitor-gold-12-inch-rubber-surround - 1967
- monitor-red-15 - 1954
- monitor-red-iiilz-(10 inch) - 1974
- monitor-silver-12 - 2001