The big Tannoy Westminster Royal Special Edition (SE) loudspeakers are really something special. Given the scarcity of information about them I thought a blog would be a handy resource for those trying to find out more about their musical charms.
My journey to owning a pair of Westminster Royal SEs started like this: Quite a few years ago at the Consumer Electronics Show I heard a pair of Tannoy Churchill loudspeakers and they really impressed me. They had gorgeous tone and produced a visceral impact that I could feel over my entire body, and I was never able to get that experience out of my head. The Churchill is now a footnote in Tannoy’s history, but in any event, I had fixed my sights on the Westminster Royal SE, Tannoy’s premier and most revered loudspeaker. “Hey, if the Churchill was that awesome, the Westminster Royal SE must even be more awesome,” was my logic and hope.
So I did what a lot of us have to do with exotic Hi-Fi equipment that’s not easy to audition due to their scarcity, I ordered a pair without having heard them and hoped for the best. That’s a little scary when you’re talking about a loudspeaker that sells for about what I paid for my Toyota 4Runner.
Tannoy makes each pair of Westminster Royal SEs as an order is received, so it takes a while from the time you place an order until they make your pair and ship them. I settled in for the long wait for Tannoy to make my Westminster Royal SEs and deliver them to me in the USA from their factory in Coatbridge, Scotland … more to come.
man! almost breathless. love the Imperial feel to it! so British!
you are going to spoil many friends like this Jeff & their wives be holding protests against the blog.
Hey Sid,
Hopefully the wives will not notice the blog, and instead will try extra hard to please their husbands in order to hold their attention after they get their new mesmerizing Westminsters.
Best,
Jeff
Aha! i get it now.
Working for the woo-man-kind – Jeff & his Westminsters!
Gd day brother
Hi Guys,
I can’t tell you how excited i am now that i found this site.
A little bit about my journey. In 1975 at 21yrs of age walked into a stereo shop and fell in love with that Tannoy Sound bought the Berkleys $ 1100.00 on the spot. 1 month later I sold them to a friend. Went back and bought the Ardens $1300.00 I owned Them for 25yrs. with never a thought to replace them, and never had to replace the surrounds. There was a guy that would phone me every other month wanting me to sell them. One day I had a weak moment, gave in and sold them. I have regretted that decision ever since. Also during that 25 yrs. I had a pair of windsors that I liked very much, but there was nothing like that 15” Concentric Driver.
Since the year 2001 I have owned numerous brands of speakers with not much satisfaction PSB, Totem, etc ending
with B&W 803D that I sold last week. With a longing for some new Tannoy’s, I think my decision has been made even though reviews on the Canterbury SE are few. Any imput you guys have would be much appreciated. My room is 13 x 17 and I think they would be perfect. Also some suggestions on Amplifiers that would make them sound their best without breaking the bank. I’m far from a rich man.
Thanks so much
Boyd
I had small Tannoy concentric monitors (biampable) in the 90′s in my studio, now I think I’m ready to own some big amazing Tannoys like the ones pictured. This would be money well-spent when I receive my inheritance…
Request opinions on the appropriate speaker boxes and matching amplifiers including tube amps. I have a pair of early 1970′s 15″ Gold Dual Concentric Tannoy Speakers recently upgraded. They were bolted into home-made but recommended factory spec speaker boxes, little larger than Lancasters. I have downsized from big homes to a one-bedroom city apartment with walk up stairs. See where this is leading with heavy cumbersome speakers. I love these speakers and have said so since the 70s. People have tried to part them from me, too big, sell them.
Presently, I am doing what I love, putting on dance events and now djing, social dance music, Argentine Tango, swing, and authentic Latin music, not hyper loud electronica club or hard rock. I intend to use my sound system, not only at home, but for dances, room sizes about 2000 – 3000 sf. There may be 30 to 100 dancers. I would like the flexibility to move the speakers from residence to dance hall. I have been warned not to do this.
So, I would like to minimize the speaker boxes, convenience of moving in and out of my apartment to dance events, not oversized in my 15’ x 14’ living room, without losing too much quality sound. Also, I presently have a rebuilt Dynaco 400 Stereo Amp. I dj from imac itunes, simple.
I like the warm sound Tannoy produces and wish to match them to the warmer sound of a tube amps. I request your recommendation to match my speakers up with the best “bang for the buck” tube amplifier from low to intermediate budget. What do you recommend to match these speakers? I hear they are not reliable. I am not a techy but I sure know what sounds good, I know my music well, a former musician.
Hi Louis,
I don’t think what you are proposing will work very well for you. Changing the cabinets to something smaller for ease of transport will completely change the sound you are used to hearing, and what you love hearing now from your Tannoys may be gone.
I don’t have any idea what an appropriate tube amplifier would be for a dance application, so I’ll leave it to others to make a recommendation based on their experiences with similar events.
I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help, but dance applications are quite a ways outside of my area of expertise.
Kind regards,
Jeff
Thanks for your input Jeff. I will see where this plays out.
Hello Jeff,
I really enjoyed your artical on the Tannoy Westminsters. I thought you would be a good person to ask regarding more modest Tannoy Turnbury HE speakers. I have the chance to purchase a copper box 2A3 homebrew amplifier, based closely on the Ongaku Neiro. Would you regard this as a good pairing with the Tannoys? Kind regards, Chris
Hi Chris,
Thanks for the kind words my friend – appreciated. With my own Westminster Royal SEs 99 dB sensitivity I have found that 2A3 amps just don’t have enough power, but I have found 300B amps to be just fine. With the Tannoy Turnberry SE rated at 93 dB sensitivity I think you may need something more like an 845 amp to drive it adequately.
I hope that is of some help.
Kind regards,
Jeff
Hello Jeff,
Thank you kindly for your helpful reply. Yes, I feared as much that this would not be a good mate. I am using a Leak Stereo 20 at present with the Turnburys, though the sensitivity of these amps can be a problem.
Kind regards to you,
Chris