Crossover explanation
 

Can someone explain how the crossover adjustments are utilized. Do people even use them?

GWNG8.......Can you be a bit more specific? What crossover are you asking about and what adjustments?

Do you mean an active crossover?

I assume you mean the Loudspeaker System Adjustment panel on the front of the speakers.

I have my Tannoy Canterbury Cross-over adjustments set at Energy -1.5 which suits my listening room - the Roll Off is set at 'Level'. My contact within Tannoy tells me the 'Roll Off' adjustment is really designed to allow the speaker to cope with 78rpm recordings & should always be set to 'Level' if you are not playing them!

From the manual:

Each loudspeaker is fitted with two controls located on the front baffle beneath the detachable grille. These high current switch blocks
are labelled ROLL OFF and ENERGY. They can be used to compensate for the varied acoustic characteristics of listening rooms.
The controls should be adjusted with the amplifier tone controls in the 'flat' or uncompensated position. Each loudspeaker should be
adjusted individually. This is most easily done by rotating the amplifier balance control to select first one loudspeaker and then
the other.
The ENERGY control has five positions. It allows the output of the high frequency compression drive unit to be increased or decreased
from the linear or 'flat' position over a frequency band from approximately 1kHz to 20kHz.
The ROLL OFF control has five positions (+2, level, -2, -4 and -6dB per octave) and provides adjustment at extreme high frequencies
from 5kHz to 20kHz.
The ENERGY control has a shelving effect over the 1kHz to 20kHz frequency band whereas the roll off control increases or decreases
the slope of the extreme high frequency response hinging about 5kHz.
The flattest, most linear response from the loudspeaker will be obtained with both controls set at the LEVEL position, and this position
should be used for initial listening tests. If the overall high frequency sound quality seems too prominent the -1.5 or -3 positions for
the ENERGY control should be tried. If the sound appears subdued in the treble region +1.5 or +3 settings may be preferred. Once
the ENERGY control setting has been established the ROLL OFF control can be adjusted to reduce or slightly increase the extreme
high frequency content if necessary.
Remember the changes that can be made by moving either control from one position to another are subtle. They may not easily be
heard if the programme material has very little content in the frequency band under consideration. Choose a well balanced piece of
music with a full spectrum of sound. The correct setting will be found when the loudspeakers are no longer evident and only the musical
performance is heard.
The low frequency output of the loudspeaker in the range 25 to 100Hz may be adjusted by operating the two sliding port openings
on each side of the cabinet. Each port may be varied from fully open (full distributed port operation, both port slides in upper position)
to fully closed (infinite baffle or acoustic suspension operation, both port slides in downward position). When both ports are fully open
a very full rich bass response will be heard, when fully closed the bass response becomes more subdued. The correct setting is a matter
for personal preference and local acoustic conditions. With one port open and the other closed the bass response will be 'level' and
this position should be used for initial evaluation.

Yes I was referring to the changeable brass front panel. I just don't find the manual helpful and was wondering if others use it.

I fooled around with them when I was breaking in my Kensington's, but soon returned them to level position. I always changed them with the amp turned off, but I think the manual said you could change them on the fly.

My Canterburys are sited on the long wall in my lounge & level position was a little to forward, so changing to -1.5 (recommended by a Westminster Royal user at the Jeffs Place website to suit near field listening which I do) - and the advise was correct. I much prefer them set to -1.5. I also use the ST100B Super Tweeters set at 14Hz & 95db (as stated in the manual for the Canterbury) and this matched well with the main speakers.

Note that the difference in settings is subtle but noticeable over a long listening period ( I regularly listen in 2 hour blocks) and switched the level a number of times, but always came back to -1.5.

Just my opinion, and note that my speakers are the 1st Generation Canterbury 15's with the foam surrounds. I compared them to the 3rd Generation SE's and there was very little difference (the cabinets are identical) The SE had slightly tighter lower bass than my 15's, but with the Super Tweeters installed they improved the bass on my speakers.

Im in the process of writing a review of the ST100B Super Tweeters for this Forum, but unfortunately Ive had another major asthma attack which has knocked my down for the last week & I haven't done any critical listening for a while- Ive owned the Super Tweeters for just over 2 months- and I couldn't be without them!!

Nice explanation above, good luck and be safe with your asthma!

I owned the Kensington SE before my current Canterbury SE, and have never liked any Rolloff setting other than Level; it's interesting to see Tannoy's explanation on that (i.e. Rolloff adjustments are not intended for hifi sources). I must admit that I'm running the Canterbury with +1.5 treble energy/shelving; the inner purist in me hates typing that, but it just sounds better in my room. With the Kensington, I ran all Level, and even that was a bit too bright without warm tubes to tame it (the Canterbury is the darker speaker). However, -1.5 also didn't work, as it killed the sound. I find the steps to be rather coarse.

The supertweeters shake things up. I've tried the ST200 with Kensington and ST100 with Canterbury. Using all Level settings in the main speaker, combined with the prescribed ST100/200 setup, yields notably too much treble energy with a hifi source (low MC carts, in my case), in my experience. Even with the darker-sounding Canterbury. Remember, these ST units do contribute noticeable output in the audible range. I'm still playing with the ST100/Canterbury and haven't tried -1.5 shelving yet (as per NZ421291), but that's a good idea -- I hadn't thought to reach into the negatives since the awful results I got there (years ago, now) on the Kensington.

Besides bumping up treble, the super-tweeters do improve clarity, impact, and definition -- and yes, the perception of slightly tighter bass comes along with that. However, in the negative side again is that they also reduce overall coherence and musical flow. Occasionally some sounds do seem localizable to the ST's (I sit midfield, which is worse for integration). Where the ST's worked wonders was with a reel-to-reel tape deck source (too bad my deck quit working a few years ago) -- it was an epic combination; even 7.5 ips tapes recorded from vinyl (on wonderful Maxell UD) were stunning, and the ST's filled-in the tapes' soft treble. With most vinyl records (lo-MC carts), so far I've found that I prefer to run without ST's. And this is with MC carts on the warm side, e.g. Koetsu Onyx Platinum (though actually very neutral and extended compared to earlier Koetsus) -- something like the Windfeld MC I used to own would peel paint from the walls when combined with ST's and Level settings! I must admit though that the black-ask ST100 looks awesome atop the Canterbury (why accent a huge body of walnut with more walnut??).

And I turned 35 recently (male), so I guess I have maybe 1 or 2 years left of passable high-frequency hearing before this ST stuff becomes a non-issue :P

And I turned 35 recently (male), so I guess I have maybe 1 or 2 years left of passable high-frequency hearing before this ST stuff becomes a non-issue :P[/QUOTE]

Do try the ST100's with the treble shelved down to -1.5 on the Canterbury's- I find this combination makes my system sing. Yes, the Canterburys are darker than the Kensington's, and I think the Canterburys sound better listening near field.

Are your Super tweeters the B version?- yes there are 2 versions of the ST100- each having difference crossover steps & sensitivity settings!!! There is nothing noting the 2 types on the Tannoy Website- I got the information off a Japanese website & had a Japanese's speaking staff member translate.

The ST100 is a universal super tweeter with frequency 18, 20, or 22kHz adjustable & Level: 87dB, 89dB, 91dB, 93.5dB, 95dB

The ST100B has frequency 14,16 & 18kHz & Level :87dB, 89dB, 91dB, 93dB, 95dB

You need the ST100B for use with the Canterbury (Manual recommends 14kHz & 95dB which sounds best in my system).

Im 50, and had my hearing tested a few yrs ago- the Audiologist said I had the hearing of a 15 year old- he had never seen someone of my age have that level of hearing- pity my eye sight isn't as good- even after Lasik surgery, by close-up vision is rubbish!