Tannoy Westminster TW
 

Can anyone explain the difference between the older TW and the SE version of the Westminster? I have a pair of the little Sandringhams with MC275 amplification. Love it, but wondering what the Westminsters with SET amplification would be like. TWs are affordable and SEs are becoming more so now that tannoy has released a new version.

Scott

Have you given any thought to vintage Tannoy Reds, the 12" ones seem to be the sweet spot. I am currently using a totally rebuilt vintage C22, Garrard 301, MC275, MR78 and MS300 with stellar results. I sold my C2200, MC352, and Wilson Watt Puppies for a huge loss, but have no regrets.

Vintage Tannoy will work with SET amp's. Newer Tannoys not so well. The new ones are not designed for low watt SET.

I owned Tannoy Arden, GRF, Canterbury and now Westminster Minster Royal GR.

They all works well with low watts amps regardless old or new version.

With current version I paired with low as 6 watts EL84 (Triode Labs) , Wyetech labs Shapphire 300B (18 Watts ) which one of my friend is uses on his Canturbury SE version as well. Shindo (18 Watts and 20 watts ) with no problem with mine.

Don't get fooled by spec as most people do. Try with your own ears.

The power is one thing, then there is dynamic swings, Damping factor , flat response. It's possible that an amp can have 20 watts at 1k but only 10 watts at 30 hz.

Just find the right amp :thumbsup:

I've heard Tannoys matched well with Cary SET amps and they've sounded awesome.

+1.The Cary 805 AE is on my rader as well.

Do your research and decide. Tannoy recommends 50 watts minimum. They are the manufacturer, they should know.

Your MC275 should work but a low watt SET needs the proper speaker pairing to deliver what it is designed to do.

Thanks for the info. Others are using SET amps with the Tannoy Prestige speakers. I plan to give it a try. I would like to try a set of the Reds too. More of a challenge though.

Scott

The TW is the Tulip Waveguide version. The Westminster TW was a lower cost version of the Westminster that used a ferrite magnet with Tulip Waveguide, instead of the more expensive (and better sounding) Alnico magnet with 'Pepper Pot Wave Guide', and had a smaller cabinet volume than the Westminster Royal.

The Versions made are:

Westminster (1982)
Westminster R (1988)
Westminster Royal (1989)
Westminster TW (1992-1998 produced in parallel with the Westminster Royal)
Westminster Royal HE (1999)
Westminster Royal SE (2007)
Westminster Royal GR (2013)

Great Plains Audio, Has taken after Tannoy and JBL and reintroduced an Alnico version of the 604 15" coax with the old multicell horn. Its amazing how differently the Altec and Tannoy's sound above 250 hz the last time I compared 10 years ago or so.. You'd think the midrange and highs would sound similar, but the difference in cone materials, HF diaphragm material and wave quide design really make the differences. Both are very efficient, but I'm afraid a 3 watt amp just doesn't cut it with either speaker. 30 to 50 watts would make me happier especially in the less sophisticated enclosures Altec used to use.

The big Tannoy in their larges enclosures are an amazing piece of engineering design. Probably the best point source speaker out there. I would love to have a try out audition with the big Tannoys versus the JBL 65000 versus the Mcintosh XRT 2k or XR 290's in three adjacent identical rooms with Similar Mcintosh electronics, ATR 104, my 15 ips masters, choice of Cd's and vinyl. That would be #1 on my bucket list. OH and to be able to have the cash to buy the winning complete system.