Q: Where can I buy Tannoy loudspeaker products?

A: See the Sales & Service section of the website for contact details of your local distributor, in the case of consumer products they should be able to direct you to your nearest dealer.

Q: Are Tannoy loudspeakers covered by guarantee?

A: Yes, all passive components are guaranteed for a period of five years from the date of purchase from a Tannoy dealer subject to the absence or evidence of misuse, overload, or accidental damage. All active and electronic components are guaranteed for a period of one year from the date of purchase from an authorised Tannoy dealer subject to the absence of, or evidence of, misuse, overload or accidental damage. VNET™ products are an exception to this, all VNET™ electronic components are covered by a 3 year warranty period. This includes POWERV, SC1, QFLEX, VQ NET products. If at any time during this warranty period the equipment proves to be defective for any reason other than accident, misuse, neglect, unauthorised modification or fair wear and tear, we will repair any such manufacturing defect or, at our option, replace it without charge for labour, parts or return carriage

Q: What happens if I need to return faulty product to Tannoy?

A: If you suspect a problem with a Tannoy product then, in the first instance, discuss it with your Tannoy dealer. If you require further assistance then we ask that you deal directly with your local Tannoy distributor.

Q: How do I order replacement components or additional accessories?

A: Please contact your local distributor for replacement parts and accessories. Failing that, you can contact Tannoy directly, contact details are in the About page.

Q. Can I buy individual parts from Tannoy like Drivers and Crossovers to build my own speakers?

A. Unfortunately not. We at Tannoy realise that some of our customers like building their own speaker cabinets as a hobby, and even though several years ago we were happy to supply individual components, we have recently experienced problems when genuine Tannoy parts have been purchased, custom fitted into homemade cabinets and then sold on improperly as genuine Tannoy products. We can not supply schematic drawings or design information relating to our loudspeakers. If you already own a genuine Tannoy speaker that has been damaged then we will of course endeavour to supply spare parts in order to repair your speakers for as long as the parts are available.

Q: Why Dual Concentric?

A: The ideal drive unit is one that can reproduce the entire audio spectrum, from the lowest bass notes to the highest treble. Unfortunately, such a device does not exist, as the physical demands of the two are very different. Multiple drive units are therefore accepted as a compromise, with the bass and treble parts of the signal being reproduced from different places. The benefit of having the high frequency drive unit in the centre of the low frequency one is that the whole audio range is perceived as coming from the same point in space, like the ideal drive unit, thus improving stereo imaging. With the Dual Concentric, both sources come from the same coincident time aligned point in space, and this phase coherence leads to constant directivity through the crossover region, producing an even off axis frequency response. Other manufacturers claim these benefits for their coaxial drivers, but closer investigation invariably reveals the sources are not correctly time aligned.

Q: Bi-Wiring- the how and whys?

A: The majority of our residential loudspeakers have two sets of speaker terminals, one for the bass (LF) and one for the treble (HF). These are normally joined by links, and a single cable run is used to the amplifier. However by removing these links, and using two sets of cable or a special bi-wire cable, the LF and HF are only connected together at the amplifier. Even the best cables suffer from losses due to their electrical resistance, inductance and capacitance, and so bi-wiring avoids interaction between the LF and delicate HF parts of the signal. This gives better clarity, detail and an improved soundstage. Your Instruction Manual will detail how to prepare your loudspeakers for bi-wiring, and your dealer will be able to advise on suitable cable choices for a given budget. For further information, please refer to our White Paper.

Q: What’s the fuss about Wideband?

A: Conventional wisdom dictates the top end limit for human hearing is no greater than 20kHz. Real instruments have been shown to produce leading edge transient information demanding a frequency response extended well beyond this, which is why most of our tweeters offer an enhanced frequency response, and we produce add-on SuperTweeters as an accessory. There are two mechanisms at work here. Firstly, it has been shown we can perceive frequencies well beyond the accepted 20kHz limit, thought to be through bone conduction to a small inner ear organ called the saccule. Secondly, limiting the response to 20kHz makes the loudspeaker behave strongly as a low pass filter, causing phase shift even in the midrange, which destroys the complex harmonic structure of instruments. This is, remember, something we are carefully trying to preserve with the Dual Concentric drive unit in the first place. So, the benefits of this technology will still be felt even if the source material is limited to 20kHz. For further information, please refer to our White Paper.

Q: Can Tannoy recommend a specific amplifier?

A: Unfortunately not, but your dealer will be able to give some options. In general it is easier to damage a loudspeaker with an under powered amplifier driven into clipping distortion, than with a high power amplifier with headroom in reserve, and used responsibly. The specification in your Instruction Manual will give some guidelines. Remember, human hearing is roughly logarithmic, and to double subjective loudness requires a 6dB rise in sound pressure level (SPL), meaning that the amplifier power must be quadrupled. So all things being equal, a 60W amplifier won’t sound any louder than a 50W amplifier. Having sufficient output power depends on the size of your room, the sensitivity of your speakers, and how loud you like to listen. More information on this, and some thoughts on amplifier design philosophy can be found in our White Paper.