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Amp recommendations for Tannoy Canterbury SE

I have just purchased the Tannoy Canterbury SE speakers and am driving them with my existing Ayon Audio Triton II KT88-based monoblocks delivering 100 Watts per channel. My only source Ayon CD-5 is connected directly to the Ayon monos, since the CD-5 has got a decent volume control. I listen to mostly very fast and dynamic music including rock, techno and others.

My initial impressions are that I am not getting speed, punch and tight bass. I am wondering if this is possibly due to an amp mismatch. While the tube amp's 100 Watts seem more than adequate for Canterburys 8 ohms and 96db spec, I wish I could get better results.

I am seeking recommendations on what could be the best suitable amp for the Tannoy Canterburies. I am open to both tubes and solid state.
- What could be some of the best Tube Amps as well as Solid State Amps that could be a good match ?
- Existing Tannoy Prestige series speaker owners - what amps do you use ?
- Should I be looking at tube amps which are based on tubes other than KT-88 ?

If you have any other recommendations in positioning/configuring the Canterburies please let me know too.

Many thanks in advance
Wilfred
wilfredt
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
6,996 posts
 
Dover,
Your impression of Kondo silver is surprising. I `ve read several sources that state this is one of the very best and natural cables available(high resale value also).I certainly though it would be coherent, intersting opinion.
dover
1,165 posts
 
Charles1dad, yes I heard the Kondo it in a shop and it opened the soundstage up and sound much more natural than the Nordost, but when used in a known system at home even the MIT Shotgun 3.3 ( well down the pecking order ) highlighted the issues in the upper mid. I dont doubt that many cables - the Kondo and LFD are examples - have been designed by listening in a specific system and hence the variable results.
wilfredt OP
34 posts
 
Thanks for your inputs. Another interesting option would be the Auditorium speaker cables.

From Tannoy's website we can see that the Canterbury uses Acrolink cables inside. Pasted below :
"The Canterbury SE benefits from Acrolink® cable right through from terminal panel to crossover, crossover to drivers and the LF board wiring itself; not forgetting the bi-wire links."
Based on this, will it be better to consider Acrolink cables for better synergy ? Any opinions on Acrolink speaker cables ?
dover
1,165 posts
 
Wilfredt, one thing I would strongly recommend is to finalise your amplifier before making the final decision on cables. The acrolink are very good, very high quality materials, basic construction but quite musical.
wilfredt OP
34 posts
 
Dover, thanks. Yes, it makes sense to first finalise the amp and then finalise on the cables.

On a separate note, last weekend when my friend visited my place he suggested to use the 4 ohm tap on the Ayon amps instead of the 8 ohm tap I was using. Although Canterbury was rated 8 ohms, I tried connecting them to the 4 ohm tap and then it was suddenly very interesting. The Tannoys were much faster and with tighter and well controlled base ! I presume this means that the Tannoys present a more difficult load than the specs imply.
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