TANNOY Prestige Gold Ref Westminster floorstand speaker 15"dual

TANNOY Prestige Gold Ref Westminster floorstand speaker 15"dual-con
99dB 18Hz-27
TY 23 SF GR WEST
Price on application pr
Westminster GR the crowning achievement in the Prestige Gold
Reference series and the culmination of many decades of Dual
Concentric driver evolution, Tannoy is immensely proud of the
Westminster Royal Gold Reference. This magnificent 530 litre
compound horn loudspeaker is a true statement of the art of
acoustic reproduction in the home, blending class-leading power
handling, real-world dynamics and musical articulation like no
other speaker available today. The design sets a new
benchmark for high performance music reproduction and owes
much of its evolution to Tannoy’s Kingdom Royal development
project. The new 380mm (15.00”) Dual Concentric driver is a
natural but significant evolution of the classic 15” Dual,
improving on every aspect of its performance both technically and subjectively. Within the Westminster Royal GR cabinet, the
new driver exceeds an 18Hz to 27kHz frequency response while boasting 99dB efficiency and 700watt peak power handling.
Key to the Westminster Royal GR Driver is revised material for the main 15in cone and a new 50mm (2.00”) diaphragm for the
HF compression driver. The LF/MF cone material remains a paper-pulp base with fibres introduced into the mix to improve the
stiffness to weight ratio. While previous flagship Duals were stiffened with natural capoc fibres, the Gold Reference Duals
integrate a bespoke Tannoy synthetic fibre that delivers more uniformed mechanical integrity across the entire surface area of
the cone. The result is effortless LF performance with outstanding speed and dynamic attack.
At the heart of the Westminster Royal GR Dual, the new 2” compression driver uses an aluminium-magnesium alloy dome heat
treated to Tannoy’s exacting specifications. The diaphragm is terminated with a Mylar™ surround, delivering a technically and
subjectively significant upgrade over the previous Prestige HF units. Delivering exceptional clarity and articulation throughout
the HF range the new unit gives Westminster Royal GR even greater naturalness and presence.
The massive Westminster Royal GR crossover is meticulously hand-made by Tannoy engineers and comprises some of the
finest audio components available today. Tannoy’s bespoke ICW ClarityCap™ MR capacitors, low loss laminated core
inductors and thick-film resistors are hard-wired into the crossover with silver plated cable and high-silver content solder. The
entire crossover board in then Deep Cryogenically Treated, improving the crystal structure of all conductors in the signals path,
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and leading to sweet, open and incredibly detailed musical performance.
The glorious Westminster Royal GR cabinet is hand built from the finest birch plywood by Tannoy’s most experience cabinet
makers, each cabinet weighing close to 140kg when finished. The complex, compound horn design and curved front baffle
allow the 15in Dual to ‘breath’ like no other Prestige model, delivering truly real-world dynamics and musical integrity. The
luxury oiled-wood walnut veneer on panels and inlays, the gold trim and return of the classic Tannoy lightning strike logo exude
the regal class of bespoke furniture.
With its new 15in Dual, DCT crossover and new terminal panel featuring the latest WBT NextGen™ WBT-0703 speaker posts,
the Westminster Royal GR delivers musical engagement with the same breath-taking scale as its visual splendour. With
Tannoy’s High Frequency Power Switch for fine tuning HF output and a matching woven-cloth grille, the Westminster Royal
GR can be integrated into a wide range of rooms and décor. The Westminster Royal GR is an effortlessly capable loudspeaker
that honours the decades of Dual Concentric technology but also of Tannoy the brand. The Westminster Royal GR is set to
become a true Tannoy classic.
Introduction - Prestige GR - Gold Reference sereis. Over forty-five years on from the introduction of the world famous Monitor
Gold Dual Concentric™ driver, Tannoy has launched a new benchmark loudspeaker range; the Prestige Gold Reference. This
major upgrade to the entire Prestige SE series of loudspeakers marks another significant chapter in Tannoy’s illustrious
history. Gold Reference (GR) further refines the Dual Concentric™ driver concept, brings cutting edge materials and engineering
technologies to the Prestige range and leverages the sonic benefits of Deep Cryogenic Treatment. The result is a captivating
and unique range of loudspeakers that further improves and refines the world-renowned acoustic excellence of Tannoy’s
Prestige range.
Of course, the sumptuous traditional design and time-honoured method of construction of the famous Prestige cabinets
remains unchanged. These bespoke pieces of fine acoustic furniture have been hand crafted from solid wood and hardwood
ply laminates by Tannoy’s finest artisans for many decades.
Prestige Gold Reference continues to proudly boast the world’s finest traditional loudspeaker cabinets.
In addition to the luxury real-wood veneering with hand-rubbed oil finish, the new GR models benefit from revised intricate
wood-working detail, new contrasting wood inlays and new metal trim pieces. The driver trim parts, HF adjustment panel and
rear boiler-plate are machined from billet aluminium and hard anodised in a luxury gold finish.
Available in five models from the compact Tannoy Stirling Gold Reference up to the magnificent 530litre/138kg Westminster
Royal Gold Reference, high power handling, high sensitivity and breath-taking clarity and musical communication are the
common theme across the range. With point-source articulation, precision imaging, extended natural bass and incredible
dynamics, Gold Reference marks another significant upgrade of the long-running Tannoy Prestige range.
To mark the Prestige GR milestone, and as a celebration of the company’s proud heritage, the famous original Tannoy
‘lighting strike’ logo has been incorporated into trims on all models throughout the Prestige GR series. The design element of
the lightning strike logo lends itself to the timeless traditional styling of the Prestige GR models and reminds listeners of the
proud heritage of Tannoy brand built over more than eight decades of audio innovation.
NEW UNIQUE “Dual Concentric” Drive Unit
The new Prestige Gold Reference series marks the most sweeping advancements in Dual Concentric™ technology for more
than 40 years. Gold Reference revives the spirit of the ground-breaking Monitor Gold, but pushes performance even further
than the previous SE designated models by leveraging the best of 21st century materials science and computer-aided design.
With many Tannoy innovations and bespoke technologies trickled down from Tannoy’s flagship Kingdom Royal development
project, the GR series drivers stand as Tannoy’s most advanced Duals to date.
At the top of Tannoy’s new Prestige GR range, both the Canterbury GR and Westminster Royal GR are fitted with a newly
developed cone material. To increase rigidity across the larger surface area of these 15.00 inch Dual Concentric drivers, the
fibrous mix within the cone material has been revised to realise further improvements in the cone’s mechanical characteristics.
Modern imaging technology affords incredibly detailed analysis of cone mechanics under load and many versions of the cone
pulp mix were evaluated prior to the final selection of this vital component. As with all revisions to Tannoy’s important Prestige
series models, the final selection of material was the result of critical auditioning with a wide range of music. Canterbury GR
and Westminster Royal GR models now offer an even more dynamic presentation than their predecessors, with reduced
colouration and an incredibly natural mid band response.
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A new HF compression driver is incorporated in all Prestige GR models featuring Tannoy’s Alnico powered motors and
Pepperpot Waveguide. Fitted to the Kensington GR, Canterbury GR and Westminster Royal GR, the design is a direct result of
research undertaken for the Kingdom Royal project. Many months of R&D were spent testing and auditioning numerous alloys
and heat treatment configurations before final selection of a heat-tempered aluminium alloy. The domes are terminated with a
vented Mylar surround, which affords better energy termination at the diaphragm boundary. The result is even greater
transparency and linearity across the driver’s working spectrum, delivering an even more refined and natural sound than
previous Prestige Duals.
To further enhance the driver’s mechanical integrity and integration with the cabinet, all GR Duals are built on a new cast
aluminium chassis with multi-point fixings. Tannoy’s signature ‘Tulip’ and ‘Pepperpot’ HF Waveguides feature across the
GR series, depending on model, further enhancing the point source symmetrical dispersion properties of the driver.
Construction
On the inside, Prestige crossovers have been improved across the range and fine-tuned to integrate with the new GR Duals.
ICW ClarityCap MR capacitors are used in the Westminster Royal, Canterbury and Kensington GR models but, unique to
Tannoy, the leadout wires are PTFE insulated 99.99% single strand silver, extruded to our specification. The result of ICW’s
own ground breaking two-year research program, these devices offer excellent self-damping characteristics and class-leading
performance. Revised low loss laminated core inductors and thick film resistors are used throughout the Prestige GR series
crossovers, chosen for their ability to resolve micro dynamic detailing.
Each fully assembled Prestige GR crossover is Deep Cryogenically Treated (DCT) as a single unit to improve the audio
characteristics through components, cabling and solder joints holistically. The process involves freezing the entire assembled
crossover to -190degrees and thawing at a controlled rate to remove micro stresses in the crystal structure of all conductors in
the crossover. The improvements in musical cohesion and smoothness made it an essential part of the Prestige GR upgrade.
Around the back of each Prestige GR loudspeaker, the GR series boasts Tannoy’s unique fifth speaker terminal. This can be
used to electrically ground the driver chassis to the amplifier, dramatically reduce potential for radio frequency interference and
further enhancing midrange clarity. Westminster Royal GR, Canterbury GR and Kensington GR use the very latest loudspeaker
terminals from WBT, the NextGen™ WBT-0703. These high-end loudspeaker terminals ensure perfect signal transfer from the
amplifier to the Prestige GR loudspeaker.
To celebrate Prestige Gold Reference and the latest evolution of the world famous Monitor Gold Dual Concentric driver,
Prestige GR cabinets have been enhanced with a range of external styling updates to reflect the quality and craftsmanship
within. Light reworking of the cabinet finish included milled and machined detailing in the timber, new veneer inlays within the
front baffle of certain models and precision machined metalwork, hard-anodised with a gold finish. Each cabinet is lovingly
crafted from solid timber hardwoods and ply laminates and finished in a combination of lacquer and oil depending on model.
The finish can be maintained for decades using Tannoy’s Prestige wood wax-oil and a soft cloth. Matching grilles with
complementary woven cloth material are included with each model. The return of Tannoy’s famous ‘lightning strike’ logo
establishes the Prestige Gold Reference series as another landmark in Tannoy’s illustrious history.
Specifications
PERFORMANCE
Recommended amplifier power 20 - 350 Watts
Continuous power handling 175 Watts RMS
Peak power handling 700 watt
Sensitivity 99 dB (2.83 volt @ 1 m)
Nominal impedance 8 Ohms
Minimum Impedance 5 ohm
Frequency Response 18 Hz - 27 kHz (-6 dB)
Dispersion 90 degrees conical
DRIVE UNITS
Dual Concentric™ high frequency 52 mm (2”) aluminium/magnesium alloy dome with round wire voice coil
Dual Concentric™ low frequency 380 mm (15”) with paper pulp cone and twin roll impregnated fabric surround. 52 mm (2”)
round wire voice coil.
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CROSSOVER
Crossover Type Bi-wired, hard wired passive, low loss. Time compensated.2nd order low pass. 2nd order high pass.Deep
cryogenically treated
Crossover Frequency B200 Hz acoustical, 1.0 kHz electrical.
Adjustment +/-3 dB over 1.0 kHz to 27 kHz shelving, + 2 dB to -6 dB per octave over 5 kHz to 27kHz slope
CONSTRUCTION
Enclosure type Compound horn
Volume 530L (18.7 cu.ft)
Dimensions 1395 x 980 x 560mm
Finish High density birch ply, walnut veneered, with solid walnut trim and edging
Review
As my friend Ron said after hearing the Westminsters, "Where do you go from here!" Well, for me, nowhere. I'm finally
done searching for loudspeakers. For me, the Westminster Royal SE represents the end of long a journey, I've found
'my' perfect speaker. - Jeff Day
REVIEW SUMMARY: The Tao of Tannoy: The Westminster Royal Special Edition Loudspeakers
"Which one of the three do I prefer when they are optimized in a way that brings out the best of their
performance? I prefer the Westminster Royal SE by far. As listener after listener that has visited my listening
room have said, the Westminsters are really something special, and are a couple of levels above either the
Avantgarde or Harbeth in performance (or as my friend Chad puts it, the Westminsters are in a totally
different league). But they should be considering the price differential: the Harbeth is around $12K, the
Avantgarde Duo is double that, and the Westminster is triple that. In the case of the Westminster Royal SE,
you really do get what you pay for though, and using the Stereophile rating system that places the Avantgarde and Harbeths in
Class A, the Westminsters are simply off the rating scale above Class A somewhere up there around the North Star".
Link
http://www.audioreference.co.nz/product/tannoy-prestige-gold-ref-westminster-floorstand-speaker-15dual-con-99db-18hz-27
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