System edited: Big changes in the effort to stream-line my system into a smaller footprint without losing quality. Sold Manley Preamp and have my Manley Mono amps for sale. Essentially trading out 3 components and 3 power cords with 2 ic's for one component, Zanden 6000, and 1 power cord with 1 ic. Takes up a lot less space, less wires and the sound should be sublime! Zanden not here yet.......within the next week I hope! Wow, just noticed I'm in the Ever Evolving category....got that one right. Hopefully this is it for a while........I really loved the sound of the Manley Tube gear and I have to assume the Zanden will at least equal it with a smaller footprint!

bullot March 30, 2015 08:38

Thanks for all your thoughts and comments. How I got here........well as much as I enjoyed my Genesis/Vitus combo I eventually wanted to downsize in the physical presence of the system but not the sound quality. Also, over the years and long list of equipment one of my favourite pieces was my Joule LA300 preamp......on many occasions it brought tears to my eyes, and to me that's where the soul of music lives, if you can get to that point emotionally while listening to music you are done! Wish I knew that then. Long story short, after much reading and emails to owners I had to try the Tannoy.........I had also put the Manley gear on a short list of tube gear to match up with the Tannoy, when I found out that Evanna Manley owned Tannoy, so it seemed obvious to me they would probably be a good match and worth a try.

What I have now is at least equal in soundstage and midrange with a sweeter natural top end and an easiness to it.......sit back and relax. Strangely the system has more detail.....first thing I noticed. What I am missing is the bass assault the Genesis provided. The Tannoy have great bass and great quality bass, and I can play a drum solo that would have you amazed.....fantastic drum sound and presence.......but where the Genesis excelled was with its own remote for the bass. If I was playing a recording that I thought was engineered poorly or week with respect to bass, I could just turn it up the bass volume control....loved that about them!

So I am very happy with the setup, and look forward to finding what the odd tube swap can bring me! I would still like to downsize to one stereo amp some day, although very impressed with the Manley amps both sound wise and aesthetically........beautiful amps lit up in a dark room

bullot March 04, 2015 04:40

Congrats on the recent changes to your system. I've never owned Tannoy speakers but have always been attracted to them. There is a magic in their presentation that reminds me of the best single driver systems and even a bit of what Sound-Lab electrostatics do.

I always enjoyed hearing them at high end shows, going back many years. I remember sitting down and just listening because they were a relief from the assault on the ears that some room provided.

albertporter February 28, 2015 23:36

Hello, you have put together an exceptional audio system. Your previous system was already at quite a high level, what have you improved or gained with the insertion of the Manlely tube components?

charles1dad February 28, 2015 18:51

A dramatic shift in system, congratulations!

douglas_schroeder February 28, 2015 16:22

Wow Shane....major changes all around that show together very well! This is a radical sound profile/type change as well,...very happy for you! The system must sound great!

How do you like the Manley monoblocks? I've been looking at them and others and may still try tubes as an alternate config; had a great set of discussions with E. Manley as well as the folks at Ayon, VAC, etc....the tube bug may still be present despite one key distributor for 2 major lines and the designer of my speakers telling me high-end solid state is the right choice for the combination of drivers, what I listen to etc...in my speakers.

Tell us more....Happy Listening!!!

zephyr24069 February 27, 2015 10:52

System edited: Finally..........added picture of current system.

bullot February 26, 2015 02:45

Thanks for the tip Musicmann.......I have actually read about Jims recommendation and the support it has amongst the Tannoy crowd. That said Tannoy recommends against it saying their Prestige GR series are not designed with that in mind. Taking all that into consideration, yes I absolutely will at least give it a try. In fact a recent review of the new GR had the front tilted up, with positive results. So I was actually planning, tomorrow night, to put my Tannoy supplied footers under the front of the speaker to give it a bit of an upward direction, and see how that works! I will also, in the near future try the 8-12 inch "lift kit" you recommend. Tks.

bullot February 12, 2015 04:51

Yep been busy is right Mark. I really really need to get some new pics up!! I have some reno's going on right now and hope to get the system back in place this week and will post some pics......said that before but this time I mean it! I do love the tubes.....don't feel like I am missing anything and gain so much with respect to emotion and tone, presence. I always loved my Joule preamp so went to tubes. I can see ending up with a SS amp at some time, but will always have a tube pre I think.

bullot February 03, 2015 17:26

TANNOY TIP: GET the speakers of the floor a minimum of 8 inches. 10 to 12 might even be better depending on your chair/couch, and how far your ears are from the floor. Do an on line search of JIM SMITH, who specializes in speaker/room interface, and set up. He even has a book out on this subject. He has the prior version of your CANTERBURY, and has them elevated of the floor. Can yield a larger, more open sound, and raises up the image to a more realistic perspective.

musicmann1 February 03, 2015 00:31

Wow Shane...you've been busy! Hope all is well; send some more details and post new pics, particularly for speakers, amp and pre-amp. You lovin' tubes????

zephyr24069 February 02, 2015 20:16

System edited: Added a number of Sablon cables lately......speaker cables as well as Grand Carona power cables to conditioner and amps.

bullot February 01, 2015 06:54

I would love to try the Joule LA450 preamp, and some Joule amps of course would be fun. At this time however, I got a killer deal on my new Manley gear and am very happy with it. I really need to get to know my system again, optimize it, and see where I am. Any tips from Tannoy owners would be appreciated.

bullot June 11, 2014 05:54

I forgot you had a Troy. Marvelous and congrats. I still need to get one!

Speaking of Joule, have you thought about their amps with the Tannoy? That would be special. They do generate heat though. They are on my short list among tube amps....

agear June 09, 2014 18:10

Thanks for all the comments folks. Spring has been busy but promise to get pics up right away.

A little more info.........I loved my Genesis/Vitus combo, and have the greatest respect for both companies. I would not hesitate to purchase either again, and I mean that sincerely. My only issue with either was size/weight. The 4 tower Genesis were huge and ever since day one with them, oh maybe 7 years ago, I knew a smaller speaker would eventually be in the system. It took me that long to find one I thought would be able to bring me the enjoyment the Genesis did without spending mortgage type money.

With respect to "enjoying the music again", I think that was a little overstated with my excitement!! Bottom line.......a few years ago I had a Joule Electra LA300 in my system, which brought an emotional aspect to the music that I had not previously experienced. Deeply emotional. I believe after all my years auditioning and buying/selling gear, that that is where I want to be.........with an emotional system.

I am still breaking in the Manley/Tannoy combo so can't even say if I am back at the emotional level I experience with the Genesis/Levinson/Joule combo I had years ago, but I can tell right now, that it's getting there and I'm very excited for that. I am actually still working with placement of the Tannoy and have found big changes there. Also adjustments on the ports along with that is helping to fine tune them in my room. Right now I think my weak link, and I say that tongue in cheek, is my Stealth V10 speaker cable. Magnificent speaker cable the Stealth.............but I think my Manley/Tannoy will take a huge leap forward with a copper cable. I briefly had a Purist cable in my system just before the Genesis left and found it added a fair bit of body to the music over the Stealth.

So all in all, I changed a lot of gear at once, which is definitely not preferable, but it was really just a matter of opportunity at the time and I pulled the trigger.

Final comment........the Tannoy have a ground post that I am using to hook up to the Troy, and am loving that option.

Final final comment............I really would be negligent to leave it that without mentioning the Manley gear. I was thrilled with the packaging and quality build, and attention to detail on this gear. It's beautiful stuff....solid, musical and serious slam on rock music. Every aspect of my Manley experience to this point has been a joy and beyond my expectations, great company. While on the topic of build quality the Tannoy cabinetry and build quality is also stunning. Everyone who sees them, audio person or not, comments on their beauty, which pictures cannot capture. The workmanship on the wood is stunning. The owners manual is by far the nicest I have seen, and the accessories, including wood wax, came in a beautiful walnut wood case. At this point I am very impressed with the care these two companies have out into their product.

bullot June 09, 2014 17:20

Bullot ,
I find your comments interesting "loving the music again".
Were you using the Tripoint Troy Signature with the Vitus set up and still unable to enjoy the music?
Charles,

charles1dad May 21, 2014 21:21

Welcome to the Tannoy club. Tannoy (custom 12" HPD in my case), and tubes (300B SET), are a great combination.

The new GR version of the Canterbury must sound incerdible. Reproducing music at home can be challenging at best, but I've found that regardless which source I use, the Tannoys always seem to sound more musical than anything else I have tried.

Congratulations, and enjoy,
Dan

islandmandan May 21, 2014 17:18

the combination leaves me very settled and at ease, loving the music again.

That's the ticket. Congrats. Looks forward to the pics....

agear May 21, 2014 14:45

Congratulations Bullot, that's quite a change in direction. What triggered this move and is your music sounding more natural/realistic?
Charles,

charles1dad May 21, 2014 12:43

You've been through a major system change...hope you are enjoying it even more than previous revs! When will you be posting new pics! We'd love to see what the system is all about now!

zephyr24069 May 19, 2014 11:54

System edited: I have in the past few months had a complete system overhaul, moving from Genesis 4 tower speakers combined with Vitus Monos and Preamp........to the new Tannoy Canterbury Gold Reference speakers with the Manley Neo Classic 250 Mono amps and Neo Classic 300 Preamp on the front end. I am loving the tube gear and the Tannoy combination with it, couldn't be happier........the combination leaves me very settled and at ease, loving the music again. I will get some pics of the new setup soon.

bullot May 19, 2014 11:15

Thanks for the tweak feedback.....never noticed that before. (Got rid of the tweakiness!)

bullot December 30, 2013 11:21

It's very tweaky!

czarivey December 28, 2013 23:35

Thanks Mark. Nice that you got to sit down and read some blogs and listen to tunes I'm sure! Merry XMass to you and hope all is well and the new speakers are breaking in nicely.

bullot December 28, 2013 01:46

Thanks for updating the pics...wow(!) you had a major change in your room. It looks great,...how does the system sound? MERRY CHRISTMAS to you....happy listening and have a great day!!!

zephyr24069 December 25, 2013 16:15