Description
Tannoy Arden MK II speakers. Classic Vintage. Fully revitalized. Exclusive version
Tannoy was established in 1926 as Tulsemere Manufacturing Company by engineer Guy Fountain in a garage at Tulsemere Road in London. At the beginning it produced chargers for wireless radio sets. Two years later the company name was changed to Tannoy – after the material used in the production of rectifiers: tantalum and lead alloy. A small factory was also opened back then in London’s West Norwood. To commemorate the brand, a nearby square got the name Tannoy Square.
In the 1940s, the company provided sound reinforcement for major sports and public events, as well as produced public address systems used by the armed forces during WWII, and later at Buckingham Palace in 1945 for announcing the end of military operations. Tannoy speakers were also supplied to broadcasting centers in factories across the UK. In 1947, during the London Radio Show, the Dual Concentric transducer was launched – a revolutionary technology that defined Tannoy and the audio industry.
In the 1960s, the company launched the famous Gold Dual Concentric monitor series, becoming a key player in professional studio sound reinforcement in the next two decades. Tannoy monitors came to Abbey Road Studio 2, Air and Decca. Pink Floyd used them to record “Dark Side of the Moon” and Vangelis to compose “Blade Runner” soundtrack. In 1974, Tannoy was taken over by Harman International Industries, and Guy R. Fountain retired. Two years later, the company moved production from London to Coatbridge in Scotland, and in 1979 launched the critically acclaimed Super Red studio monitor series. In 1987, Tannoy merged with Goodmans to form Tannoy Goodmans International (TGI). In the 1990s, the company became a pioneer in the category of premium ceiling speakers. In 2002, Tannoy was acquired by TC Group. In 2014, the company launched the famous Monitor Gold Dual Concentric series. Today, Tannoy is owned by Music Tribe that groups various brands operating in the professional audio industry.
Arden MK II, produced between 1978 and 1983, the golden era of Tannoy, is the biggest model in the series, which uses all the exceptional performance parameters of the HDP385A integrated speaker system. Perfect, low-reaching bass is delivered through a triple bass-reflex system mounted in the front panel to avoid tunnel and diffraction effects. Additionally, the high quality HDP385A speaker faithfully reproduces the whole band regardless of the intensity of sound.
It consists of a direct radiator bass unit and a high-frequency compression driver, both placed concentrically in the same frame and magnet assembly. Unique ribbing and specially designed holes allow the diaphragm to work efficiently, ensuring smooth response and extremely high power. High frequencies are reproduced by a tube-loaded compression driver using a duralumin diaphragm. The crossover divides the signal from the amplifier into low and high frequencies. Capacitors are non-polarized, solid dielectrics ensuring low loss and tight tolerance. Resistors and inductors are of the highest quality, and the components are assembled on a glass fiber printed circuit board, which ensures maximum reliability. All the solutions used translate into minimal distortion. Thanks to the work of British designer Jack Howe and a group of Tannoy research engineers, the Arden speakers can boast a beautiful, classic and elegant enclosure that perfectly cooperates with sound.
The Arden model was dedicated to professional use and sophisticated home installations.
Original enclosures from the 1970s were fully revitalized using the highest quality materials. In this project, one of the most beautiful and exclusive types of decorative wood was used – rosewood. The finish is Chinese oil produced from natural oils and natural, turpentine-based beeswax, which brings out the original structure and shade of the wood. At the same time the enclosures are well protected and very pleasant to the touch. Every detail of the finish was taken care of. The front panels of the speakers were painted using the automotive wet painting technique. The switches in the crossover were cleaned.
TECHNICAL DATA:
– power – 85W
– impedance – 8 Ohm
– crossover frequency – 1000 Hz
– frequency response – 30 Hz – 20 kHz
– efficiency – 91 dB
– dimensions – 92cm (height) x 66cm (width) x 37cm depth)
– weight – approx. 60 kg (pc)
– year of production 1976