Founded in 1926 by Guy R. Fountain in London as the Tulsemere Manufacturing Company, Tannoy-a portmanteau¹ of "tantalum" and "alloy," after a tantalum-lead alloy used in rectifiers-took on its current commercial identity in 1928. Through the war years and beyond, the company specialized in public-address (PA) systems.
Indeed, today, "tannoy" is a widely recognized generic term for a PA system in the UK; there's an entry for "tannoy" in the Oxford English Dictionary.
Tannoy was 20 years old when the company introduced, in 1947, its Dual Concentric drive unit, the basis of much of the company's subsequent commercial success, at home and in studios. By the '70s, Tannoy was one of the world's bestknown manufacturers of studio monitors.
In the 1990s, Tannoy expanded its reach into commercial and home audio installations; their in-ceiling speakers made their way into many restaurants and churches.
In a way, it was a return to the company's PA roots.
Tannoy's orientation toward installation and pro audio led to its takeover, in 2002, by Denmark-based pro-audio company TC Electronics; the resulting new company was renamed TC Group. Then in 2015, TC Group was acquired by Music Group, a Philippines-based, pro-audio–focused holding company that, a couple of years later, renamed itself Music Tribe.
After this last acquisition, the new owners announced that Tannoy production would be moved from Scotland to China and the Scottish factory would be closed. That led key Tannoy personnel—quite a few of them—to leave the company. It became a major local controversy: Even Pete Townshend went to bat to keep Tannoy Scottish.2 Subsequently, Music Group announced that products would continue to be produced in Scotland, at a new manufacturing facility.
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My last Far East trip
First comes the anticipation, that initial jet of warm water, that miraculous searching, finding the sweet spot, then heaven on earth as it cleans and caresses.
Riding the Common Wave
In the e-commerce era, brick-and-mortar dealerships must give customers compelling reasons to stop by. Los Angeles hi-fi dealership Common Wave's owner Wesley Katzir keeps customers coming through the door with a simple idea: that music matters in our everyday lives and that what he enjoys, other people will enjoy, too.
Mind Games to the bottom of the rabbit hole
After a wild decade in the biggest pop music group ever, John Lennon's post-Beatles years were spent in protest, in various kinds of therapy, in immigration court, and in search of a new musical identity.
Trane meets the Motor City
Detroit became a destination for migrating African Americans early, starting with the Underground Railroad; the city's proximity to Canada was convenient for those seeking to escape Southern slavery.
Vital art never rests
At this late date, it seems impossible that there could still be \"lost\" albums lingering in the vaults by musicians as important and successful as Johnny Cash and Paul McCartney.
DUKE IN 10
TO COMMEMORATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF DUKE'S DEATH, ROBERT BAIRD SELECTS A DOUBLE HANDFUL OF EXEMPLARY TRACKS FROM PERHAPS AMERICA'S GREATEST MUSICAL GENIUS.
Piega Coax Gen2 811
It's funny how we discover some music in unexpected, twisting ways.
Pass Laboratories XP-27
One of the pleasures of reviewing-and also using-products from Pass Laboratories is an encounter with Nelson Pass's writing, which can usually be found in the owner's manual and is always competent, insightful, and sometimes funny.
EMT 928 II
Modern turntables are a paradox.
Dynaudio Contour 30i
Ah, Denmark. Land of the Vikings and blue-eyed, blond-haired folk with faces sculpted just so.
