Tannoy Arden Legacy Series Loudspeakers reviewed and rated; the welcome return of an audio classic.
Tannoy’s decision to introduce the Legacy Series, based as it is on key models from the 1970s HPD series, has raised a few eyebrows in certain circles. What relevance does a loudspeaker introduced in 1974, and killed off in 1980 have in the 21st century?
Settling in at Audio Affair’s own listening room, your author set about finding an answer to just that question…
Tannoy Arden – Nostalgia gone too far?
The question has to be asked. Why? Why re-introduce a design which is over 43 years old? Great advances in loudspeaker design have taken place in the intervening years; there is no shortage of cutting-edge, high-performance loudspeaker designs.
Perhaps the answer to the downfall of the Tannoy HPD range comes not in their failings of design, but in changes in fashion? The Tannoy Arden loudspeakers are big, beautiful, artisanal, walnut veneered boxes which demand a large room to breathe.
These are speakers which deserve to be made a feature of, and certainly, could never be hidden. At a time when “miniaturisation” was the buzz word of the upcoming 1980s, these Big, British Bruisers were sadly sidelined.
Time to turn up the volume and see if Tannoy’s exercise has been one of misguided nostalgia, or if indeed, the fundamental design principles of the HPD series are just as relevant today.
A Muscular Performance
The listening tests were conducted using a Naim Uniti Star as a music source, with both CD playback and Tidal streaming via an iPad. A Sugden A21 SE provided the amplification; the high sensitivity of the Tannoy Arden, ideally suited to the relatively low-wattage Class A Sugden.
Waiting for the iPad to boot up, a CD copy of Queen’s Greatest Hits II was spun up, with their 1980’s masterpiece “Innuendo” cued for listening. Pressing play, the opening bars swelled until Brian May’s guitar signalled the first downbeat.
Wow! I’ve heard this track so many times in my life, but never with the power, depth and warmth I was hearing here. The kick drum and bass guitar thumped their way forwards. Freddie’s vocals were very forthright (something of a trademark of these speakers) and crisp but never piercing.
Soundstaging and Presentation which Shames Some Younger Designs
The iPad now booted, another old favourite was cued up, Grace Jone’s “Libertango”. The Arden’s could have been made for this track; displaying their trademark presentation of a big, gutsy integration between the low-mids and bass.
Your author has never before heard a set of speakers which integrates the lower regions of the frequency spectrum, as well as the Tannoy Arden. Big, smooth and warm and always on the polite side of forceful. The Arden’s are arresting, engaging and physical, but in a very British way. “I say old chap, do come and sit down and listen at this. I think you’ll find it’s bloody marvellous!”
Another inescapable impression was the incredible imaging and sound-staging of the Tannoy Arden; indeed, it seemed to matter not where one was sat or stood in the listening room, the stereo imaging remained uniform, detailed, and utterly engaging.
The large internal diameter of the speaker cabinets, coupled to those magnificent 15″ dual concentric drivers, contribute much to the signature sound of the Tannoy Arden loudspeakers. The only modern deviations from the original specification include more durable materials, ensuring a long life ahead.
A Welcome return of a Past Master
Cueing up Goldfrapp’s “Systemagic” from 2017, the gauntlet was laid down; smooth, warm and round they may be, but would their timing fall apart with a metronomic electronic beat? The answer? No! Not even for a minute!
The track takes on an incredible rhythmic stomp and power; bass lines roll but definitely rock, with that big electronic kick drum powerful, yet never painful. Alison Goldfrapp’s voice sears, breathy and beguiling whilst percussion is precise and exciting.
In all the years your author has worked in professional audio and Hi-Fi, there have been only a handful of loudspeakers which have left as great an impression. Listening is believing; the Tannoy Arden loudspeakers deliver a truly unique experience which is warmly welcomed back.
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I remember these from the past. Tbh I didn’t get on with the treble, but they do have authority. Shut up they say, this is music and it deserves to be heard. Your 5.1 home cinema is a ukele to its Strad. Put a live recording on and they’re just awesome.