Operation Manual

High quality audio signals passing from power amplifier to loudspeaker are unusual in their demands on cable. Frequencies from 20Hz
to 20kHz (10 octaves or a ratio of 10,000:1) and currents of 80dB dynamic range (again a ratio of 10,000:1) have to coexist. The cable
also has to be capable of transmitting peak currents of at least 10 Amp without causing losses greater than 0.001 Amp (10 Amp divided
by the ratio 10,000). These strict requirements on loudspeaker cables help explain why the sound quality from loudspeakers is so
dependant on the physical properties of the cables connecting them to the power amplifier.
Cables
Grille Removal
Special acoustically transparent cloth is used in the grilles. However, for ultimate fidelity the enthusiast will find it is best to use these
loudspeakers with their grilles removed during listening.
The large front grille is removable for access to the front panel controls. Insert the key provided into the lock at the bottom of the main
grille assembly and turn anti-clockwise to release. Pull the bottom of the grille away from the cabinet; the grille will drop down from
its upper location. Take care not to damage the solid walnut lower part of the cabinet. To replace the grille engage the top of the grille
into the slot in the cabinet and push the grill into the recess. Apply slight pressure to the bottom whilst turning the key clockwise to
engage the lock.
Loudspeaker System Adjustment
Each loudspeaker is fitted with a treble energy control located on the baffle beneath the detachable front grille. This high current switch
block control can be used to compensate for the varied acoustic characteristics of listening rooms. The control should be adjusted with
the amplifier tone controls set to the 'flat' or uncompensated position. Each loudspeaker should be adjusted individually. This is most
easily done by rotating the amplifier balance control to select first one loudspeaker and then the other.
The ENERGY control has five positions. It allows the output of the high frequency compression drive unit to be increased or decreased
from the linear or 'flat' position over a frequency band from approximately 1kHz to 20kHz. The control has a shelving effect over the
1kHz to 20kHz frequency band.
The flattest most linear response from the loudspeaker willl be obtained with both controls set at the LEVEL position, and this position
should be used for initial listening tests. If the overall high frequency sound quality seems too prominent the -1.5 or -3 positions for
the ENERGY control should be tried. If the sound appears subdued in the treble region +1.5 or +3 settings may be preferred.
Remember the changes that can be made by moving either control from one position to another are subtle. They may not easily be
heard if the programme material has very little content in the frequency band under consideration. Choose a well balanced piece of
music with a full spectrum of sound.
The correct setting will be found when the loudspeakers are no longer evident and only the musical performance is heard.
Running in
Like all loudspeakers, the drive unit in your Turnberry SE requires a while to reach optimum performance, as the stresses in the materials
relax - especially in the suspension system. For this reason, it is beneficial to run the system at fairly high levels at normal room
temperature, for approximately 20 hours to achieve best results.
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During the design of the crossover network the acoustic, mechanical and electrical interactions of the high and low frequency sections
have been fully analysed. The crossover is therefore an integral part of the design of the system. The crossover network provides complex
equalisation in both amplitude and phase for each section and fully integrates the response at the crossover point. All components are
high precision, low-loss and thermally stable. Quality, low-loss polypropylene capacitors are used.
All components in the crossover network are hard wired to eliminate unwanted metal-to-metal contact and ensure freedom from
vibration. The components are laid out to minimise inter component coupling and are placed well away from the driver magnetic field.
Top quality silver plated Van den Hul wiring is used throughout.
High current switch blocks with gold-plated screw terminals permit user adjustment of high frequency sound radiation to suit differing
listening environments.
The complementary design of crossover and drive units means that the loudspeaker system as a whole behaves as a minimum phase
system over the audio band and therefore the acoustic sources of the high and low frequency sections are aligned in time and space to
ensure accurate reproduction of stereo images.
The Crossover Network
A Note on Auditory Perception
Our hearing mechanism locates natural sound sources with great accuracy by using the naturally occurring phase differences (or arrival
times) at middle frequencies, and intensity differences at higher frequencies, between each of our ears. Naturally occurring sounds pass
through the air to the ears at constant speed (345 metres / second or 1132 feet / second). All frequencies travel at the same speed and
therefore a frequency independent time delay is associated with the distances involved. (The familiar time delay between a flash of
lightning and the associated clap of thunder is an example).
Human hearing relies on the constant nature of the time delay with the intensity to locate natural sounds accurately. A pair of Tannoy
Prestige loudspeakers can uniquely reconstruct stereo images and provide excellent localisation of recorded sounds. The Tannoy Dual
Concentric™ principle ensures that the source of sound at high frequencies is on the same axis as the source of sound at low frequencies.
The careful design of crossover network complements the drive unit to provide a coincident sound source at frequencies where the
human ear derives phase information for localisation. The loudspeaker system exhibits a time delay response that is in essence independent
of reproduced frequencies. In addition, the amplitude (or intensity) response is linear, smooth and consistent. This provides the correct
intensity information to recreate the original sound stage.
Tannoy Dual Concentric Drive Unit with Tulip Waveguide
The Tannoy Dual Concentric™ has three fundamental advantages over conventional discrete systems. The Dual Concentric™ driver
is a coincident acoustic point source, it has a very wide dynamic range potential and constant symmetrical directivity.
The high frequency unit is mounted behind, and concentrically with, the low frequency unit. High frequency sound radiates from the
centre of the low frequency unit through a wave guide. By careful mechanical and crossover network design the virtual acoustic sources
of the high and low frequency units can be made to occupy the same point on the axis. Therefore the total sound appears to emanate
from a single point source located slightly behind the drive unit. This gives the Dual Concentric™ driver a coincident acoustic point
source. This feature allows the Dual Concentric™ driver to generate a full and accurate stereo image when fed from a high quality
stereo source. Realism in sound reproduction is enhanced as the drive unit both preserves the harmonic structure of complex sounds
and provides a linear phase response.
The key to the controlled, symmetrical radiation pattern of the Dual Concentric™ is the new Tulip WaveGuide™. This computer
designed high frequency wave guide - named for its similarity in cross-section with the flower - ensures that spherical wavefronts are
created from the high frequency section to match those from the low frequency driver. A truly spherical wavefront is generated across
the spectrum. This gives optimum, natural dispersion and directivity. Constant directivity means that no particular room modes are
excited. Tannoy Dual Concentric™ systems therefore exhibit easy integration with real rooms.
A new aluminium high frequency dome tweeter is used in the Tulip WaveGuide™ version of the Dual Concentric™ driver. This gives
a smoother, more extended treble and further reduced high frequency colouration.
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