Go.. or no go.... for the Tannoy Arena package?

[Heyjijdaar]

I just found out that there is an huge price difference between the Tannoy Arena package in my country (The Netherlands) and the UK. Given the cheap GBP at this moment... I was looking around for this speaker package.

However these set are hard to find and to listen in my country. I'll have to ride accross the country, where this set can be bought for €1200. In the UK this set only cost 399,- GBP (at richer sounds).

This is my demands:

• good sound quality (rich in detail, good at higher volumes and not to sharp in the high tones)
• I'm going to pair these with an Marantz or Denon ( or another AV-receiver) which haven't been bought.

The best thing for me would te listen and judge for myself. However I would feel uncomfortable listening somewhere and buying elsewhere. So would you go... not go for the Tannoy Arena?

Which set would you advice:

[*]TANNOY ARENA with TS300 subwoofer 399,- GBP (silver, black 499,-)
[*]TANNOY ARENA with TS500 subwoofer for 549,95 GBP

Thanks for your advice...!

 

[Andrew Everard]

Either of those systems are cracking value at those prices. If you have a larger room the more expensive package may be worth the extra - if not, the one with the TS300 is a steal at £400.

 

[kinda]

Hello,

Sounds like over in Holland the Arena prices have kept pretty much to their original price in England, (over £1200 without stands), but they've been coming down in price over here for a while.

I bought package 1 above a year or so ago for about £800 excluding stands, about £1100 with them, and I think it was a complete bargain. It compared favourably in demos to a number of speaker sets costing up to about £1600.

It has all the sound qualities you're talking about, especially detail and quality at high frequency, and seems to work well with my Marantz SR6001. I also had a demo with a Denon, and that sounded very good also.

I have a listening rooom about 9 square metres, but opening out into a dining room and kitchen so that the whole is about 30 square metres. I have no problem, with the amp at moderate volumes, in having loud films, or filling the whole area with music, (which the setup also seems very good for).

If I were you, I wouldn't have any reservations in going for either of these packages, but if you can afford it the TS500 will be better than the TS300. I think from the specs it goes slightly lower, and it has a bigger cabinet volume.

Please if you want to ask any questions, since it's tricky for you to demo, feel free to ask, and I'll answer what I can.

 

[Heyjijdaar]

Thanks for your replies.

I think I'll be going to order the Tannoy. I also have kept the Q Accoustics 1010i in mind as an alternative. The 1010i package cost 890 euro over here, but I've seen them on sale in the UK for just 450 GBP... a real bargain.
How does these compare to the Tannoy?

I hope that I can buy the Tannoy Arena with the TS500 sub. However Richer Sounds only sell them in the shop. I do have friends that visit family in a few weeks, I going to let them take these gems (when they are dellivered) across The Channel. But I won't going to ask to buy them in the shop (they only will stay for a short period of time).

However I find it difficult to find English sites who sell the Tannoy Arena's for these price's.

Are there any UK sites that compare shops and prices?
Do you have any shops with good reputation and sharp prices?

 

[kinda]

Hello,

As far as I understand it the 1010i is a budget speaker setup, and wouldn't compare to the Arena, which is a mid-range style package, (though current prices don't reflect that).

The Arena is a competitor to the B&W MT-30 in reviews, (both got 5 stars in 2005, the Arena with stands added, making it more expensive). For me, form demoing, the Arena was better than the KEF 3005SE and 5005s, and the MT-30.

Add to this that the Arena now comes with the TS300 sub form the more expensive Arena Highline 300 as standard, or potentially with the TS500 from the highly regarded Arena Highline 500, and it's a very competent performer that i would expect to be well ahead of the 1010i.

If you want grilles at some point, I'd be careful to make sure they're included in the deals you're looking at. The satellite stands that can be bought separately include a grille, but the centre stand doesn't, and I'm not sure how easy it is to buy one on its own.

I'm not sure if I can say the names of shop on this forum, but I bought mine from a shop in Nottingham that do also sell on the internet, but the price is higher than you are looking for.

Not sure of any good price comparison sites in the UK to be honest. If you do a search for Tannoy Arena on UK google, you should get soem good links including to price comparions sites I reckon.

 

[Heyjijdaar]

I'll skip the 1010i's.

I've got some problem finding and buying these Tannoy Arena's. Are these old models or so?

I've also seen the Tannoy Arena, silver, with the TS300 subwoofer for 399 GBP.

http://www.richersounds.com/product/speaker-packages/tannoy/arena-ts300/tann-arena-lite-sil

But the link, lets me wonder if it's a Tannoy Arena Lite version. With the TS300 sub?

Is there any difference between the lite and the normal Arena?

 

[kinda]

I thought I'd read somewhere that the Lite had smaller satellites, but a Tannoy salesman confirmed to me a while back that the satellites are the same. Might be worth a double-check. AFAIK the difference in the Lites is the sub and lack of niceties like the grilles.

If the sats are the same then in terms of sound quality, the Lite sats with TS300 should be the same as the Arena package, which now comes with the TS300 sub anyway, (instead of the original Arena one).

 

[Anonymous]

I recently bought a set of Tannoy Arena Lites in black from The Home Cinema Centre, they were ordered with column stands and a wall/shelf bracket for the centre, all five speakers came with grills although the centre grille was missing when the packaging was opened but the dealer got one fairly quickly and the latest sub is as described previously.

I think the Arena Lites were around £800 and the column stands come in pairs with grilles at ~£200, they look and sound brilliant.

 

[Garth Man]

hmm these look quite sexy

They a lot better than my old KEF 2005.2's?

 

[Heyjijdaar]

Yes they do look sexy. I only heard the KEF2005.3's. To be honest I wasn't really convinced with them. My guess is that these Arena's are a different class.

I want to thank everybody for their answers.

I bought my self a set of Tannoy Arena's with the TS300 subwoofer. I would like to buy a pair of stands and centre brackets. Buy they would become as expensive as the speakers with subwoofer. Can the Arena's stand on their own, without these?

Can anyone post a pic of their speakers with our without stands?

 

[kinda]

Yeah, I think potentially the cost of stands is what put people off the Arena, as I don't think it's had the popularity it deserved. I think people like to see that they're paying for the speaker rather than the stand.

But comparing the Arena with stands to similarly priced packages that had stands included, I was in no doubt about getting the Arena.

The satellites and centre can all stand alone. And if you have the grilles on, then the grilles for the satellites have a base on the bottom as well. Just makes them look a little more elongated and nicer.

I'll have a go at pictures maybe this weekend, with the stands on. I thought the speakers with floor stands looked great, but I went for wall all round as I was trying to save space, and couldn't really justify getting small speakers just to take up the same floor space as big ones.

 

[Heyjijdaar]

Well I've bought the speakers with my creditcard. However they will not send this item to another address, than the billing address of my creditcard, not even to the address of a friend of mine. I only have my Dutch creditcard... and they will not send it to Holland.

It seems like I going to miss this bargain. Any tips how to get my money back?

 

[Andrew Everard]

Well, if you have bought the item and they can't or won't ship to the billing address, or to an address other than the billing address, I suggest a phone call to the company should get you the order cancelled and a refund.

 

[Heyjijdaar]

The Tannoy Arena's have been send to my address in the Netherlands. I can't wait before I'll get them. Of course the postservice tried to deliver them when I was at work.

However, I currently don't have a good amplifier for these speakers. I only have the Philips LX700 reciever that delivers 5x50W at 8 Ohm. Can the Tannoy Arena play on this amp, or should I be patient and buy a new amp?

For an amplifier I want an clear and natural sounding amplifier, that sounds musical but also has the power when needed. USB input and HDMI. I prefer the latest HD sound encoding. I want an amplifier that doesn't do short to Tannoy Arena's capabilities.

I was looking for the Denon, or Marantz or Yamaha amplifiers. But the Yamaha amplifiers are named differently over here. Then I discoverred Sony is making good amps...

Which one is the best choise, the Sony STR-DG820 for 320 euro, or the STR-DA2400? Or one of the above brands?? Thanks...

 

[Heyjijdaar]

Could somebody give me some advice... I've got the Tannoy Arena, but don't know if they can play on the Philips LX700... or which amplifier to use?

Is also need advice on wiring the speakers and the line cable for the subwoofer.

 

[kinda]

Hello,

Sounds like LX700 would be fine. Just don't be tempted to turn it up to near its limit.

What's your price limit for an amp?

 

[Heyjijdaar]

Thanks,

I'm not really into a budget or something, but don't want to spend more than 650 euro for an amp. For that money I can buy an Marant SR7002. However is the Sony str-dg820 would be as good as it gets for the Arena's then spending 300 euro's also would be nice.

I don't like spending money on something i'll regret or becomes the weakest link in the chain... Amp -> Tannoy Arena.

This is the current receiver I've got with its speakers it came with. If I put the Tannoy Arena's on this receiver, and don't force the volume up too high. This would be an combination that could work with the Tannoy Arena's and won't damage them? Then I can find an amplifier to keep.... and enjoy the Arena's in the mean while.

 

[Heyjijdaar]

I've placed the Tannoy Arena's on my Philips LX700 amplifier. It's clear to me, that an better receiver has got to come. The Tannoy Arena's sound a litte too clear in the higher frequenties.

I'm looking for two options:

• Sony STR-DG820, for 315 euro.
• Marantz SR7002, for 649 / 699 euro.

Clearly the Marantz is the better receiver. However will the Sony STR-DG820 / Tannoy Arena combination be an combination that I'll love for years to come. Or would I wish in a year time, I would had bought the Marantz?

Is that last receiver also one, that will be up to date with the latest technology (its a 2008 model) for the years to come?

 

[kinda]

Hello,

I'd go for the Marantz. I run an SR6001, and it sounds great with the Arenas. I've not heard the DG820, but I feel it's too budget for the Arenas.

The increase in performance I got going from an Onkyo 605 to Marantz SR6001 when demoing was large, with more sound detail and better texture. The Marantz also has a warmer sound to complement the neutrality of the Arenas, if that's the kind of sound you prefer. I think the Sony might be thinner.

I was prepared to spend around £1000, which I think the Arenas can well justify, and reckoned the Marantz was the best the best sound quality to be had without going for an Arcam and losing LPCM over HDMI. I'd have gone for a 7001/7002, but could get the 6001 for about half the price, and the performance of it was reckoned to be very near to the 7001.

I'm hearing on the forum that the Marantz SR6003 is a rival to the current £1000 amplifiers, so might be worth a go.