Surround Speaker Packages £2k-£2.3k (March issue)

[admin_exported]

Hi What HiFi Team,

I was just reading your Surround Speaker Packages test and was wandering why Tannoy system wasn't included. It was you best choice (recommendation in that price level) just until recently when you started promoting new and excellent as well Montor Audio system. Is there a reason you didn't include it in your test? I thought it would be obvious choice to compare the best in class and winner of previous packages tests, with new comer MA RX6 package.

How do they compare to each other? Are they close? I am pretty sure you know the sound and quality of Tannoy package really well, as it was your favourite one for a long time.

Any thoughts about two against each other? I think Tannoy sub doesn't stand a chance with MA excellent RX12 Sub (that's why I went for alternative), but what about the speakers them selves?

Thank you for any thoughts in advance.

Regards,

stone28

 

[Anonymous]

I wondered the exact same thing!

 

[Simon Lucas]

The Monitor Audio Silver RX6 AV12 took our Best Speaker Package £1500+ Award at the end of last year

("Until recently, Tannoy's Revolution Signature/TS12 package looked nailed on to win a Best Buy for the second year on the trot. But Tannoy introduced a new, inferior, subwoofer to the system. So this Monitor Audio package has had a fairly obstacle-free run to the Award" - Awards 2009, p73)

and became our reference package at the price. Having seen off the Tannoys, it seemed best to pit the AV12 against three new, untested set-ups rather than against stuff we already knew it to have the beating of. The more competition an Award-winner faces the better, I reckon.

The fact that it's an Award-winner obviously means we think it's superior to the Tannoy system but there's not a gulf in class. The Tannoy's subwoofer is its weakest link; the five Signature speakers are quality items.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the clarification, Simon. That explains it loud and clear.

To Tannoy - 'If it ain't broken.......?

 

[kinda]

I can sort of see the logic in this approach, but it also leads to problems.

What's a very good Tannoy system will now get no further reviews, as we see the RX6s repeatedly pitted against competition often inferior to the Tannoys. The review of the Tannoys becomes outdated and people wonder if it's as good as the packages reviewed later at one or two stars below, and pick those instead. Eventually the speakers get discontinued.

Basically this is what happened to the Tannoy Arena. Pitted against MT-30 at same price 2005, both 5 stars, MT-30 narrowly winning group test, then no further reviews. Now discontinued which is a huge shame as for me it beat by some margin the MT-30 and KEF 3005SE for films and music, yet these have gone on to do great sales, at least some of which must be attributable to their repeated appearances in the magazine.

I'm not saying we want to see the same product battles re-hashed continuously, but maybe a periodic mini-review to confirm or adjust the star rating, taking into account current price, would be good. Then maybe an entry into a group test if it entered a new price range or the champion changed.