Tannoy Introduces SACD/DVD-A Compatible Dimension Series

The Tannoy Dimension Series incorporates the very latest wide bandwidth technology in an acoustically optimized cabinet. Designed to complement the additional audio bandwidth available with the new SACD and DVD-a formats, the new Dimension Series includes three floor standing speaker models, the TD12, TD10, and TD8; one center speaker model, the TD-C1; and one subwoofer, the TD-SUB. At the heart of the three floor standing models is a Tannoy Dual Concentric™ drive unit featuring a new cone material and twin-roll surround providing enhanced midrange performance and tight, fast bass with tremendous low frequency extension. The cone material is manufactured from a composite of several different fibers. The mix of fibers has been carefully chosen to obtain a light but very stiff structure providing exceptional grip and control of bass transients.

A Tannoy SuperTweeter™ is incorporated in the design of all Dimension models, not only resolving fine detail of high frequency information but also to effectively enhance the listening experience at lower frequencies. The SuperTweeter™ creates an increased immediacy, airiness and impact making music sound more natural and true to life.

The low diffraction rounded edge of the baffle combined with acoustically inert material surrounding the SuperTweeter™ ensures that high frequency output is not re-radiated, resulting in superior imaging. Electrical filtering via the system’s crossover is kept to a minimum because the driver unit performance has been optimized to form a near-natural transition throughout the frequency range. The crossover is then precisely customized utilizing non-standard component values specified to an accuracy of two decimal places. This total system view of crossover design ensures a far more natural presentation of music to the listener.

Cabinet material and construction is a vital ingredient of loudspeaker design. Solidity and neutrality are the key elements sought by Tannoy’s acoustic engineers when optimizing performance levels. The Dimension cabinet utilizes birch ply for the primary panel components. Due to the anisotropic nature of this laminated solid wood material, the effects of cabinet coloration, that would otherwise impair musical accuracy, are greatly diminished. In addition, the multi-faceted trapezoidal design of the cabinet reduces internal standing waves, further minimizing coloration. The cabinet is comprehensively braced internally to improve rigidity and further reduce the amplitude of panel resonance.

Two heavyweight solid aluminum cones and rear floor-coupling spikes ensure any residual cabinet energy is efficiently dissipated. The acoustically transparent grille guarantees that there is no musical blurring.

An innovative new bi-wireable terminal panel has been designed to simplify the connection of even the largest diameter audiophile loudspeaker cables. In addition to the high quality gold plated speaker cable connections there is a ‘ground’ terminal that is connected to the chassis of the drive units. Within any loudspeaker system the voice coil will pick up radio frequency interference that contributes to noise and distortion when fed back to the amplifier. The Dimension system of driver chassis grounding optimizes the performance of the amplifier by reducing these effects. System improvements are audible using conventional high quality cable and a separate earth lead to the amplifier ground, while further optimization is possible with the use of screened loudspeaker cable.