wow&flutter
pfm Member
The Google street view still shows an old photo with the Tannoy factory before closure. Not sure where the Fyne factory is though as again the pic is likely before they moved in.
sad day for coatbridge tannoy factory
- Thread starter hifinutt
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Chris81
pfm Member
If they would only produce the same product, not this fancy, stylish modern stuff.
In the latter days of Tannoy things were not very happy. The owners were only interested in building the same heritage products and the staff knew the end was looming. They had ideas for new products and technologies but were not in a position to exploit them.
Once they left and set up Fyne they were free do what they wanted and explore new directions. Do things which they knew would be great. That's why Fyne speakers don't look like Tannoy ones. Having heard both, there is a very strong sonic family resemblance. If you like Tannoy you are going to like Fyne, it's the same people who have designed them, but the main thing I'd say Fyne have done is really improve the quality you get for a certain amount of money. Some pretty cool new tech, getting the cheaper speakers made abroad and just the natural development of things means you get a lot of sound for your money.
Have you heard any of it?
I was talking to a Fyne representative some years back.
He told me their flagship 7 range along with some special edition 5 range, are made in UK, while all the lower speakers assembled overseas.
That sounds about right. The entry range is made in China, the top models are made in Scotland and there is a bit of crossover in the middle with cabinets made in Eastern Europe and the drivers and crossovers put in here. Something like that.
Chris81
pfm Member
Do I have to listen to something to don't like the design/look of it?
No, of course not. What I'm saying is that the designers had reached the point where to improve performance they had to move away from the configuration of traditional Tannoy speakers. They didn't just set out to make them look more modern for the sake of it, the speakers sound better.
Sue Pertwee-Tyr
Accuphase all the way down
Yep. The F1 series has somewhat polarising styling, which I didn’t like, right up to the moment I heard one…
Not very many speaker manufacturers build drivers in house. Assemble them, maybe, but think of all the machines you'd need to do it? Casting metal, machining metal, injection molding and machining plastic. This is all specialist stuff. ATC build their own drivers but they won't be casting the baskets. They'll design them and get a casting company to make them.
I'll need to try and hear them. From what I've been told they're form following function and just ended up looking like that because that's what sounds the best. Prefer a more conventional box myself, looks wise.
cooky1257
pfm Member
Indeed. The point I was making was the Fyne manufacturing heavy lifting is done in China and Spain not Scotland. it's great that Fyne maintain a UK factory/ design base and goes to prove Music group( or whatever they're called now)Tannoy could've done the same.
It was personal. These people live here, they have pride in their country and the speaker heritage. The people who bought over Tannoy were only interested in making as much money as possible out of the name.
steveinspain
pfm Member
Out of curiosity, how do the new Chinese-made legacy Tannoy's compare to the UK-made for sound - Has anyone compared them?
It might be interesting to read any opinions..
It might be interesting to read any opinions..
Jonboi
Because Music Matters
I'd agree. The other issue, somewhat related, is that HiFi was and is the Provence of Baby Boomers as a hobby/interest that started in the 1950's and arguably peaked around the 1970s - 1990's.
Todays generation are definitely interested in listening to music, multi-media and watching movies; but HiFi as a tinkering/faffing about hobby is not on their radar.
Hence as Boomers retire and die out, many who are asset rich and cash poor will buy second hand, and manufactures who cater to the audiophile market will find their market dying out and becoming ever more niche, which pushes prices up and value down.
HiFi as 'we' used to know it as a hobby, is largely something that belongs to 'our' generation and will pass as as a hobby, as our generation dies out.
Needless to say though, peoples love of music will continue and new generations of audio kit will provide suitable solutions to the music lover of the future, who want high quality reproduced music in the home.
John..
JTC
PFM Villager...
I'd be surprised if they sound different. It might be a controversial thing to say, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if build quality/consistency was at least the equal of the UK-made units (which - can I state, as an owner myself - is absolutely acceptable in terms of fit, finish and such things).
steveinspain
pfm Member
JTC
PFM Villager...
Sure, but I would imagine that, going back to your question, Tannoy will use the same grade of components and designs etc., for their Chinese production. So no reason to expect them to sound different. Whether the change of production has an impact on the desirability of the Scottish-made Legacy/Prestige units is something that remains to be seen, but I rather expect not. I'm proud of my Scottish and British heritage, but I think it's arrogant to expect things built here to be in any way superior to things built elsewhere - it may, or may not, be the case, it depends on many things. I think it's sad that manufacturing resorts to relocating production, but I am sure that's at least partially driven by pressures on production cost versus what a market will sustain in terms of pricing. And Tannoys are quite pricy, and may have been finding it difficult to compete on price with UK production.
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