Tannoy, the celebrated speaker brand that has been around for almost 100 years, today announced the unveiling of a 70th-anniversary edition of its iconic Autograph speaker. The Autograph 12 will be previewed at High-End Munich, the world’s largest international hi-fi show, which opens tomorrow. Tannoy describes the special-edition speaker as a two-way floorstander that pays homage to the brand’s signature dual-concentric driver technology. The speaker features a ported cabinet made of high-density birch plywood and finished with a luxurious walnut veneer. Just like the original Autograph, this tribute model has a trapezoidal cabinet design intended for corner placement to enhance sound performance in home environments.
Tannoy’s innovative design approach with the dual-concentric driver technology has been a hallmark of the brand since 1947. The latest iteration of this technology in the Autograph 12 features a 12-inch driver. Unlike traditional cone speakers, the dual-concentric design physically merges two drivers, with the tweeter positioned in the “throat” of the woofer cone. This configuration allows for sound propagation from a single point source, resulting in a spherical wavefront that provides consistent dispersion in both horizontal and vertical planes, ensuring remarkable off-axis performance.
The pricing and full specifications for the Autograph 12 will be announced closer to its fall launch. The speaker is poised to be a new Prestige model catering to larger living spaces, bridging the gap between Tannoy’s Kensington and Canterbury speakers, which are currently priced at around $8,410 and $14,870, respectively on UpscaleAudio.com.
Founded in London in 1926, Tannoy holds the distinction of being the fifth-oldest hi-fi company globally. Initially, the brand focused on automotive and public address (PA) systems, which were instrumental during World War II, supporting speeches by renowned figures like Winston Churchill. Noteworthy, Pink Floyd utilized Tannoy Lancaster monitors at the iconic Abbey Road Studios in the early ’70s to mix their groundbreaking album “Dark Side of the Moon.” Over the years, Tannoy has changed ownership several times and in 2015, was acquired by Dubai-based MusicTribe, an entity that owns eleven predominantly pro-audio brands. Presently, Tannoy is headquartered in Scotland.
The Autograph 12 will be crafted at Tannoy’s UK factory in Hamilton, Scotland, honoring the brand’s heritage of producing premium audio equipment. For further information on Tannoy and their range of products, visit their official website at tannoy.com.
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