Tannoy 15" HPD 385 vs Spendor BC3

RE: Tannoy 15" HPD 385 vs Spendor BC3 , posted on June 17, 2011 at 08:25:16
Hornlover Manufacturer Posts: 2529 Joined: March 8, 2002	Joseph Sammut, CEO of Pass Labs, has a pair of Tannoy 15" HPD 385's mounted in Jensen Imperial corner horns, and according to him, 'I now have a sound that has to be heard to be believed'.

RE: Tannoy 15" HPD 385 , posted on June 17, 2011 at 11:09:23

M3 lover
Audiophile

Posts: 6604
Location: SW Mich
Joined: May 29, 2005
Contributor
Since: July 4, 2007

A couple of weeks ago I auditioned speakers with the HPD 385. Unfortunately it was not a good set up. Still I could hear encouraging elements of musical enjoyment.

I was told the original owner bought the raw drivers new and had custom cabinets built per plans from Tannoy. However they were a back loaded horn design (with large mouth below the driver) and in correspondence with Tannoy I learned that either a sealed or ported cabinet was the recommended design for these drivers.

I'm no help with the OP's question as I've never heard the BC3. I did own BC1s briefly but that was 30 years ago. Since I listen to a wide range of music they didn't produce adequate bass for my tastes so I didn't keep them long. I have had the chance to audition all four of the current top of Tannoy's Prestige range and I found a couple of those to be outstanding.

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho

I have heard the system described below, and it is a great system, posted on June 17, 2011 at 14:49:32

Timbo in Oz
Audiophile

Posts: 23221
Location: Canberra - in the ACT - SE Australia
Joined: January 30, 2002

For example, he played me some 78's, Shure MM for 78's IIRC, and all the Eq options, and they were wonderful. Far better than my memories of thorn/fibre needles and passive acoustic horn!

Listening to Satchmo singing I was nearly in tears it was so moving.

Orchestral music? was simply there in front of you, interplay and nuance, just like we were there, the whole hall. Peter's uniquely effective 'reflective' Hafler surround was subtly effective. Chamber was just as good.

I really WILL get Hafler surround plus differential delay going here at home, one day.

One of the additional reasons for the effortlessness is the two huge old adjustable laboratory power supplies that serve each SET amp. BIG LCLCLC..... power supplies that loaf along are a good thing.

High joule storage also gives far better bass all the time and on all music, even when sheer SLAM is not called for.

Warmest

Tim Bailey

Skeptical Measurer & Audio Scrounger

RE: Tannoy 15" HPD 385 vs Spendor BC3 , posted on June 17, 2011 at 19:08:02

Jim Smith
Industry Professional

Posts: 1097
Location: Atlanta, GA area
Joined: April 5, 2000

I've been there and heard it, though I don't remember the Jensen enclosures. At the time, I think it was a custom enclosure and crossover, designed by Nelson.

Even so, it was a mesmerizing experience.

You forget about the technical stuff and the music just speaks to you.

Best regards,

Jim Smith

RE: Tannoy 15" HPD 385 vs Spendor BC3 , posted on June 20, 2011 at 09:07:13
Hornlover Manufacturer Posts: 2529 Joined: March 8, 2002	They are at his home, not the PASS factory.

RE: Tannoy 15" HPD 385 vs Spendor BC3 , posted on June 20, 2011 at 10:29:34
Jim Smith Industry Professional Posts: 1097 Location: Atlanta, GA area Joined: April 5, 2000	Yes, I heard them at Joe's house. This was probably in 2006-2007 or so. Best regards, Jim Smith

RE: Tannoy 15" HPD 385 vs Spendor BC3 , posted on June 21, 2011 at 09:27:39
Hornlover Manufacturer Posts: 2529 Joined: March 8, 2002	If I remember correctly, the Imperials were built just after that time.

RE: Tannoy 15" HPD 385 vs Spendor BC3 , posted on March 30, 2017 at 07:26:34
Ayya Khema Audiophile Posts: 7 Joined: March 18, 2017	I have both. will try to fix my tweeter on my spendor bc3 and then compare

RE: Tannoy 15" HPD 385 vs Spendor BC3 , posted on March 31, 2017 at 08:10:06
bare Audiophile Posts: 1879 Joined: April 14, 2009	The reason Nelson uses the Tannoys (according to his published info) is because they are extremely revealing speakers. Ideal for evaluating even the tiniest of changes in his ongoing Amplifier topology experimentations. Short answer: Tannoys are as Good as the quality of their input.

Tannoy 15" should sound more open, less boxy , posted on March 31, 2017 at 09:27:50
Jay Buridan Audiophile Posts: 10284 Location: Michigan Joined: January 21, 2004	and will have more authoritative bass, IMHO. "Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people. " ― W.C. Fields

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Tannoy 15" HPD 385 vs Spendor BC3

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