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The TD10’s SuperTweeter™ is furnished differently
from the one that is integrated into the Churchill
Wideband’s cabinet, as it is encased separately atop
TD10’s main cabinet in a polished metal oval casing.
Dispersion from this driver is well-regulated supposedly
by the low-diffraction, rounded baffle, plus an application
of acoustically inert material surrounding the titanium
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dome.
Tannoy also claims its TD10’s DC tweeter and woofer to possess such
naturally complimenting operating frequencies, that only minimal crossover
electrical filtering is applied.
Like the Churchill Wideband, the TD10’s 70lb, trapezoidal cabinet is to deter
internal standing waves, and the primary panel components are constructed
using birch plywood, with comprehensive internal bracing to reduce amplitude
of panel resonance. Two rear flare ports augments the bass reflex design,
below which is a starfish-shaped bi-wireable terminal panel with a ground
terminal.
SETTING UP THE TD10
Modest in size when compared to the Churchill Wideband, the TD10’s are
large floor standing speakers nevertheless in my 12x27x8 listening room, its
DC tweeter firing at a little below ear level when I‘m sitting on the new couch
my wife made me buy. In addition, both the TD10 and the larger CW sounded
their best when given more space, in proportion, to energize before the sound
wave reaches the listener, although the TD10’s sounded less spacious and
less extended than the CW in similarly shorter distances to the listening
position.
Therefore, at 50 inches away from the front wall, a little over 11 feet away from
the listening position and 6 feet apart from tweeter to tweeter, the TD10s
delineated a most credible and yet expansive soundstage.
With a tripod-like footing, moving the 70-pounders around the listening room
was quite easy with their E.T.-like movements. Full toe-in was facilitated in
order to reap full potentials of the proprietary Waveguide™ technology, and
the aesthetic grilles and SuperTweeter™ mesh were all removed during
listening.
At 91db/6 Ohms, the TD10’s were more demanding of amplification than the
Churchill Wideband, and not compatible with all low-output SET’s.
While two SET systems, namely Combak Corporation’s 7Wpc, $27k,
Harmonix Reimyo PAT-777 300B power amplifier with the companion $17k
CAT-777 preamplifier, and Audion’s 18Wpc, $7,395 pair of volume control-
equipped, parallel single-ended 300B Silver Night Mk II monoblocks were
both able to vanquish the TD10’s to notable results, a third SET amp, namely
Loth X’s $15k, 9Wpc 300B-based JI300 integrated SET, could not recreate
from the smaller Tannoy the remarkable results it did with the more efficient,
95dB/8 Ohms Churchill Wideband, as dynamics were severely truncated and
transients subdued.
On the other hand, the TD10‘s sensitivity boded extremely well with the
50Wpc, $7,100 47 Laboratory Gaincard S, and was an easy load for the
230Wpc/4 Ohms $9k Linn Klimax Twin solid-state amplifier in partnership with
the Harmonix Reimyo preamp, a combination that pushed the speakers’
performance envelope furthest.
Following the footsteps of the Churchill Wideband, the TD10 had a notably
concordant and seamless upward transition from upper midrange on up
through the very top-end, that was remarkably conducive for a sound rich in
details throughout the entire spectrum, and yet not as sensitive in spectral
irregularities as the AN-SEC Silver, thus much less excitable.
A primary benefit accorded by such characteristics is an accommodating
persona towards amplifiers, as what can be construed as aggressive-
sounding through the AN-SEC Silver are now sounding pristine, reverberating
and considerably tranquil. Also notable is the TD10’s partnership with
Combak’s CAT/PAT amplification, which produced a smoothness so
resplendent with spark that would surely set many SET aficionados on their
ears once again.
Digital front end was comprised of the 47 Lab PiTracer and the updated
Audio Note UK DAC 5 Special, which was retrofitted with a new circuit board
that dispenses with the original analog filter. A report is to come. The 47 Lab
Gemini Progression DAC and Harmonix Reimyo DAP-777 20bitK2 DAC also
provided valuable insights into the Tannoy’s sonic makeup. Cabling remained
Audio Note’s Sogon, AN-Vx and AN-SPx, with two Harmonix Reimyo Studio
Master 5-foot power cords powering amplifications.
AUDITION
Liberal instrument transients and intrinsically uniform spectral distribution
surfaced in initial listening sessions as the most notable persona
resemblance between the 15-inch Churchill Wideband and the 10-inch TD10,
and the smaller Tannoy was no less ambitious and startling in depicting
dynamic scales of instruments.
Though not as critical and reflective of sound of equipment upstream as the
CW, the TD10 nonetheless exhibited a bland midrange with the Gemini
Progression/Gaincard S combo, while becoming subjectively overbearing in
the same region with DAC 5 Special/Audion Silver Night Mk II.
The one system that invoked the most satisfying results from the TD10,
producing extended top and bottom end, expeditious transients, electrifying
dynamics and convincing dimensionality, was one consisted of the 47 Lab
PiTracer, Audio Note DAC 5 Special, Harmonix Reimyo CAT-777 and Linn
Klimax Twin.
Alternating amplification to the 47 Lab Gaincard S summoned super-fast
transients, a clear, opulent midrange and catching rhythmic drive. Lastly,
pairing the Audion Silver Night Mk II with the 47 Lab Gemini Progression DAC
revealed a sonorous tonality with powerful bottom-end.
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