Saint Loup

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.38 of 5, 8.00 votes

Price Paid:  $730.00 from Tannoy distributor C

Summary:
Dual Concentrics are really outstanding. From the first moment I heard a note played by these speakers I fell in love with them. The dual concentric gives a kind of coherence to the sound that you wont find in normal speakers with separated tweeters and woofers. Pinpointing is excellent, and at the same time, each instrument sounds big and plenty of weight. I´ve never heard a softer speaker than this. Sound is "creamy", that´s the best word to describe it. You can listen for hours without getting tired. Your ears will be very grateful to you if you buy the Saturns. Some speakers I´ve heard have great bass, great definition and detail, good tranparency, good high frequency dispersion, etc... But they are not musical at all, they have no refinement. I´m talking about Jamos, Paradigms, Kliptschs and others. I´m sure they are great for Rock, Hip-hop, Pop or whatever. I´m sure they shake walls...but for classical music, you need a sweeter sound, a sound that reproduces acoustic instruments (wich have more complex harmonics) in a natural way. With these Tannoys, each instrument sounds just like in real life. Any person who regularly goes to concerts of classical music knows (or at least should know) how real instruments trully sound. Also, I have many musician friends, so I´m used to hear violins, pianos, clarinets, close to me, and for that reason I POSITIVELY KNOW that these speakers are really natural.

Strengths:
Excellent pinpointing and stereo imaging. Natural sound, soft and warm. The instruments sound real (you feel an oboe is really made of wood), and that´s a thing I can´t say from any other speaker I´ve heard.

Weaknesses:
Bass could be faster, and have more detail. They are not really beautifull, but you get used to them, and with the grilles on they look quite elegant.

Similar Products Used:
Tannoy Mercury mx4-m, Tannoy Mercury Mx1-m, Paradigm Phantom and monitor 3, Acoustic Energy aegis evo 1.

Price Paid:  $350.00 from Soundservice, Boxmee

Summary:
After having borrowed my brother's Acoustic Energy Aegis One speakers, I finally succeeded in finding a set of speakers that meet my every demand: good clarity, amazing dynamics, good fast bass. I listen to soft rock, blues and jazz. They have no problem whatsoever with a fast kickdrum or guitar solo. Their detail allows you to hear for example the triangle on the Metallica S&M album or the breathing (and other oral sounds) of a singer. You will hear every single instrument on the recording. I turned them in at an angle of about 10 degrees to increase soundstage. I'm going to keep these speakers for at least 10 years. My setup: NAD C730 NAD C521i Tannoy Saturn S6 Ixos 2.5 mm (bi-wire)

Strengths:
dynamics, clarity

Weaknesses:
looks (who cares)

Similar Products Used:
Acoustic Energy Aegis One

Price Paid:  $500.00 from Hitek Audio

Summary:
I am driving these speakers with Sony STR-DB840,the sound clarity on the lows and highs I think is fantastic in that they are natural. I use it for normal listening as well as surround, the sound reproduction is execellent. The audio shop introduced me to the Tannoys after my description of the variety of music I listen to. In order to update my rear speakers I am considering buying another pair. Anyone out there who is considering a pair of speakers with an allround performance for the price range of 500-1000, should consider these speakers.

Weaknesses:
Slow to burn in

Similar Products Used:
Marantz(original American Marantz speakers, still have them) and Jamo

Price Paid:  $1000.00 from Audio Wullich

Summary:
At the begining, very detaliled and good bass, but the midrange somehow weak. After some hours of burn in period, the sound improved significantly.
They are sensitive to small changes in possition. I found the best soun with toeing in around 5 degrees.

I use them bi wired with monster xp
Arcam alpha 7 cd
Arcam alpha 8 integrated amp.

Strengths:
refinement, good bass, detail

Weaknesses:
slow burn in

Similar Products Used:
Paradigm Reference 20, 60, Celestion

Price Paid:  $550.00

Summary:
These speakers are, for the price paid, fantastic. It carves out a wide stereo image, with good depth, and for 6.5" woofers, gives amazing bass extension. Generally uncoloured, the midrange can get a little pinched at high levels, which can also show thorugh as a slight sibilance through the tweeter. Overall, for the price they are magnificent, and are in my opinion better than the 603's which were twice the price. Not only are they musical, but in a home theatre context they are superb, with fantastic reproduction of movie soundtracks and can be run full range without a sub. Highly recommended, and for the price paid, a steal.

System:
Denon 2801 AV receiver
Pioneer DV-535 DVD player
S6 mains
S6C centre
Jamo prestige 30 rears
Monster bi-wire speaker cable
Monster digital interconnect

Strengths:
Dual concentric horn does wonders for imaging, while those 6.5" drivers dig deep. Front-loaded reflex port allows more flexibility in positioning.

Weaknesses:
Doesn't quite go as low as the stated 30Hz mark. Vinyl covering is a little cheap.

Similar Products Used:
B+W 603S2, Elac CL102, Mission 774