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DIY Reference Horn Speaker System – Tannoy / JBL / Azura / Fostex Floorstanding Loudspeakers Custom Reference Horn Speaker System – Tannoy / JBL / Azura / FostexPrice: $4,800Location: Warranwood, MelbourneCondition: MintPickup: Preferred (inspection welcome)Reluctantly selling my custom-built reference horn speaker system, a two year-long passion project built with no shortcuts and using the best components throughout. These were designed and built to deliver true high-efficiency, reference-grade sound with scale, realism and effortlessness that maybe conventional speakers simply cannot match.
This A$4,800 ask is ambitious, sitting well above the 75th percentile of A$1,856 for comparable used Tannoy floorstanding listings in the AUD market. With a median of A$591 and a 75th percentile cap of A$1,856 across 67 recent comps, this price demands a significant premium that the listing title does not immediately justify without clear proof of rarity or pristine original-owner condition.
The appeal here hinges on the unique DIY horn implementation blending Tannoy, JBL, Azura, and Fostex drivers, a configuration that can deliver exceptional dynamic range and low distortion if built correctly. However, without specific details on the horn design, build quality, or included accessories, the upside is uncertain; this is only a worthwhile buy if the seller can demonstrate a professional-grade build that truly transcends the typical used market, otherwise it remains a risky overpay for fellow enthusiasts.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Tannoy traces its origins to 1926 in London, where Yorkshire-born engineer Guy R. Fountain established the Tulsemere Manufacturing Company in a modest garage. Initially focused on battery chargers and rectifiers for early radio sets, the brand name Tannoy emerged in 1928 as a contraction of "tantalum alloy," the key materials in its innovative electrolytic rectifiers. This British pioneer quickly pivoted to loudspeakers, cementing a heritage of audio innovation that spans nearly a century, including a relocation to Coatbridge, Scotland, in the 1970s.
The company specializes in loudspeakers, renowned for its revolutionary Dual Concentric driver introduced in 1947 at the London Radio Show, which transformed studio monitoring and home audio. Tannoy's portfolio centers on high-quality speakers—ranging from bookshelf and floorstanding models to the iconic Prestige series—alongside public address systems. While historically versatile in professional sound, its modern emphasis remains on hi-fi stereo and home cinema speakers, leveraging decades of driver technology expertise rather than diversifying into amplifiers, turntables, DACs, headphones, or cables.
Tannoy holds a revered position as one of the world's oldest loudspeaker manufacturers, blending high-end prestige with vintage appeal for discerning collectors and audiophiles. Its studio-grade monitors and meticulously crafted cabinets, often produced by specialists like Poland's Diora, earn consistent praise from hi-fi critics for exceptional clarity and dynamics. Now under the Music Tribe group, Tannoy endures as a benchmark for authentic British sound reproduction, appealing to knowledgeable buyers seeking timeless performance over fleeting trends.
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