Tannoy Definition D900 — A Review

FLOORSTANDING SPEAKER  ·  DUAL CONCENTRIC  ·  TANNOY  ·  REVIEW

Where do you begin with a D900? Visually. Because it is an imposing speaker — comfortably imposing, the kind you want to walk toward, touch, feel under your hands. It is substantial, with a real-wood look to it. This pair is cherry veneer, but it exudes quality. The trapezoid shape makes it look smaller than it really is. Any speaker housing 4 × 12″ drivers is not small in any way. It blends with Persian rugs, fireplaces, and dimmed lighting — standing back like the ultimate butler, ready to serve.

And then you press Play. Oh goodness, this is good.

Treble

The treble doesn’t draw attention to itself. It’s there, it’s detailed — every sound comes out and hangs in the air. It has the speed and clarity one expects from a horn-loaded tweeter. For me it’s more than enough. Eva Cassidy, who on some systems makes you cringe, plays here without a moment of discomfort. A big brass section doesn’t have you reaching for the volume control. You experience the full onslaught and feel the tension release afterward.

Midrange

You simply cannot fault the Tannoy here. Male voices are stunning. The growl of guitars is menacing. Synthesizers are alive — you can identify the signature sounds of Korg, Roland, and others. The Blues makes these speakers live. Those growly voices, bigger than normal, all around you.

Bass

Pull out Yello — Race & Flag — and a bit of OMD English Electric, and pack away your B&W 802s. Even the mighty Kappa 9.2s look worried. The D900s slam as if the drums are two feet from your ears — shockingly fast, deep, and powerful. Of course we’re not driving with 50W here; electrical power must be converted into couch-shifting sound waves, and the D900 is more than capable.

The Dual Concentric Technology

In nature, all sounds start from a single point, with waves radiating outward evenly in every direction. Tannoy’s Dual Concentric technology emulates this by placing the tweeter directly behind the bass cone, so the sound again comes from a single point and all frequencies reach your ear simultaneously.

Verdict

It’s not a Grizzly Bear. It’s more of a Lion — grace and power. For its price, I don’t think anything could touch it.

There are more accurate speakers. There are more articulate speakers. A few are even better looking. But the D900 is my pick for anything in the $10,000 class.