This 1970s vintage system probably sounds a lot better than what you’re listening to

The system:
Garrard 401 turntable, outfitted with a new Absis 1.0 tonearm.
Audio Research SP-3A-1 preamp.
Audio Research D-150 power amplifier.
Tannoy Arden speakers with 15 inch dual-concentric drivers
More info about the gear can be found on the SkyFi website, skyfiaudio.com/
The listening session took place at Stereo Exchange, stereoexchange.com

[@StephaneVorstellung]

Those Tannoy fill the room without even playing anything. Big is right.

[@remiandrepedersen868]

It is not really correct, but then we are talking about speakers at a completely different price.

[@politicalassassin7254]

Ha ha ha that's a good one.

[@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio]

Not only does an old system like this do justice to older music, but it also excels with newer music, too.

[@robmills537]

The 70s is where real hifi started for me but not at that level , fantastic to see it reviewed must have been a pleasure to listen to.

[@Michael-xz1nk]

Very cool to see such a rare kit. Steve, I love when you go on location and show us other people's systems. Keep up the great work!!

[@TheRealShedLife]

This is one of my favorite videos of yours. I love how you talk about it, like someone describing a sublime coffee or wine.

[@sabastiantaylor7209]

I don’t understand why do we hear more about tannoy speakers in America. I’m a huge fan and every time I show one of my new audiophile friends what they can do. They are always in awe.

[@jwbrook]

Love hearing your enthusiasm. The felt experience of listening to music is what this hobby is all about and I very much appreciate your approach. Thanks Steve. Keep up the good work!

[@jimbasler1054]

The 70's analog sound equipment is where it's at,as far as I'm concerned. A couple of years ago,I had my Pioneer sx-1250 recapped and completely gone through. Glad I did........ I wouldn't think of getting rid of it!!

[@mosespray4510]

Wow, the condition of those components is amazing! They look brand new.

[@TheMirolab]

Yeah Steve!!! Preaching FUN in Audio! That is what's missing from so many modern speakers. And so happy you finally included Tannoy in your quest for the holy horn.

[@ericnortan9012]

I bought Cerwin-Vega! SL 15's for the fun, and man o man. They may not be what most of you guys are looking for but if you want some fun speakers, that sound surprisingly good, for many types of music, these get it done. They may not be the best CV! but sound a lot better than many I've heard. They aren't big PA style giants, but they are pretty impressive to the eye, 3'x18"x18" all black with big red lips. They normally give me an excuse to fire up the system when guests come over. They wanna hear em'. You put that 70's hard rock stuff on, or metal, bass heavy dance/techno, talk about room filling feel the music good times. Big box 3-ways, everyone should own a pair.

[@jonmustang]

So nice to hear a review acknowledging the ability of some equipment to bring out the emotion of recorded music; that's definitely what I go for when I'm choosing equipment.

[@ArcadeDude44]

Man, I wish I was there to experience this amazing system!👍

[@pookiedacat8364]

Steve, this one is truly outrageous. I love it.

[@bjornahh87]

Really cool power amp you have there, love those types that shows the power out level and watch the volumes comming out of the amp..

[@italia458driver7]

I have always loved acoustic research vintage stuff. And Tannoys. Say no more. Beautiful setup.

[@swinde]

This is Audio Research who made high end Tube Amplifiers in the 70s. Acoustic Research was a very good speaker manufacturer of the 60s through the 80s. I still use the AR-3a speakers in my system.

[@davidtimbro3677]

Love the title Steve. My 1st reaction was I doubt it, without even seeing what the setup was lol. That’s some great vintage tube gear. I took a quick trip over to Skyfiaudio’s web page, man that’s some nice vintage stuff they have. Those speakers remind me of the Klipsch Cornwall ll speakers I owned in the the mid 80’s with a Music reference RM-9 amp and NYAL Minuet pre. Yes that system from the 70’s may sound as good as my current but those speakers would never fit in my current room. I would love to rock that AR stuff for a while. Good job.

[@ELcinegatto87]

Tannoys have always been amazing speakers. That AR gear looks amazing too

[@FungedeBagre]

Love to see your passion.

[@darrens7040]

got love that old school gear great video Steve thanks for sharing. Man cat people was a brilliant sound track "putting out the fire with gasoline" love it.

[@nooopp]

I’m 23 and my exes dad had a stereo system and that changed my life I never realized how great music can sound through better equipment. Her and I are over now but I still miss jamming out and not being able to hear what each other is saying over the music haha

[@xenigron6237]

70's will remain the YOUNG decade in every sense ..from Music to hi-fi to cars etc....Almost everything from that decade is timeless ...the 70's is not vintage is immortal.

[@Jacksirrom]

Nah that's a bias against the current youth. Every age comes and goes.

[@xenigron6237]

@@Jacksirrom Bullshit,there are time periods that don't let nothing relevant in any field,just take a look at the so called "modern classic" motorbikes ....they take inspirations form the 70's bikes...take Bruno Mars that take inspiration from the disco-funk of the 70's...take Greta Van Fleet that take inspiration from the 70's rock and I could go on and on....The 70's will be here forever (and also the 60's and the 80's very probably) . The rest is temporary fashions. Would you compare a shitty Prius with a Mustang or a Camaro ?,the former is ugly like shit the latter are attractive even for a 12 yo kid.

[@carlosoliveira-rc2xt]

Seriously? Get out your large collars, leisure suits, plaid sofas and green and orange toilets. Tasteful!

[@carlosoliveira-rc2xt]

@@xenigron6237 '74 to '78 Mustang was a real gem. SMH

[@aprisia]

xenig ron Please, put any Mustang or Camaro up against a modern WRX with the same amount of after market work. It will crush those silly outdated cars on any road surface.

[@SamuelBarrPhotography]

Hi Steve, hey we want to hear this system!

[@messagedeleted1922]

My grandad had an old set of 80s klipsch speakers and the sound staging. Literally room filling and 3 dimensional big sound.

[@lastoftheboomers9600]

Tannoy Ardens were my first audiophile level component. I didn't know how great they were back then.

[@musiconlyplease98]

Music was an experience in those days

[@MountainAdventures1]

I grew up with a pair of Epicure 20's in the living room, and that became my early standard for comparison. Considering that this was before the time of the Linkwitz-Riley crossover, the sound was amazing. My Dad has had them repaired a few times over the years and still uses them.

[@tenettttt]

My whole setup (excluding digital parts) is from the 70's. Wonderful era for audio equipment IMO.

[@moonphaser3304]

Tannoy still holding up 40 years later

[@cosmonaut9942]

Tannoy started in 1927. 92 years.

[@buttonman1831]

Stuff was just built so different back then. The only high end amp I owned from that period was a Marantz 2325 and it made even my small speakers sound big, really incredible.

[@draskogagula2073]

I am 39 years old and i heard this speaker and it is so jucy and big sweet sound,, It was driving by luxman l 550 and i want that sound i never heard before ,,, I want that i need that ❤😀✌️🙏

[@kencohagen4967]

I never saw those speakers. I've seen the rest. But thanks for sharing. Good stuff. Music was so important back then. You don't get that today, not without hunting things down anyway!

[@arichison]

Always wanted an audio research amplifier. Wow, these are old but so awesome!

[@357Shakey]

My parents sprang for a Marantz 2252B and a nice set of RTR’s for me in 78. The speakers let go in the 90’s but I still have the Marantz. Classic!

[@paulz250]

Great looking Vintage stereo, I'd love to have that at home 👍👍👍

[@belovedconsole]

This was so fun to listen to. Sometimes I come to your channel for comfort after watching some disturbing documentary or something. I'm like, "I'ma go over to Uncle Steve's house" and hear him talk about speakers and get to see the speakers and all the kit. Good times man, your channel is comfort media!

[@vintagehifilover]

"...Scale, Power, Dynamics..." yeah you've hit the nail on the head Steve! Gotta love those big Tannoy speakers. Cheers VHFL

[@scottohta2192]

I'm not sure if I have heard the Tannoy Arden, but I have always been impressed by Tannoy's horn loaded speakers even though they are large, but the Gerrard 401, that is indeed a special turntable.

[@adam872]

I've used dual-concentric Tannoy monitors in a recording studio and they sound fantastic. A mate also has a pair and their low end is fantastic.

[@TheRockerxx69]

Amazing beautiful. Classic. Wonderful components

[@christophernoto]

Ah! I'm reminded of an all night party I attended at a college buddy's parents' home, probably in 1969 or 1970, on the south side of Chicago. This fellow's dad was a commodities trader, and had an amazing McIntosh system, all tube, and still one of the top ten audio experiences of my life. Yeah, life was good back there in the Twentieth Century. 😎

[@69Muscle]

Those Tannoy's are awesome!! My newly purchased vintage ADS L700's have blown my mind. Love vintage gear.

[@johnhpalmer6098]

Ah the 2 way versions of the L710's, which are 3 way. I have the 3 way L810's myself and they are fantastic.

[@benjaminsturgeon2147]

Fernando IS REALLY GREAT,!! I only had one dealing w him but he went above and beyond with advice, help, and problem solving my system!! Rare these days! SkiFi audio has great customer service

[@denshi-oji494]

Tannoy speakers were always amazing!

[@neilfox4626]

Tannoy Legacy Arden available new today for $8,000/pr. The originals were used at Abbey Road studios to mix Dark Side of the Moon.

[@adrianwu6761]

For smaller rooms, the Tannoy SRM10B or SGM10B are great. Even better with Doug Sax’s crossover, which is still available from Manley Labs.

[@darrenchampion4451]

Floyds masterpiece was actually was mixed on Tannoy Golds but excellent non the less

[@kamilkashaf2766]

Now I know why the mix wasn't good.

[@iggypopisgod9]

@@kamilkashaf2766 oh please child

[@kamilkashaf2766]

@@iggypopisgod9 Being younger obviously means my hearing is better than yours, for one. But so is my playback system likely, if you can't hear how recessed the treble is on most DSOTM mixes. Your system is probably colored enough in the treble region that it's overcompensating for it (and for your lack of hearing) in the highs.

[@rsdokc]

That is so sweet. Thx for sharing

[@scottlowell493]

Mid 70's Kef, late 70's ADS were incredibly accurate and full range.

[@alexkenney5962]

Scott Lowell I am glad someone mentioned ADS as being right up there in the pantheon. I finally got a pair of L710s and after replacing the woofers again find myself luxuriA

[@v8trauma]

I've a couple of hifi yearbooks from this era. Fascinating reading. I really ought to sell them, I've had them since about 1980. Was overjoyed to find my first turntable listed in them.

[@vicverdi9402]

The more things change ... the more they stay the same. Nothings really changed all that much in 60 years. What you've been reminded of and remember about listening to audio when you got started is missing from todays gear so now .. you've gone 360 and back to where you started. FUN is the operative word!

[@brianruhl7761]

I like how you stated what I have come to believe too

[@hnipen]

Thx for doing videos like this :-)

[@joedomingos8486]

I love the older stuff, Tannoy System 1200's are my favorites I own.

[@j606ywt]

The Spendor Classic 100 may well be a good match for these Tannoys. Similar design and more than capable of filling the biggest of rooms, some of the best speakers I've heard.

[@andrewcrain5461]

Steve fantastic video!

[@brunoprimas1483]

Excellence has no timeframe. If it's good, it's good.

[@harryme472]

Exactly right.

[@Vintaronica]

Back in the late 80's early 90's my best friend's father was a Technics repair engineer, he had probbably the best combination for these Tannoy Ardens. His system was a Technics sea3-mk2, paired to a an SU-A4 dc preamp, those tannoy ardens would turn the whole end of my road into virtually a live concert performance. They used to play a lot of iron maiden, guns and roses..and the sound WAS INCREDIBLE, it made such an impact on my young person it made me really love hi fi. I remember he had a db meter it was peaking 125db...🤣👌👌 Fast forward 30 years, and I still dream of owning that very same setup. I'm getting there though, currently got some kef 104/2 Raymond Cook, paired up to a very nice recently refurbished su v505 and man...it sounds AWESOME...and yes.. iron maiden gets played in my house when the neighbours are out...🤣👌

[@ancc2281]

Great vid, would have loved to hear it :)

[@SamuelBarrPhotography]

Steve, we have to hear this system. Please play something through it for us!

[@henrym78]

The piper at the gates of dawn. Would love to hear Syd Barrett through that set!

[@lizichell2]

Look at these vintage beautiful speakers

[@alansenzaki4148]

Beautiful!! My friend had jbl lansing, empire troubador, hh scott in the late sixties..ill never forgot the sound!!

[@cosmonaut9942]

Finally, a Tannoy review. You know, Steve, that Tannoy reissued the Arden, Cheviot and Eaton. Some of the drawbacks of the '70s Tannoys are history. The highs are smooth. People call it the velvet hammer. I just bought the new Tannoy Cheviot and it's everything and more from what I remember of the 70s Tannoy.

[@harryme472]

One of the great speaker brands.

[@tonydeniro284]

I picked up the newTannoy Legacy Eatons over year ago, wow! No going back from these. They are huge stand mounters....

[@brooklynbummer]

Over the many years, I found those big speakers in big cabinets sounded more dynamic. Not always perfect across the sound spectrum but sure produced an exciting sound.

[@ericnortan9012]

big box 3-ways may not have the perfect sound, just the best sound

[@rcfanaticdublin]

Hello Sir, I am a 53 year old Irish man...my first hifi after I flew the nest back in 1986 was a 1970's Rotel compoment system. I had it for aroud 3 year's until it got stolen...I loved the hell out of the solid built 3way speaker's rated at 30watt /8ohlm. The SLP 1200 turntable had an ADC cartridge and it used to sound amazing with a decently produced vinyl one of my favorites at the time was Michel Jare.

[@ericw1330]

As usual a fascinating presentation; and Caravan by Cole...Steve your one of the greats. Truly.

[@salvadorrodenas3071]

Quality is and always will be perennial

[@prockrog5219]

The 70s is when everything musical peaked. That was one cool stereo!

[@m.9243]

This would have been a top notch system in its day. All of these components weren't quite cheap then. So it re enforces my belief that well made equipment will always sound good, no matter what new materials and technologies come into play. ..and what are these super modern shiny black towers doing next to the Tannoys? Are they Rockports? They look superb but I bet, they might have a hard time matching the 'fun' effect the old system creates. Well done Steve to remind us older generation and inform the younger ones of what was it like in the 70's!

[@nhennessy6434]

Either Rockports or Avalons.

[@yrulooknatme]

omg that is beautiful!!!

[@johnnytacokleinschmidt515]

Back in college in Rochester, NY a roommate had a pair of these speakers. The tinsel wire had broken away on the low frequency driver and was too short to reuse. I replaced it with what I had... A small piece of desoldering braid that I heated and cleaned the flux out of and soldered in. I knew they were somewhat exotic. I think they were mostly just his favorite big old speakers. They sounded really good and I liked them allot.

[@RickMahoney2013]

We need to hear this stuff.

[@53pittmanjt]

I had no idea that Garrard made tables other than those like the one in my grandparents' living room stereo console. It was a stack-em-up record changer of course, with a tonearm that looked like a tire iron with an anchor on each end but hey - it played the tunes they wanted to hear and was concealed inside a cabinet that matched the other furniture. Thanks for showing us this period piece.

[@finscreenname]

I had a friend's dad that remodeled a radio station back in the late 1970's. In the process they redid the DJ booth taking out the old turntables that just sat in a countertop (no box around them) taking them home to sell at the flee market. I was there helping to load the truck for the flee market (so my friend would be free to hang out) and noticed the turntable. It went home with me and I built a box for it. Looked terrible but it was the best turntable I think I ever had. I looked up Garrard a couple years ago and was shocked that most everything they made was cheap kid record players and then some really high end stuff. Tale of two worlds I guess.

[@johnnytoobad7785]

I still have my Thornes 125 MkII with the SME Tonearm and a SONY TA2000F pre-amp (recapped and updated by me..). Nothing like 70's gear. Total Quality.

[@edysinsimon8646]

I'm the pround owner of a Marantz 4400 "quad" system myself! With a same nameplate of pre-amp and a quality turntable with the approperate cartridge and speakers? I'm good to go another decade or so.

[@kirkbarlow4909]

Now you are getting it,vintage is awesome. Love audio research and Luxman.on the cheap. It's all good.

[@akmt123]

My Pioneer SX535 from 1975...is still running fine!!!!!

[@mostirreverent]

love that audio research stuff

[@danknox9986]

Love Tannoy speakers.

[@AmandaBuckley-lj4in]

My childhood memories growing listening to music Was a pleasure… Not just those speakers but all the speakers that were in my time yr 76 growing up into the 80s 90s What a big difference from back in the day to now… Yea those are power house speakers…. Thank you ❤❤❤

[@AdrianIII]

How do the Tannoys compare in bigness of sound to the Tekton Impact? Or vice-versa. The Klipsch Forte?

[@NathanOakley1980]

Tannoy are great, especially the high end ones.

[@goldenvinylspin]

That is an amazing setup. I wife was listening in the background as I was watching and started laughing when you said juicy and ballies. Hahaha

[@ericelliott227]

You know the old saying, "old is gold". The vintage gear is the foundation and cornerstone of high end gear today. I'm not just talking about vintage high end like in the video, but "mid-fi" as well. Much of "mid-fi" vintage gear (which from a sound quality perspective I would hardly call "mid-fi" as it is much closer to "high end or Hi-Fi") will give many pieces of high gear today a run for the money. For instance: I have a Sansui 8080 db that I had re-capped and such that will go up against any amp 10 times what I paid, which was $180. In fact, I did put it up against a $10k high end amp (I forget the brand) and the rep turned and told me: "You don't even even need to look at our amps, I'd keep that Sansui!" Another guy said that to replace the Sansui with an amp that would sound close to it or match it would require you to pay at least $10k in today's money. I don't know about vintage speakers (I've had plenty and some can sound fairly nice, but never quite there). I paired my Sansui with a set of Paradigm Monitor 6000f, ($1k speakers, Chinese, nothing special) and the staging is like nothing I have ever heard at any show. The image is so 3D that it is as if you can walk around in it. There is also surprising refinement in the combo I have. This system blew away my reference system hands down until recently when I upgraded it's amp to something of similar build as my Sansui. Also those old "receivers" were hand built in Japan with meticulous QC and it shows. They last forever, 30 to 40 years down, a $250 recap and your good for another 20 to 25 years! It is not just cost effective factor, but sound quality as well! So yeah, vintage high end, mid-fi all fantastic and will challenge today's gear. Like I said, it is the foundation upon which today's gear is built (provided the designers and builders are aware of the fact).

[@andershammer9307]

I have several vintage stereo systems. I have one a bit similar to this. I have a Thorens TD124 with Rabco arm and an Audio Research SP-2 preamp and an Audio Research D-90 amp and a pair of AR-3 speakers. The ARC D90 doesn't work right now but I have had the system playing using an ARC D50 amp instead and it is quite good. Sometimes I wonder if stereos have really gotten much better at all. Maybe just in fine detail but that doesn't make sound more musical.

[@jumbocaso]

Great site. Got the bug in the early 70's and can't bear to discard my Pioneer SX828, of which the two receivers that have superseded it were never as satisfying. Does anyone know where I can find the speaker connection plugs as I cannot locate mine? The last time I used it was in 2004 in my office before retiring. Thanks

[@cmkilcullen8176]

I just took this all in and imagined... and remembered my oldest big brother.. and friends -so nice - BIG - Big and detailed is such a dreamy reflection rather than Big or detailed. Just seeing this was so nice and how you describe the experience. I wondered if the rack that the system is on is new or from back then. It looks beautiful. Progress? I don't know. Progress = gaining this and losing that and whether or not it's worth it. Who knows? Peace and thanks.

[@gg41r]

Very Nice. This is my kind of setup. Retro set-ups rule!!!

[@dbcooper4666]

I’m running some new amps through a set of vintage Arden’s and Edinburgs. Sound is top shelf

[@tonycolbourne7694]

My 7ts Technics sl1900 with Nagaoka mp110 sounds absolutely bloody awesome. 👍

[@nvc.]

Tannoy is amazing

[@WayneMickel]

Tannoys are excellent really good pre-amp and Amplifier too

[@stevenrichardson4928]

A walk-through of the pre-amp/power amp would be fascinating.

[@davel.9467]

At the record store I work at we just sold a pair of Tannoy GRF Red Monitors and they had an extremely immense sound.

[@lizichell2]

Look at this beauty

[@cpk313]

If you go on the Tannoy site apparently they are making these again. The Tannoy I've been interested in lately is the DC10A.

[@cosmonaut9942]

that is a fantastic speaker

[@B2video]

My 93 year old grandfather has these on in his system. They sound powerful and easy at the same time

[@mindtouchone]

In the late 60s I had a pair of 12 inch 3 way Wharfdale speakers with sand filled cabinet walls and a direct drive Techniques turntable that weighed about 45 lbs. It had a concrete base inside. The cartridge had a hyper elliptical diamond needle. You could place a glass of water on top of a speaker and crank it up and the water would barely ripple.

[@southridgeapartments62]

I had a pair of these back in '82 and Steve's review is no exaggeration. They had a lot of punch and clean sound.

[@ArtOfVinylTurntableRepairs]

Very good video Steve! Could you do some more of these vintage setups? Especially the Tannoy coaxial drivers are something I really like. The Garrard I must say I’m not a big fan of. For that price I would rather have a nice Japanese direct drive from the late 70s/early 80s.

[@stevenrichardson4928]

Using this system as a point-of-departure, what do you recommend for a much small space- perhaps a small two bedroom home, 1500 sq. ft. including the living room where the system would be placed. This system may floor mounted or perhaps book shelf speakers, perhaps a 10" or an 8" woofer- but with the same over all quality. Thanks!

[@RocknRonni]

I remember those tannoy speakers from the 70s they're phenomenal speakers the wonderful vocals along with the harshness you hearing is partly due to those Audio Research amps, they probably haven't been recapped causing that harshness. Acoustic Research early pre and Power Ams are great. film capacitors would do wonders to improve their clarity.

[@tatialo37]

Cool speaker!!!