Tannoy 15" Gold vs Bozak Sympony's vs Cornwalls vs Altec Model 19's

[Perkinsman]

Hi guys, I'm interested in getting the last set of speakers I'll probably ever own and have narrowed it down to the above 4....but I'm open! I have Marantz, MIntosh, Sansui & Fisher components, all tube except for a 2275, 35-75wpc. I listen to soft rock, West Coast jazz, rockabilly, pop, country, classical thru my phone at low to moderate volumes. The cave is only 12' wide and 25' long. I've never heard any of these speakers live, only online & they all sound amazing. The Tannoys also win the beauty (& most expensive) contest. I'd love to hear from the folks that have good, bad & ugly experiences with any or all of these.

 

[mvandyke]

I'm biased as I've had Model 19's for years. I've listened to a lot of speakers (all listed but the Tannoys) and these speakers were the best - for me. The mid range is much better than almost all speakers out there and thats where most the music is. They are good looking speakers also. Extremely efficient for tubes and a true joy to listen to.

 

[LoStrings]

My vote also goes to the Altec 19's..I've owned 4 of them for over four decades, and have never tired of them. Many speakers have come and gone, but my 19's are always a pleasure to listen to.

 

[62vauxhall]

I've never been able to afford them but Altec 19's became my "Holy Grail" speaker when I first heard them demo'd in a shop I frequented in the early 1970's. Those were finished in oak and I thought them the most gorgeous speakers on the planet. Since they are more expensive now than they were when new, I still can't afford them.

Consequently I still have a fondness for oak finished speakers. That infatuation persisted and motivated me to by a brand new pair of oak finish Infinity Kappa's at a very good price in the early 1990's.

 

[Tom Brennan]

All the speakers listed are good. But I think the Model 19 is the most refined of the speakers listed and the best sounding. I owned Bozaks, Cornwalls, Model 19s (and many other Altecs) and consider the 19 one of the finest turnkey speakers ever made. After the Altecs I'd consider the Tannoys--the big Tannoys I've heard always sounded outstanding. I wouldn't be surprised if upon comparing them I preferred the Tannoys to the 19s.

My opinion you understand, not the word from Sinai. Preference can't be argued with. You should listen to all the speakers and decide for yourself.

 

[superdog]

Not having or heard any of these but have heard similar and from what I have read on these I would think that the Altec 19s would be my choice.

 

[Leben]

What a fun predicament! All of those are good options. If I were in the market, I’d likely rule out the Bozaks because they are lowboys. The critical drivers aren’t going to be at ear height and they would need supertweeters for my listening preferences.

I would likely be very happy with any of the other 3. If these are going to be placed on your 12’ wall, the Cornwalls with their more directional horns should work well. (helps with reflections) I prefer bigger horns and large coaxials so I would likely pick the 19s or Tannoys though.

These are only my preferences based on the speakers I own, have owned or have listened to. I agree with Tom that you should listen to them first, if possible. The good thing is that all of those speakers have a dedicated following. If you buy them at a reasonable price, there should be very little risk if you decide to sell and try something else in the future.

 

[Audio Fan]

Nice selection of top contenders. Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to listen to any of these models specifically. All are a good match for the power sources you plan to use, so that is not a real differentiator. If I had to lock it down to one of the four, I too would choose the Altec 19 as I think it best accommodates all of the genres of music you enjoy. I too would probably select the Tannoy's as #2 (I have owned Tannoy's prior).

 

[kfa888]

I've heard the Bozaks and 19's... I've never forgot the glorious mid range on those 19s. Those are the ones I personally want.

 

[Ohighway]

I’d likely rule out the Bozaks because they are lowboys. The critical drivers aren’t going to be at ear height and they would need supertweeters for my listening preferences.

I'm guessing the pictures are just representations , not the actual speakers the OP has access to. I certainly agree that lowboy is not a good configuration for the Bozak symphony for the reason you stated. (Well, a problem for most if not all lowboys)

Not to drag this off topic, but what components are in the Altec 19? Similar to the Valencia, or no ?

 

[Leben]

I'm guessing the pictures are just representations , not the actual speakers the OP has access to. I certainly agree that lowboy is not a good configuration for the Bozak symphony for the reason you stated. (Well, a problem for most if not all lowboys)

Gotcha, I was going off of the pictures. My comment was mainly about my preferences for the mids and tweeters to be at or close to ear height. I do like Bozaks and have a pair of 302s with supertweeters that I enjoy.

 

[Blue Shadow]

I've never heard any of these speakers live, only online & they all sound amazing.

OK, so you haven't heard these speakers. You have read what folks that generally like the speakers have to say about them and think those qualities someone else hears in the speakers with his system and you might want that kind of sound in your rig. All fine so far.

But without an idea of where you are coming from, which speakers and the pros and cons of those in your opinion, it is hard to say if these speakers would be your last speaker. I don't know any of them well but then I'm more of a low sensitivity speaker guy, DQ-10s, MG-IIIa, Time Windows and such and really like some of the new stuff way out of my price range and there are others that don't care for the speakers I have and prefer horns and such.

So provide a bit of info on what you have and the limitations and good points of them and folks can more accurately address the differences these 4 fine selections could bring to the party.

I might think the 19 would be my choice. The Tannoys I had just didn't do it for me but I don't think they were 100% but they were fully working. The Klipsch line causes listening fatigue and I will not have a speaker that hurts my ears in a long listening session. But I hear differently from everyone I know and you might, too.

 

[gdmoore28]

Not to drag this off topic, but what components are in the Altec 19? Similar to the Valencia, or no ?

Quite similar, with the major differences being the cabinet design and crossovers. The Model Nineteen has a considerably advanced crossover that bridles the "shouty" nature of the horns and makes them smoother and more hifi-sounding. The Valencia crossovers are quite basic with no compression driver compensation. The Model Nineteen box design takes the 416 woofer a good bit lower, as well, if memory serves me.

My friend has Cornwalls while I have Altecs (see avatar). I like the rock-n-roll nature of the Cornwalls, but over time they begin to sound a bit harsh in the mids and highs. Great bass response, though.

In the end, I'll take my Altecs.

GeeDeeEmm

 

[Hawkeye83]

I would definitely pick altec 19 or Tannoy.

I have the Arden speakers which are also 15-in and I love them.

Never heard altec 19 but they have always been on my bucket list. Sadly I missed out on a pair that would have been a super score at $150. That was the only real shot I had at a pair.

 

[spicer]

I've owned or listened to a bunch of them. I own a pair of 19s and would be using them now but for room size limitations. With out hesitation I would chose the 19s... in a proper sized room they are amazing and work well with your amplifiers, either of them. Given the room, expect to 'blown away'. What they do seems effortless.

 

[Perkinsman]

What would you estimate the "proper sized" room to be for the 19's? Do the 19's come in different cab configurations or are they all just like GDMoore28's avatar (which I love)...were their speakers/crossovers the same? Regarding the 15" Tannoys, I've noticed that they have different but similar cab configurations, but it's so odd, theres only one speaker, called a "dual concentric" in the cab and usually it's ported. Does it really put out the frequency range of the others without tweeters or a horn?

Here are the speakers that I've cycled thru over the past year on my current system of Marantz 8b amp and McIntosh mx110 preamp: KLH Big Barons, Dynaco A25's, Rogers Ls7t's, JBL L100's, Sequerra Met 7's & Whardale Rosedales (W70's). My favorite so far out of those have been the Wharfdales.

On systems in other rooms, I use a Sansui 1000a with Ohm Model E's (love the warmth), Marantz 2275 w/DQ 10's (awesome but big). I havent' tried the DQ 10's with the 8b system yet.

 

[Tom Brennan]

What would you estimate the "proper sized" room to be for the 19's? Do the 19's come in different cab configurations or are they all just like GDMoore28's avatar (which I love)...were their speakers/crossovers the same? Regarding the 15" Tannoys, I've noticed that they have different but similar cab configurations, but it's so odd, theres only one speaker, called a "dual concentric" in the cab and usually it's ported. Does it really put out the frequency range of the others without tweeters or a horn?

The Tannoy has a horn tweeter: the tweeter is behind the woofer and fires through a horn that goes through the center of the woofer and then uses the woofer cone itself as an extension of the horn. Many coaxials work that way, most famously the Altec 604 that preceded the Tannoy by a few years.



As for the Altec 19, IMO&E is works quite well in small rooms; I used mine in an extra bedroom that I used as a HT room. The 19 came in one cabinet style but with a choice of finishes. GD's avatar isn't an Altec 19.

I think the crossover was always the same but when Altec switched from Alnico to ferrite magnets the drivers were changed to the new ferrite versions. My 19s had the Alnico woofers but I idly changed the 802G Alnico horn drivers to ferrite 902 horn drivers I heard no difference.

 

[Tom Brennan]

I should add that the Model 19 is effortless and very lifelike in large rooms, indeed the drivers used were developed for motion picture theater use.

 

[Perkinsman]

Beautiful! Are the Model 15's much different sounding? Is gdmoores avatar Klipschorns'?

 

[Greg Nal]

I think GDM's are (as I see in the bottom of his post) "DIY Speakers w/Altec A7 components"

Where in Nor Cal are ya? I'm likely South/East of you in Fresno.