Tannoy PBM-6.5

[woggles]

I have two sets of these. They look identical but the model number in one pair is located in a different place than on the other pair. The serial numbers are much different between the pairs, but consecutive within a pair. Looking for info I found pictures with a model number suffix of II. Neither of my pairs have that suffix.

I am posting this because when I put them in the system, I heard things I haven't heard before, in a good way. I am quite impressed. Does anyone have a spec sheet or brochure on these? I only tried them because the wife is wanting to reduce space occupied by the stereo, so I was trying out some bookshelf and monitor speakers in my collection to see if there was something I could live with in place of the floor standers. They are not in a monitor situation - they are about 100 inches apart and the center line is about 80 inches from the sweet spot. But they sound great and there are things in classic records (Beatles, Carly Simon, ...) that are popping out. The other day I was listening with my SPL meter app on the iPhone and I jumped because a certain note sounded like it was coming out of the phone, so great imaging.

Now I am not a person with a "golden ear" but are there any comments on why they sound so good to me?

 

[Isotonic]

They sound great to a lot of people. The PBM 6.5 was a very popular studio monitor in the 90s. It was never expensive. There is not a lot of history available. Though they were very popular, they seem to be mostly forgotten. However, Ebay always has a few of them, so there is definitively a market for them.

I think there are two versions of the PBM 6.5. The original is rare. It has a bit of a midrange dip, which I personally like. The second version is slightly midrange forward. I believe they were responding to the popularity of the Yamaha NS10. The second version sounds great to my ears as well. I can't decide which one I like better.

I have a set. They are very easy to restore. There is one electrolytic capacitor to replace. I used a film cap to replace. The woofer is an easy re-foam job. The tweeter does not have ferrofluid. The last set I bought did not sound quite right. I was able to source a couple of replacement drivers. The original tweeter was made by Vifa, now defunct. Tymphony bought the rights to a lot of Vifa's classic drivers. So replacements are still available. I bought a set for about $50 if I recall correctly. They now sound like new.

Some speakers get it right, regardless of price point or accuracy. The PBM 6.5 is definitely one of those. I have also owned or heard other Tannoy monitors from this era. The Reveals, for example, are not bad. I also had a grey set with a 10 inch dual concentric. It was pricey. It was super accurate. Super clean. A mixing tool for sure, but not fun to listen to at all.

My PBM 6.5's are mounted on the wall of my heated garage/electronics/electric bass shop. I have it connected to restored Tandberg separates and the original Bryston DAC. I am never let down. The little speakers fill my garage with musical sound and handle the fast and clear Tandbergs without flinching.

 

[woggles]

Thanks for the info. I have a pair of floor standers, Dahlquist DQ-20, but there is something about the Tannoy that has more realism. Several times when there is a percussion instrument in what I'm listening too, I've looked up to see what fell from a shelf, because the sound was that PRESENT. I don't have a big listening area, so while they are called near-field monitors they do it for me.

 

[woggles]

I have two pairs, forgotten until I was prompted to clean up the basement. One set has a a round badge on the top left of the grille. The other set has "Tannoy" spelled out at the bottom of the grille. The serial numbers of each set are consecutive. The badge set has a five digit serial number, the letter set has a six digit number. Both say made in Canada, though I thought Tannoy was from England. I've seen photos of some on-line with a Roman numeral II suffix, but none of mine have that.