Tannoy Kensington GR Floorstanding Speaker, Walnut (Pair)

The Tannoy Kensington GR is a 2-way floorstanding speaker from the Prestige Gold Reference series with a 10-inch Dual Concentric driver, Alnico motor and PepperPot waveguide.

It's the model where the Prestige series gets serious: a narrow footprint, 1.10 metres tall, 37 kilos per speaker – and a coax that's among the best two-way coaxial drivers ever built. The cabinet carries oiled walnut veneer, inlays and gold-anodised metal trim.

Why the Kensington GR?

Because it delivers Prestige sound without taking up half the room. The Alnico motor provides cleaner transient response and higher efficiency than the ferrite variants. connect, in its test (Wolfram Eifert, 2013), attested the Kensington GR good efficiency and a low-variation impedance curve that never drops below 6.4 ohms – the ideal condition for amplifiers with low feedback and moderate power.

What you hear

Voices that already stand vivid and pin-sharp on the stage at low volumes. Add to that a bass that stays punchy without ballooning – the narrow cabinet with distributed port helps here. Of all things, the Prestige, the one accused of vintage muffledness, is one of the most honest boxes in its price class in the midrange.

Who is the Kensington GR suited for?

For rooms from around 25 m², for classically furnished living rooms and for people who want to enjoy music quietly too. Bottom line: the listening zone is narrower than with average boxes – if you're ironing on the side and expecting a soundstage anyway, you won't be happy. And the centre of gravity sits high: on carpet, with kids in the house, the spikes need to be properly seated.

Our verdict

The Kensington GR is the Prestige for people who don't want to put 68 cm of width into the living room but still want the big Tannoy sound. It's not a party speaker but a connoisseur's box – and it's noticeably more flexible with amplifiers than its reputation suggests. We at HD Zürisee in Wädenswil will find the right combination with you.

Technical data

• Type: 2-way floorstanding speaker, distributed port system
• Driver: 10-inch (250 mm) Dual Concentric with Alnico magnet system
• Tweeter: 52 mm aluminium-magnesium dome, Mylar surround, PepperPot waveguide
• Frequency response: 29 Hz – 27 kHz (–6 dB)
• Sensitivity: 93 dB (2.83 V / 1 m)
• Impedance: 8 ohms (minimum 5 ohms)
• Power handling: 125 W continuous / 500 W peak
• Recommended amplifier power: 20 – 250 W
• Crossover frequency: 1.1 kHz, cryogenically treated crossover, ICW ClarityCap MR
• Controls: treble energy and roll-off via knurled screws on the front
• Terminals: 24-carat gold-plated bi-wiring terminals, fifth pole for grounding
• Cabinet volume: 105 litres, high-density chipboard with birch plywood baffle, DMT bracing
• Finish: oiled walnut veneer with inlays, gold-anodised aluminium trim
• Dimensions (W × H × D): 406 × 1100 × 338 mm
• Weight: 37 kg per speaker
• Scope of delivery: bi-wire jumpers, spikes, Prestige wood wax

Frequently asked questions

Does the Tannoy Kensington GR need a very powerful amplifier?

No. The forgiving impedance curve and 93 dB sensitivity make it happy even with moderate power – valve amps included. Powerful power amps don't hurt, but aren't a requirement. What matters is how loud you listen and in what kind of room.

How much distance from the wall does the Kensington GR need?

Reckon on at least 50 cm from the back wall, more if you can. Too close to the wall, the bass blooms and the soundstage loses depth. The slim footprint helps, and placement plus the treble controls handle the rest. We'll work it out for your room.

Kensington GR or Turnberry GR?

The Turnberry is wider, tuned warmer and cheaper; the Kensington is slimmer, more resolving, and dynamically finer thanks to its Alnico motor. Both use the 10-inch coax. Which one suits your room and taste is something we'll clarify in conversation – the answer isn't always the pricier one.

Is the Kensington GR also suited to quiet listening?

Very much so. That's exactly one of its strengths: even at low levels, voices stay full-bodied and the soundstage stable. Many boxes only come alive at volume – the Kensington doesn't need that.

Why buy the Tannoy Kensington GR at HD Zürisee?

Because with Prestige speakers, we don't just sell the box, we sell the combination: room, placement, amplifier, cable. Plus delivery and installation on site, and your own technician who stays reachable after the purchase. Call us, write to us, or use WhatsApp.

Goes well with

Matching electronics: integrated amplifiers and power amplifiers. Analogue source: turntables. Connection: speaker cables. The whole brand: Tannoy collection.