In this article, we review the Tannoy SGM 10, 12, and 15 models and the Sterling III LZ Special Edition. We will discuss the history of this legendary brand and the technology employed to achieve the unique sound and look of Tannoy speakers.

Company History

Many people around the world know Tannoy. Their speakers have been in some of the best studios and have helped master some of the most iconic music of the past 100 years. Tannoy was founded in 1926 by Guy R. Fountain and was called the Tulsemere manufacturing company. In 1928, they changed their name to Tannoy to reflect the Tantalum / Lead Alloy used in their rectifiers. Through the 30s and 40s, they were so well known for their public address audio systems that “Tannoy” was added to the Oxford English Dictionary with the meaning “public address system.” In 1947, Tannoy unveiled its Dual Concentric driver technology and showcased it at the London Radio Show. This concentric driver technology piqued the interest of music studios everywhere and started Tannoy on the mission of becoming the benchmark choice of the best studios in the world. Today, Tannoy products can be seen in studios and home audio systems, as their sound and manufacturing quality are world-renowned. Audio Advice carefully chose the speakers we will examine today based on their performance, value, and heritage combination.

Design & Build Quality

The Super Gold Monitor (SGM) series from Tannoy represents a speaker prioritizing performance over aesthetics in audio reproduction. The cabinets, while well-made and finished, are more straightforward in appearance and harken back to the days when large Tannoy monitor Gold Speakers were used in studios in the 1970s and 1980s. They are made with ¾” MDF with plywood internal bracing and are heavily damped to prevent resonances.

The SGM series' color options include a real walnut veneer and an acoustically transparent grill cloth. We would have liked Tannoy to offer more finish options for the variety of spaces these speakers will likely be used in, but the finish does look great nonetheless. And while some may prefer a more modern, polished look to their speakers, we know there are a lot of people who just love the classic 70’s look these speakers have. However, the sound matters most with the SGM series, which is what these models are made for.

Features & Technology

Since their Dual Concentric driver technology was invented in 1947, this technology has been the driving force with Tannoy speakers and is no different with the SGM series. Tannoy has taken the design of the Dual Concentric driver and has improved it as technology allows. This newer driver uses modern ferrite magnet structures and copper demodulation rings. The concentrically mounted tweeter is an updated aluminum/magnesium alloy dome unit that improves older designs. This tweeter is crossed over at a lower 1.2kHz to allow more midrange detail and control in those frequencies and uses a unique waveguide to enhance dispersion and performance. All three SGM models employ a version of this driver in 3 sizes.

The SGM 10 has a 10” version of this driver in a front-ported cabinet that measures 13.8 x 12.2 x 20.6" and is meant to be stand-mounted. Efficiency is slightly lower than the other models at 89dB, and the frequency response is from 40 Hz - 30 kHz ± 6 dB.

The SGM 12 increases the woofer size to 12” with the same tweeter and crossover point. The cabinet measures 17.6 x 12.1 x 40" and is meant to be a floor-standing speaker. Due to the larger driver, efficiency is up to 91dB, and the frequency response is 38 Hz - 30 kHz ± 6 dB.

The SGM 15 is the largest speaker in the SGM lineup. It features a 15” version of Tannoys Dual Concentric driver with the same tweeter and crossover point. The speaker measures 25.6 x 16.7 x 40.7" and is meant for floor-standing use. Efficiency is up to 93dB, and the frequency response is 35 Hz - 30 kHz ± 6 dB.

The Stirling III LZ Special Edition speakers have a cabinet that looks much like Tannoy’s speakers from the glory days of HiFi while using newer, higher-density materials that weren’t available when the original III LZ models were produced. Also, higher-density materials, which Tannoy calls DMT (Differential Materials Technology), are used in the cabinet bracing to allow for less resonance and proper driver mounting. The Stirling III LZ Special Edition speakers give you a genuinely best-of-both-worlds option for music lovers wanting classic looks with today’s level of performance. Like the SGM series, color options are limited to a natural walnut finish that is even more attractive.

Performance

Unboxing the SGM and Stirling III LZ Special Edition models proved that Tannoy is all about quality in both the speakers and protecting them for transport. The setup was straightforward as we hooked our chosen amplifiers quickly to the high-quality binding posts. We must mention that Tannoy adds what they call the “Earth Ground” as an extra binding post connection on the speaker for use with screened speaker cables. If screened cables aren’t being used, you can run a cable from your amplifier's ground lug to this connection. This is not a mandatory connection, and it is there to reduce radio frequency interference. We did not use this connection in our tests as we did not experience any interference while listening.

We started listening in our main listening room with the SGM series speakers connected to a McIntosh MA352 2-Channel Integrated Amplifier. We thought this amplifier would have enough power and be a realistic pairing with these speakers. This amplifier proved to be a great pairing with all of these great models.

The SGM series is a great example of a speaker line that keeps the sound character intact through the different models in the series. Listening to Lenny Kravitz’s 2024 album Blue Electric Light allowed us to hear that all three models provided the musicality and tonal richness that people have enjoyed for years from Tannoy. Bass was strong and deep and got bigger, more dynamic, and more effortless as we moved from the SGM 10 through the 12 and on to the 15. Midrange had a great tone, allowing Lenny’s guitar work to shine without grating or letting any harshness through. The vocals sounded rich, and the drums had excellent dynamics while staying tight and focused. These speakers aren’t as much of a surgical instrument as some speaker models on the market today. That is not their thing. These Tannoy models are about giving you a realistic portrayal of the performance in your room. The treble had good energy and was smooth, allowing us to enjoy cymbal hits and other percussive sounds without any strain or dynamic compression that some small dome tweeters can present when pushed. There were a couple of areas in which we thought the SGM series was not as good as we have heard with other speakers. While the imaging was good and allowed us to hear vocal and instrument separation and placement, it was not these speakers' strong suit. While the soundstage width was great, the image and stage depth were not as deep or holographic as we would have liked to hear. Music was presented in more of a wall of sound to enjoy and bath in instead of individual elements being a showcase.

Moving on to the Stirling III LZ Special Edition, we played the same great album and heard a speaker that resembled the SGM series but presented the music in a more mature manner. Refinement seemed to take a small step up, especially in the treble. This is possibly due to the Pepperpot waveguide and larger 2” tweeter. The midrange had the same overall tonality but seemed to have a little more detail and smoothness. Bass seemed as detailed and musical but had more depth and bottom-octave energy. If you want bass slam and dynamics, the SGM 12 or 15 will be the answer, but if bass detail, refinement, and overall bass depth are important, the Stirling should be on your list. The Stirling II LZ Special Editions seemed to improve the imaging accuracy from the SGM series, but the soundstage and image depth were still a little short of some high-end speakers we have heard.

One thing that needs special mention about these Tannoy speakers is their concentric driver design. Concentric drivers have an edge in one area that is hard to create with other designs. Many speakers on the market with acoustically separated drivers suffer from off-axis response issues. This causes many speakers to sound different at different listening heights and lose high-frequency energy or tonal accuracy when sitting to the side of the speaker off-axis. This is less of an issue with concentric drivers since the audio band comes from the same place on the speaker baffle. If you throw house parties or like to walk around or sit in different areas of the room while listening to your music then concentric drivers really will have an advantage on keeping your music sounding accurate and balanced in these situations.

Overall Recommendation

Tannoy is a legendary company in the audio world, with a pedigree that other speaker manufacturers wish they had. They have contributed to some of the best albums ever produced in the '60s and '70s. Their continued improvement in designs and attention to detail in manufacturing mean you are getting a quality product with quality engineering. The sound of these speakers is musical, natural, and satisfying in all of the important areas of music reproduction. They can be listened to all day without fatigue and are geared to celebrate musical enjoyment. They aren’t surgical or clinical like some of today's speakers who shout details at you, only for you to be tired and done listening in 30 minutes. The Tannoy SGM and Stirling III LZ Special Edition speakers are a must-listen for anyone looking for a speaker in their respective price class. If you are a music first person and want speakers that celebrate the reproduction of it, then we can recommend these Tannoy models wholeheartedly. Give us a call, email, chat, or visit us in one of our great showrooms, and let us help you see if one of these great Tannoy models will fit your musical desires.

We’re Here to Help!

If you have further questions, contact our experts via chat, phone, or email. Or simply visit one of our world-class showrooms to experience speakers, projectors, TVs, and everything in between for yourself before you make a purchase!

If you’re planning your home theater or media room, check out our Home Theater Design page, where we have everything Home Theater related, including our FREE Home Theater Design Tool.

When you buy from Audio Advice, you’re buying from a trusted seller since 1978. We offer Free Shipping, Lifetime Expert Support, and our Price Guarantee. We look forward to serving you!