Bookshelf Speakers — Tannoy PLATINUM B6-BU

The Platinum B6-BU is the brown-finish version of the B6, the two-way stand-mount model in the Platinum hi-fi series from Tannoy, the British loudspeaker maker. The Platinum range dates from 2019, and the B6 has a tower sibling, the Platinum F6, which pairs a 1 inch silk dome with two 6.5 inch cones. Unlike the Dual Concentric models the brand is best known for, the B6 uses two separate drive units instead of a coaxial driver.

Key specs that matter

The low and middle frequencies are reproduced by a 165 mm (6.5 in) cone made of paper combined with an FPP bowl, and treble from a 25 mm (1 in) silk dome. The crossover hands over at 2.5 kHz. Tannoy quotes a frequency range of 50 Hz to 20 kHz, a sensitivity of 86 dB at 1 W and 1 m and a nominal impedance of 8 ohm. Power handling is 40 W continuous and 160 W peak, while the recommended amplifier band is 20 to 80 W. Each cabinet measures 230 mm wide, 360 mm high and 235 mm deep and weighs 6.6 kg. The BU code marks the brown cabinet colour, and the same model is also listed in white, black and dark walnut.

Engineering and use context

The drive units use neodymium magnets, which produce a strong magnetic field from a small and light assembly, which keeps the back of each driver compact inside a modest enclosure. The reflex port is placed low on the back panel and extends low-frequency output beyond what a sealed box of this volume could reach. This handover point is fairly high for a cone of that size, so the woofer carries the whole midrange and the soft dome takes over only in the upper part of the spectrum. The four-to-one ratio between the peak and continuous ratings shows how much short-term headroom the drivers accept on transients, while the lower figure is the one that limits long sessions at high level. The model is designed and engineered in the United Kingdom.

Pairing

The moderate efficiency and a nominal load that is not rated at 4 ohm make the B6 an easy electrical match for integrated amplifiers, compact streaming amplifiers and stereo receivers inside the band that Tannoy suggests, so current delivery matters less than it does with low-impedance designs. Much larger power amplifiers can overrun the drivers if pushed hard, and volume discipline matters with such units. Two binding posts per cabinet accept a single run of speaker cable, and the brown finish sits with darker furniture and wood shelving.

Alternatives

The Tannoy Revolution XT 6 is a stand-mount alternative with a 6 inch Dual Concentric driver, 89 dB sensitivity and a bottom-firing port.