Tannoy to Show Anniversary Speaker Versions in Vienna

British brand Tannoy is preparing to mark its 100th anniversary with special versions of the Westminster Royal GR and Canterbury GR loudspeaker systems. Founded in 1926, the company has dedicated limited editions of models from the Prestige Gold Reference series to its centenary. The new products will be shown at High End Vienna 2026, which will take place in early June.

The anniversary versions are called Centenary Editions and will be produced in an extremely limited run. Tannoy notes that, while preparing these models, its engineers refined the well-known Prestige Gold Reference line, focusing on further polishing both the sound and technical design. Among the stated changes are an updated construction and improved internal wiring, intended to deliver a richer and more engaging presentation.

The number of pairs to be produced was not chosen by chance and is directly linked to the year the company was founded. The flagship Westminster Royal GR Centenary Edition will be limited to just 19 pairs, while the Canterbury GR Centenary Edition will be produced in 26 pairs. Together, these numbers form the symbolic date 1926, making the series not only a rare collector’s release but also a commemorative gesture in honour of Tannoy’s century-long history.

At High End Vienna 2026, the company will present the Westminster Royal GR, a large two-way horn-loaded loudspeaker system built around Tannoy’s signature 15-inch Dual Concentric driver. The standard version of the model is priced at £55,000. Each speaker stands 140 cm tall and weighs around 140 kg. The design uses Tannoy’s proprietary technologies, including the PepperPot WaveGuide, Alnico magnets, aluminium-magnesium alloy cones, and compression drivers with Mylar surrounds.

The Westminster Royal GR cabinet has a volume of 530 litres and is made from birch plywood with internal bracing using Differential Materials Technology. The exterior finish includes oiled walnut veneer and hand-selected walnut burr inlays. Thanks to its 99 dB sensitivity, the speaker can work with both powerful transistor amplifiers and lower-powered tube amplifiers. The claimed lower limit of the reproduced frequency range reaches 18 Hz.

During the demonstration, the Westminster Royal GR will operate in a system with Esoteric electronics and Montaudio cables. This setup is intended to showcase the capabilities of one of Tannoy’s largest and most prestigious loudspeaker systems in a carefully matched configuration.

The official presentation of the anniversary-series loudspeakers is expected in the coming months. Tannoy will reveal additional details about the technical differences between the Centenary Editions and the standard models, final specifications, and pricing at a later date.