You've probably heard of concentric drivers, but may not know what they are. In simple terms, concentric drivers stack the low- and high-frequency drivers together. The high-frequency driver sits inside the woofer, directing its output right down the middle of the cone. This means that all of the speaker's sound energy comes from the same point in space, eliminating the “smearing” of sound as it arrives at your ear from multiple discrete drivers.
As the primary manufacturer of concentric speakers, Tannoy first made its mark in recording studios. Here the critical accuracy of the concentric design helped engineers hear what they needed to for the recording process. The benefits of concentric speakers aren't quite as pronounced at live sound distances, but there are still benefits.
The Tannoy VX family of concentric-driver speakers is a broad one, boasting a range of concentric designs from a diminutive five inches all the way up to 15 inches. All VX speakers offer birch cabinets, a variety of hanging/mounting options and black or white finish. All are suitable for installed sound or portable PA use, and in most applications benefit greatly from the addition of a subwoofer.
A Look at the Latest
The latest entry to the VX line is the VX 8M. Like the original VX 8, the VX 8M is a compact speaker with eight-inch dual concentric driver package. The “M” part of the name comes from the speaker's ability to work as a floor monitor with 40- and 60-degree angles. The VX 8M has two Neutrik connectors on an inset speaker cable panel designed to protect the connectors from harm. The VX 8M is a surprisingly light speaker, and carrying it is easy thanks to the integrated handle on its top.
For those who appreciate specs, the VX 8M puts up some very nice numbers. Sensitivity is a respectable 92 dB (1 watt @ 1 meter) and the recommended 260 watts of input power will drive the speaker to nearly 120 dB peak SPL. A passive crossover sits at 1.7 kHz; there is no bi-amp option for VX 8M. With a frequency response of 85 Hz to a whopping 35 kHz (-3 dB), even your dog will like the VX 8M.
The VX 8M’s are truly "fine wine" speakers, designed and built for those who expect uncompromising quality in every area.
Loren Alldrin
Reviewer.
To the Test
I've heard Tannoy concentric speakers in recording studio and live sound settings for many years, and I've been impressed with their quality. I had high expectations for the VX 8M, and it did not disappoint. I threw many different styles of music at this little speaker, and it handled them all with ease. Adjectives like “open,” “clear,” and “natural” spring to mind when you hear the VX 8M. This little speaker sounds big, like it's just a 12-inch hole in space with a much larger speaker hiding behind it.
Most notable is how the VX 8M handles the vocal range, where its clarity and accuracy is, in my opinion, unmatched. More than once the VX 8Ms reminded me of my studio engineering days—I felt like I was in front of a pair of very nice near-field monitors. Also worth noting is the VX 8M's top end, which is extended, silky, clear, and effortless.
Bass response is limited by nature of the driver and cabinet design, but low-end roll-off is well behaved and smooth. You can use the VX 8M without a subwoofer for voice range reinforcement, but a sub is a must for most music applications. Give the VX 8M a subwoofer and crank it up, and this little speaker can generate an impressive amount of fantastic sound.
Walking past a speaker can reveal a lot about its dispersion pattern. The VX 8M's 90-degree conical pattern is predictable and uncolored. Instead of hearing radical changes in the sound as you reach the edge of the horn's pattern, the VX 8M's high-frequency response just rolls off smoothly without artifacts or undue drama. As it should be.
The VX 8M is made in the United Kingdom, and its quality is unmistakable. From construction to sound to fit and finish, everything about the VX 8M reveals quality. The birch plywood enclosure is solid, well built and beautifully finished. Where most manufacturers put screws in wood, the VX 8M has machine screws into metal. This little speaker is built to last.
Old school
Today's self-powered loudspeakers rely on active processing, where compromises in acoustic design are “corrected” in the speaker itself. When these corrections are minimal and done well, an active speaker can sound fantastic. When they're heavy-handed or poorly implemented, the result is a processed, artificial sound.
Contrast this with the VX 8M, an “old-school' speaker that relies on impeccably designed drivers, enclosure and crossover to achieve its results. There's no computer on-board, no DSP, no filtering—you just get your input signal back again with smile-inducing sonic clarity. In outdoor settings, not once did I reach for an equalizer to correct the VX 8M's sound. The accuracy and honesty of the VX 8M speaker is truly refreshing.
Where does this little speaker make sense? It will excel as a front-fill speaker, or flown anywhere you need a bit of extra vocal clarity that your mains can't deliver. On stage, the VX 8M will spoil your musicians as a floor wedge or side fill. For smaller settings, a pair of VX 8Ms will fill the room with superb sound.
At a list price of $2,600 per pair, the VX 8M won't fit every application or budget. These are truly “fine wine” speakers, designed and built for those who expect uncompromising quality in every area. If that describes you, the mighty little Tannoy VX 8M will not disappoint.
