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The TFX 5.1 is an upgraded version of Tannoy’s previous mid-range speaker system, the SFX 5.1. The previous version gained a Budget Buy award, so we were keen to how the new TFX 5.1’s revamped powered subwoofer, revised satellite designs and all new speaker drivers stacked up.
The satellite speakers are barely larger than a coffee mug. The mixture of angles and curves gives each satellite a modern look, offset nicely by a glossy black finish. Tannoy also makes the TFX in white, but we think the black version looks much better. The small, recessed binding posts on each speaker can make fitting speaker wires a bit tricky, but only if you’re using thick wire – the thin cables included in the box are much easier to feed into position. The set also comes with wall brackets, so you won’t need to buy additional tools to wall-mount each satellite.
The subwoofer has spikes on the bottom, which are meant to stop it transmitting vibrations to the floor. The spikes are pretty sharp, so you’ll need to be careful on wooden floors. With power and phase controls, as well as volume and crossover dials, you can control the sub’s output directly from its enclosure. The subwoofer has line level RCA inputs as well as stereo binding posts; you can plug a single RCA cable from a surround sound amplifier’s LFE output into the sub’s left channel if you want to use the amplifier’s crossover, or use the stereo line in or speaker binding posts if you want to use the sub’s crossover. It’s a versatile set of inputs which will suit most amplifiers.
Once we’d set the system up and started playing a Blu-ray disc, it was clear that the TFX system was punching well above its price. Films burst out of every corner of the room, with surprising amounts of volume for such a small system. The centre speaker was always clear and loud enough for us to hear speech clearly, even during explosive action sequences.
The entire sound spectrum was clear and precise, with a powerful mid-range and crisp highs that were never too sharp. Tannoy’s WideBand technology is designed to extend tweeter response beyond 70kHz. This is beyond the audible range of the human ear, but it also gives enough headroom to avoid speaker distortion, which can occur when harsh notes or high-pitched frequencies are played. In practice, this system works well, letting us enjoy tyre squeal and loud gunshots without pushing the speakers beyond their limits.
Despite its compact size, the subwoofer pumped out impressively powerful bass that should be ample for a medium-sized living room. It sounded warm, rather than boomy, and we only had the level turned up to 50% – there’s plenty of extra rumble in reserve if you want it.
Even when the system was turned up to the point that we were getting complaints from the next room, the TFX’s sound quality didn’t degrade, so you’ll be annoying the neighbours long before you reach the limits of the set.
At £350, the TFX is excellent value for anyone looking to overhaul their home cinema speakers. Considering the price, we had absolutely no criticisms in terms of sound quality and the design is spot on – it’s a deserving Best Buy winner.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Rating | ***** |
| Award | Best Buy |
| Speaker configuration | 5.1 |
| RMS power output | 600W |
| Power consumption standby | 1W |
| Power consumption on | 8W |
| Analogue inputs | satellites: binding posts, subwoofer: stereo phono, stereo binding posts |
| Digital inputs | none |
| Dock connector | none |
| Headphone output | none |
| Satellite cable lengths | 26m uncut |
| Cable type | replaceable (speaker wire) |
| Controls located | rear of subwoofer |
| Digital processing | none |
| Tone controls | none |
| Price | £350 |
| Supplier | http://www.audiovisualonline.co.uk |
| Details | www.tannoy.com |
