The Tannoy Revolution XT8F is the largest model in this series and has the ability to produce powerful sound quality, well suited to be used in a large listening room. The Revolution XT range is one of Tannoy’s most successful series, providing its users with exceptional sonic performance and at a modest price. Like its other talented smaller siblings, the Tannoy Revolution XT8F will need an equally remarkable amplifier to truly make these floor-standers shine.
To find the right amp to match these fantastic floor-standing speakers will require more knowledge of their sonic characteristics. Learning about the Tannoy Revolution XT8F strengths and limitations will further help to identify compatible amplifiers. Once we have this information, we will list out to you the best amplifiers which you can go for and partner them with your Revolution XT8F speakers.
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Sonic Characteristics and Strengths of Tannoy Revolution XT8F
The Tannoy Revolution XT8F are large floor-standing speakers that are elegantly designed and have a premium feel to them. They will blend nicely into any listening room and can be aesthetically matched with most modern amplifiers. We do find that the XT8F looks more exquisite without the speaker grille on. Without the grille, you will instantly notice 2 large speaker drivers, one of which will be the coveted 8″ (200mm) Dual Concentric drive, and right below it will be an 8″ (200mm) mid/bass driver. A 1″ (25mm) Linear PEI dome tweeter is situated right at the center of the Dual Concentric drive. It has a downward-firing bass port which does allow us to place these speakers closer to the walls.
The frequency response of the Tannoy Revolution XT8F is impressive, it has a range of 34Hz-32kHz (-6dB) which means it can produce very deep bass frequency. The speaker sensitivity is high, it is rated at 91dB, and with a nominal impedance of 8 Ohms, the Revolution XT8F is actually rather easy to drive. The recommended amplifier power is between 25 Watts to 200 Watts and we will suggest going with amplifiers that have power outputs of around 100W per channel or more will be ideal. There is also a high probability the XT8Fs will not need support from a subwoofer.
More Details at Amazon – TANNOY Revolution XT 8F Floorstanding Speaker
These are enthusiastic performers with plenty of attacks and impeccable timings which makes listening to them very enjoyable. The Tannoy Revolution XT8F speakers are articulate and engaging, the moment they start to sing, we were all ears and couldn’t stop feeding them song after song. The midrange reproduction sounded natural, the highs and mids blended together seamlessly, probably due to the Dual Concentric drive design. The highs are detailed and smooth but can be quite bright sounding at higher volumes.
The Tannoy Revolution XT8F can accurately deliver the low frequencies and shows how punchy these speakers can get. The bass has weight and scale, the deep low-end reproduction is powerful, in short, the bass performance is just amazing. They provide the added punch and impact to an already entertaining music presentation. The low ends performance also helps with giving the sound stage more presence and solidity to the stereo imaging. The imaging is precise and highly defined as well. At this price point, it is really difficult to nitpick the Tannoy Revolution XT8F floor-standers.
They are a fantastic pair of speakers which can handle almost all sorts of music and deliver them to you in an entertaining presentation that will make you stand up and start dancing. Even for critical listeners, there are enough subtleties and refinement to satisfy them, not to mention, there is also precision in the delivery. The overall sound reproduction of the Tannoy Revolution XT8F is neutral with a hint of brightness but never reaches a level of harshness or overly bright. We have the details and data we need to start listing out the best amplifiers that you can go for and match them with your Tannoy Revolution XT8F floor-standing speakers.
Tannoy Revolution XT8F Specifications
- Speaker Type: 2.5-way (down-firing bass port)
- Drive Units: 8″ (200mm) Dual Concentric driver with 1″ (25mm) Linear PEI dome tweeter at the center, 8″ (200mm) mid/bass driver
- Frequency Response (-6dB): 34Hz–32kHz
- Recommended Amplifier Power: 25-200 Watts
- Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms
- Sensitivity (2.83V/1m): 91dB
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1080mm x 317mm x 345mm | 42.5″ x 12.5″ x 13.6″ (including plinth)
- Weight: 19.9kg (43.9lbs)
Best Amplifiers to match with Tannoy Revolution XT8F
The Parasound HINT 6 of the Halo series will be one of the best amplifiers to match with your Tannoy Revolution XT8F. It is a very powerful integrated amp with 160 Watts into 8 Ohms (RMS) and 240 Watts into 4 Ohms (RMS), with 45 amps peak per channel, allowing the Parasound HINT 6 to easily drive these Tannoy speakers. The energy it brings and the enthusiasm when delivering music provide an engaging listening experience and there is plenty of details produced by the amp as well. The Parasound integrated amplifier is a suitable match with the Tannoy Revolution XT8F without making them sound cringe at very high volumes.
More Details at Amazon – Parasound HINT 6 Halo Integrated Amp
Peachtree Audio Nova150 is a powerful integrated amplifier that is modestly priced and will match well with the Tannoy Revolution XT8F floor-standing speakers. The rated power output of the Nova150 is 150 Watts per channel (8 Ohms) and 250 Watts per channel (4 Ohms), certainly enough to drive the XT8F speakers with ease. It uses the latest generation of ICEPower power amp and along with the updated preamplifier, provides a warmer sound quality than the previous versions. The bass control of the Peachtree Audio Nova150 amp is amazing as well, tightly delivered with ample low-end oomph.
More Details at Amazon – Peachtree Audio Nova150 with DAC
The Arcam SA30 of their HDA range is another amazing integrated amp with plenty of power to boot. It uses a unique Class G amplification where it taps on Pure Class A for low-power signals and goes Class AB for higher power demands. Providing your Tannoy Revolution XT8F floor-standers with high-quality power, not to mention, the 120/220 Watts per channel into 8/4 Ohms can easily make these speakers sing. The sonic characteristics of the Arcam SA30 are well-matched with the Revolution XT8F, it is smooth, dynamic and the scale of delivery is impressive with impactful deep bass reproductions.
The Marantz PM-KI Ruby is one of the best amplifiers ever made and tuned by sound master Ken Ishiwata and his team. You will be assured of the finest sound quality that the Marantz can muster for stereo music playback. It is a muscular amplifier as well, with 100 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms and 200 Watts per channel into 4 Ohms, there is no doubt that the Marantz PM-KI Ruby can drive the Tannoy Revolution XT8F speakers. The PM-KI Ruby is a revealing amplifier that can easily deliver intricate and subtle details without sounding clinical, thanks to its musicality and sweet warmth.
More Information at Amazon – Marantz PM-KI Ruby
Tube amplifiers will also be ideal choices for your Tannoy Revolution XT8F, you might want to check out Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III. It is one of the most capable all-valve integrated amplifiers in their price range, with a power output of 100 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms. The Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III is capable of delivering such vivid and realistic performance, with the support of the Tannoy Revolution XT8F speakers, they produce an involving and engaging music listening experience. The confidence of the XT8F floor-standers also helps with providing a bit more energy to the overall performance. They will be an amazing pair for turntable users too.
If your budget is tight, you can check out Yamaha A-S801, it is a musical-sounding integrated amplifier with accuracy and transparency. It also has the muscles to drive your Tannoy Revolution XT8F but it may sound a bit overly bright and we suggest listening to them first. Going for HiFi separates such as pre/power amp combo will also be an excellent choice. You can check out the Parasound Halo series and Rega amps, going this route may be costlier and the advantage is that you can fine-tune the sound quality to your liking by pairing different HiFi components.
More Information at Amazon – Yamaha A-S801SL Amplifier
To Sum It Up
The Tannoy Revolution XT8F are exceptional speakers worthy to be pair with the best and the matching amplifiers listed here are some of them. We will suggest that you audition them first before making the decision. By hearing them out, you will be able to find which amplifier sounds the best to you. You can also use this list as a reference when searching for other brands or models, you might want to audition a few of the amps on the list first for a more accurate comparison.
