Tower Speaker Reviews

Subwoofer: TS 500
Connections: Line-level stereo
Enclosure Type: Sealed
Woofer (size in inches, type): 12, paper cone
Power Rating (watts): 500 RMS
Crossover Bypass: Yes
Available Finishes: Gloss Black, Gloss Silver
Dimensions (H x W x D, inches): 18.9 x 8.7 x 14.9
Weight (pounds): 33.1
Price: $1,100

These listings are based on the manufacturer's stated specs; the HT Labs box below indicates the gear's performance on our test bench.

Speaker: Highline 500 Tower
Type: Two-way
Tweeter (size in inches, type): 0.75, titanium dome
Midrange (size in inches, type): 4, multifiber paper cone
Woofer (size in inches, type): 4, multifiber paper cone
Nominal Impedance (ohms): 8
Recommended Amp Power (watts): 25–100
Available Finishes: Gloss Black, Gloss Silver
Dimensions (H x W x D, inches): 45.69 x 8.23 x 7.76 (with base)
Weight (pounds): 30.8
Price: $900/each

Speaker: Highline 500 Centre and Satellite
Type: Two-way
Tweeter (size in inches, type): 0.75, titanium dome
Midrange (size in inches, type): 4, multifiber paper cone
Woofer (size in inches, type): 4, multifiber paper cone
Nominal Impedance (ohms): 8
Recommended Amp Power (watts): 25–100
Available Finishes: Gloss Black, Gloss Silver
Dimensions (H x W x D, inches): 23.34 x 5.98 x 4.88 *
Weight (pounds): 14.3
Price: $720/each + $189/stand/each
* Height and width are reversed for center

Ratings: Tannoy Arena Highline 500 Speaker System

Build Quality: 95
• Gleaming, glossy extruded-aluminum enclosures
• Titanium tweeters, paper woofers
• Solid metal stands

Value: 93
• A system retailing in the mid-four-figures is not exactly cheap
• But the innovation, build quality, and performance are worth the price

Features: 95
• WideBand tweeters for extended highs
• Tweeters and woofers in coaxial array
• Sub is adjustable for movie or music use

Performance: 91
• Open, airy, detailed when given clean power
• Pleasing reproduction of two-channel material

Ergonomics: 95
• Elegant profile enhances but won't dominate room
• Sub minimizes cabinet width while still delivering great bass

Overall Rating: 93
Tannoy goes over the top with extended treble response in the Arena Highline 500 tower and satellite speakers. Once you've heard this well-organized and revealing top end, with its abundant detail and imaging, it may be hard to enjoy anything else.

General Information
Arena Highline 500 Tower Speaker, $900/each; Arena Highline 500 Centre/Satellite Speaker, $720/each
Arena Highline 500 Satellite Floor Stand, $189/each; Arena TS 500 Subwoofer, $1,100
Tannoy North America
(519) 745-1158
www.tannoy.com