During World War II, Tannoy was commissioned to produce and distribute all the communication systems used by British military bases. Due to this, “Tannoy” became a generic term for all PA systems in the British Commonwealth. This lead to the phrase “Over the Tannoy”  which means an announcement made over a PA system.  This generic brand reference continues today. “Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler recently orchestrated an impromptu karaoke session over the Tannoy system of a Californian branch of the Home Depot hardware store, according to staff.” http://www.nme.com/news/aerosmith/49445 and is equivalent to the generic branding of Kleenex or Coke or Velcro that we in the US are more familiar with.

Tannoy is well known for its Dual Concentric speaker design which places the tweeter behind the low frequency driver (co-axially) although Tannoy is not the only speaker manufacturer to design coaxial drivers (Altec and Kef being just two notable examples). The dual concentric speaker causes a natural time alignment of all audible frequencies that must be corrected by complicated networks and filters otherwise. “Unlike ordinary drive units, the Dual Concentric™ is effectively two drivers properly merged into one, where the high-frequency unit is positioned on the back of the low frequency driver to ensure that they are on the same acoustic axis. With this system, the sound energy is propagated from the same point and delivered through the centre of the low frequency cone – a true point source.” http://www.tannoy.com/AboutUs.aspx

This design from the 40′s is still used, admired and highly desired today.

In the last 50 years, Cerwin-Vega has grown from a small group of engineers headed by the legendary Gene Czerwinski into one of the foremost loudspeaker companies. Cerwin-Vega speakers have been used by Pro Audio professionals, Hi-Fi enthusiasts and Mobile Audio fans and has earned an almost cult-like devotion of customer loyalty.

In 1954, Gene Czerwinski, an aerospace engineer, founded Cerwin-Vega. Gene’s goal was to reproduce the live musical experience based on high-efficiency drivers, durability, and a “value for money products.” CV began as Vega Associates and grew when it introduced 18” sound systems that could produce 130dB at 30 Hz.  In 1957 Vega introduced the world’s first solid state amplifier, rated at 125 RMS. The amplifier’s circuit was influenced by a 10,000-watt sonar amp Gene designed for Bendix Corp. In the 60’s Cerwin-Vega became a supplier of loudspeakers and system designs to many major manufacturers including; Fender, Acoustic, Sunn and Vox. In 1974, the movie “Earthquake” premiered with the innovative “Sensurround”. It was the first time audio was  integrated into the movie experience through special effects. The concept required large powerful bass cabinets, which would provide very low frequencies in order to shake the movie theater, thus simulating a real earthquake. For this purpose, the “E” bass horns and woofers were developed. These woofers were 18” versions that were folded into a horn configuration. The internal path length of the horn was 6 feet with a cutoff frequency of 33 Hz. Sensitivity of the system was an incredible 106 dB at 1 watt / 1 meter. “Sensurround” technology and Cerwin-Vega were honored an Academy Award for Special Technical Achievement.

more about the History of CV

Aquaplas is a sound damping elastic used to provide greater bass control and more accurate woofer movement. Aqauplas has extremely high energy dissipation qualities that result in noise and vibration suppression. Yes once again, what goes around comes around. What was once old has become new again.

You can read all about the DD66000 at Home Theater Review

http://www.jbl.com/EN-US/AboutUs/History/Pages/History.aspx

May 2012: Take a look at this new video JBL made detailing their history.