Founded in 1926 by engineer Guy R. Fountain in Dulwich, London, Tannoy is one of the oldest and most respected names in loudspeaker design. Originally called the Tulsemere Manufacturing Company, the brand adopted the name Tannoy in 1928 — a syllabic abbreviation of "tantalum alloy," a material used in rectifiers the company produced. The brand became so synonymous with public address systems in Britain that "tannoy" entered common English as a generic term for any PA announcement. During World War II, Tannoy PA systems were supplied to the British armed forces, and a Tannoy system was used at Buckingham Palace in 1945 to announce the end of hostilities.

Tannoy's most significant contribution to audio is the Dual Concentric driver, a design that places the tweeter at the acoustic center of the bass cone, creating a true point-source loudspeaker. This technology, developed by Tannoy engineer Ronnie H. Rackham, has defined the brand's products across decades. The flagship Prestige Gold Reference series — including the Westminster Royal GR, Canterbury GR, and Stirling GR — showcases the Dual Concentric driver in handcrafted cabinets aimed at audiophiles. On the professional side, Tannoy's studio monitors earned a place in legendary recording studios including Abbey Road, Air Studios, and Decca. The Super Gold Monitor (SGM) series pays homage to the monitors that shaped the sound of professional studios in the 1970s and 1980s, available in 10", 12", and 15" configurations. Tannoy also produces the Reveal series of compact studio monitors and a range of commercial and installed audio products including ceiling speakers and PA systems. The company is part of the Music Tribe family of brands, with roots in Coatbridge, Scotland, where manufacturing has been based since the 1970s.

Tannoy has 45 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Active & Passive Monitors, Speakers & Accessories, and Monitors & Accessories. Their gear is featured by 38 artists, with the strongest followings in Electronic, Rock, and Pop. Notable users include The Real Mike Dean, Andrew Huang, and Paul Epworth.