Tannoy I Bespoke HiFi cabinet

For a true audiophile, a custom HiFi cabinet is the final piece of the puzzle — a way to bring together high-performance equipment and design-led craftsmanship in a unified whole.

This bespoke HiFi unit was built with exacting precision, allowing just 0.5mm of clearance for the client’s amplifier and audio components. The back panel is carefully routed with ventilation slots and cable access to accommodate the heat and wiring demands of a powerful valve amplifier — all without compromising on the clean, architectural lines of the piece.

The speakers it was designed to sit between date from the 1970s and were made from solid walnut. The brief was to create a record player cabinet that would match not only the tone and grain of the speakers, but also their longevity. Built entirely from solid walnut, the cabinet uses traditional sliding dovetail joinery — a method that ensures strength while allowing the timber to move naturally with heat and humidity. This is essential for any handmade HiFi cabinet designed to house valve equipment. I discuss this and other considerations in my linked article.

The piece was finished with a rich wax blend from Tannoy, the original speaker manufacturer — a subtle detail that connects the new with the old. Whether used as a vinyl storage unit, record player stand or central HiFi cabinet, this piece brings together acoustic function, custom furniture design, and enduring material integrity. I discuss the commissioning process and design considerations in more detail in my linked article.