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Spendor A6's Finally Arrived

MikeT.

MikeT.

Displaced Irish Cajun
My news Spendor A6's are home. Finally bought new speakers after living with my KEF's for 20+ years. FedEx delivered them yesterday and I'm really, really happy with my decision. I'm running them in as recommended before settling in for some serious listening, but played 5 or so of my reference albums yesterday and am hearing stuff I've never heard before. These speakers are incredibly well balanced, fast, detailed but not overbearing in any way (expect when the recording is overbearing). My KEF Q80's covered some of the nuances these speakers bring out.
More later with pictures, but so far they're amazing. :banana::D
P.S. They were part of my " 28th anniversary gift" to my wife........she's incredible!:tresbon:
 
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Me want:yes: Looking forward to hearing more reviews from you. A big congratulations to you. Those are really nice speakers. Great reviews.
Enjoy!:music:

...r1
 
Spendor A6 First Impressions and Pics

Thanks for the comments. I've only been listening for a few hours total but my original comments are holding.....fast, delicate, with no contribution of their own as some others have commented on Spendors....but capable of tremendous dynamics when called upon. They Parasound 2125 is driving them just fine. I was initially worried the electronics would not be up to the quality of the speakers, but the A6's seem to be pretty comfortable with my other gear.
I think the characteristic of A6 that most impresses me, to my ear, is the way that each instrument or vocal is revealed in its unique way. Hard to explain but my KEF's, while good, splashed a good cymbal or attacked a rim shot with accuracy, the Spendor's reveal the subtleties "around" the each note, each pedal push of the piano.....air or space allowed for ALL of the instruments and vocals to be heard in what seems to be correct proportion. Lead guitar and rhythm are detailed distinctly. I can not only hear the high hat cymbal being hit with the drumstick but hear the edges of the cymbals close in on one another.
I'm pretty blown away. I really stretched to get the best possible speaker I could after 20+ years and I couldn't be happier right now. After about 10 to 12 hours of run in, I can begin to hear some small differences, they seem to be getting "smoother" but without a loss of definition in any way.
Hope the pictures get uploaded OK.
I plan to post more as I listen...:D
I've always believed speakers make the most difference in a system, the Spendors reinforce that belief in spades.
 

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Pictures did not seem to upload very well. Will try again later.
Speakers are still great.
 
Sounds like you are having lots of fun....new speakers are a blast especially Spendor... Congrats. I don't know what type of music you like, but if you can spare a few buck, order the" B-Tribe 5" CD....those Spendors will love you back....they will reward you with lots of romance, I promise.
 
slippers-on said:
Sounds like you are having lots of fun....new speakers are a blast especially Spendor... Congrats. I don't know what type of music you like, but if you can spare a few buck, order the" B-Tribe 5" CD....those Spendors will love you back....they will reward you with lots of romance, I promise.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I listen to almost everything. Some of the albums today...
Allen Toussaiant - The Bright Mississippi
Diana Krall - Live in Paris
Little Feat - Waiting for Columbus
James Taylor - Live
Frank Sinatra
Marc Cohen
Phoebe Snow

Better pictures uploaded. I checked out B-Tribe 5....I'm up for it.
 

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mtaudio said:
Thanks, I listen to almost everything. Some of the albums today...
Allen Toussaiant - The Bright Mississippi
Diana Krall - Live in Paris
Little Feat - Waiting for Columbus
James Taylor - Live
Frank Sinatra
Marc Cohen
Phoebe Snow

Better pictures uploaded. I checked out B-Tribe 5....I'm up for it.
Click to expand...

Beutiful Spendors....how about a front shot of the whole system? I'm a sucker for audio porn.:yes:

I like every body on your list.....but have not listened to Little Feat in years. I love Phoebe....especially her first album. Live in Paris is incredible! The combination of Clayton on bass and Hamilton on drums is always good. And who does not like Sinatra....especially "Live at the Sands"

I like Spendor....they have a way of letting the passion of the performers shine through. Good choice in speakers...
 
I have a pair of Canton Vento 830.2's. They too are an incredible speaker. Lets you hear the music the way it was laid down on the tracks. If its a poor recording, well the Vento's give it to you as a poor recording...if its audiophile quality you get all the glory. The speakers go incredibly low for its size. Full 3D sound...very good front to back depth.
 
slippers-on said:
I have a pair of Canton Vento 830.2's. They too are an incredible speaker. Lets you hear the music the way it was laid down on the tracks. If its a poor recording, well the Vento's give it to you as a poor recording...if its audiophile quality you get all the glory. The speakers go incredibly low for its size. Full 3D sound...very good front to back depth.
Click to expand...

I listened to Cantons a long time ago and as I recall very, very accurate reproduction. Like the Cantons, the Spendors deliver bad recordings too. My Little Feat album which I always loved for the dynamics, guitar and lyrics disappointed through the A6's...too much compression actually it seems.

Here are a couple of more pictures. Thanks for your comments. I'm listening to Annie Lenox at the moment, wonderful recording. I can't wait to get the placement fine tuned so the image goes 3D, hopefully like the Cantons.

Keep enjoying and listening.
 

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slippers-on said:
very very nice. Have you tried bringing the A6's a little forward of the audio gear?
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Not yet, the dealer suggested I might wait I til after the run-in period before fine tuning. I'll try them forward of the electronics too. I've got them about where Spendor suggests but a little forward from where they are probably won't have too much negative impact on the bass but might get closer to the 3D imaging you talk about with your Cantons.

Listening to a new 180 gram pressing of Bill Evans Trio, Waltz for Debby. Really fine recording, great music.
 
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fender23 said:
Indeed, nice looking speakers. Whatcha got in that case leanin' against the wall. Possibly a Martin?
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Thanks for the kind words, not a Martin....just a Seagull, not in the same league. I much better at listening than playing:music:
 
roadie1 said:
May I ask where you were able to find them?

...r1
Click to expand...

I got the name of a dealer in San Antonio, TX from Bluebird Music who distributes them in North America. The dealer is Galen Carol Audio, very nice guy who's been in the high end hifi business for 30+ years. Made an appointment to audition them. He had a pair on the way, ran them in before I got there, spent about an hour with him listening to all kinds of music and then ordered them a couple of days later. Bluebird Music shipped them directly to me in Texas. Speakers were doubled-boxed very well, and got them as a paired, matched set in about five days via FedEx.
Bluebird Music was very responsive to my inquiry and found the dealer close to me. Still drove five hours to SanAntonio from Dallas, but it was worth it. I love these speakers. I can't remember the last time I sat listening in front of my system for over three hours straight. :music:
 
mtaudio said:
Not yet, the dealer suggested I might wait I til after the run-in period before fine tuning. I'll try them forward of the electronics too. I've got them about where Spendor suggests but a little forward from where they are probably won't have too much negative impact on the bass but might get closer to the 3D imaging you talk about with your Cantons.

Listening to a new 180 gram pressing of Bill Evans Trio, Waltz for Debby. Really fine recording, great music.
Click to expand...

Waltz For Debbie....you bringing out the good stuff!

I've been listening to B-Tribe 5 for a while tonight. Over and over. This CD has a lot of emotional rhythms the way I like it,.....and what I really like about the Cantons is how they pass the passion and energy of the artist through his craft, on to the listener...Spendor does the same thing....wait until you get them babies run in fully and they evolve....you will see what I mean, those babies will be very romantic with certain music.
 
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mtaudio said:
I got the name of a dealer in San Antonio, TX from Bluebird Music who distributes them in North America. The dealer is Galen Carol Audio, very nice guy who's been in the high end hifi business for 30+ years. Made an appointment to audition them. He had a pair on the way, ran them in before I got there, spent about an hour with him listening to all kinds of music and then ordered them a couple of days later. Bluebird Music shipped them directly to me in Texas. Speakers were doubled-boxed very well, and got them as a paired, matched set in about five days via FedEx.
Bluebird Music was very responsive to my inquiry and found the dealer close to me. Still drove five hours to SanAntonio from Dallas, but it was worth it. I love these speakers. I can't remember the last time I sat listening in front of my system for over three hours straight. :music:
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the info. I'll feel safer dealing with them if need be knowing a little bit about their reputation.

...r1
 
slippers-on said:
Waltz For Debbie....you bringing out the good stuff!

I've been listening to B-Tribe 5 for a while tonight. Over and over. This CD has a lot of emotional rhythms the way I like it,.....and what I really like about the Cantons is how they pass the passion and energy of the artist through his craft, on to the listener...Spendor does the same thing....wait until you get them babies run in fully and they evolve....you will see what I mean, those babies will be very romantic with certain music.
Click to expand...

I think emotion, rhythm and energy IS the music and when you get a speaker that communicates these things well it has the ability to pull you INTO the music and as you say, experience the passion of the musician. When you get a speaker, like the Cantons, Spendors and a few others I've heard which surprise you with detail and evenness where you hear astonishing detail of every instrument in the performance, it's not only head turning technically, but for me pulls an emotional string that is very moving. :music:
 
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