Spendor A6's Finally Arrived
- Thread starter MikeT.
- Start date
MikeT.
Displaced Irish Cajun
The Spendors are fast, I suspect much like the Harbeths from what I've read. Harbeth owners talk about resolution, detail and imaging and I've come to the conclusion that to reproduce the subtleties like these speakers do, the response and decay times must be incredibly fast so as not to "blur" individual character of each instrument or vocal nuance.
charles 1973
Super Member
I think the Spendor A6's are one of the better buy's today for a Transparent Realistic sounding speaker after doing considerable research last year for the most Transparent speaker in this price range, along with the Reference 3A Veena II and PMC FB1i Speakers. Although I went with the Reference 3A Veena II I'm sure any of those three would be very satisfying.
One thing with a speaker of this caliber is they need an amp and source with the same clean, transparent qualities to apreciate what they can do. But when you get it right, the results are worth the effort.
One thing with a speaker of this caliber is they need an amp and source with the same clean, transparent qualities to apreciate what they can do. But when you get it right, the results are worth the effort.
audiodon
Addicted Member
It seems like this new A line in general is a success.
It's a pretty cool trick to be able to balance inner detail against brightness and to be able to balance presence against forwardness.
These seem to get that balance just right.
Spendor's making their own tweeters now too.
I haven't personally heard the A6s, but the reports are uniformly good.
Don
It's a pretty cool trick to be able to balance inner detail against brightness and to be able to balance presence against forwardness.
These seem to get that balance just right.
Spendor's making their own tweeters now too.
I haven't personally heard the A6s, but the reports are uniformly good.
Don
MikeT.
Displaced Irish Cajun
As they run in and I listen more, I'm continually surprised by the nuance they are capable of bringing out. There have been numerous times when what I initially thought was a small bit of distortion is actually the musical effects of the singer or instrumentalist, amazing speakers. I never experienced this at home in any speaker before. I once heard some Martin Logan Sequel II's, with thousands of dollars of electronics behind them, in a hifi shop many years ago where I experienced the same things. I find my listening sessions now extend for hours.
I'm very, very pleased with them.
I'm very, very pleased with them.
Art K.
The Voodoo You Do!
As they run in and I listen more, I'm continually surprised by the nuance they are capable of bringing out. There have been numerous times when what I initially thought was a small bit of distortion is actually the musical effects of the singer or instrumentalist, amazing speakers. I never experienced this at home in any speaker before. I once heard some Martin Logan Sequel II's, with thousands of dollars of electronics behind them, in a hifi shop many years ago where I experienced the same things. I find my listening sessions now extend for hours.
I'm very, very pleased with them.
That's a wonderful place to be and congrats!
slippers-on
Music...let it move you!
As they run in and I listen more, I'm continually surprised by the nuance they are capable of bringing out. There have been numerous times when what I initially thought was a small bit of distortion is actually the musical effects of the singer or instrumentalist, amazing speakers. I never experienced this at home in any speaker before. I once heard some Martin Logan Sequel II's, with thousands of dollars of electronics behind them, in a hifi shop many years ago where I experienced the same things. I find my listening sessions now extend for hours.
I'm very, very pleased with them.
What speakers did you have before? Went back and looked at your system....it really is nice. I am glad you are having fun. How many hours on them now?
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MikeT.
Displaced Irish Cajun
Thanks Slippers-On, the Spendors replace a 20+ year old pair of KEF Q80's. I've finally been able to invest some money in updating my system after my daughters are finally done with college. The A6's have about 50 hours on them, maybe a little less, and the dealer I bought them from says they really open up after about 100+. I'm really having fun listening, actually its a pretty emotional experience at times after not being able to add anything new for a long time. Karma has been good apparently
slippers-on
Music...let it move you!
Thanks Slippers-On, the Spendors replace a 20+ year old pair of KEF Q80's. I've finally been able to invest some money in updating my system after my daughters are finally done with college. The A6's have about 50 hours on them, maybe a little less, and the dealer I bought them from says they really open up after about 100+. I'm really having fun listening, actually its a pretty emotional experience at times after not being able to add anything new for a long time. Karma has been good apparently
Oh that's great man....putting your kids though college. I will have to lift my glass of sweet tea in your honor....(sorry haven't had booze scene 1989....I was a mess back then...booze was breakfast, lunch and dinner before I got my self out the gutter and started flying right) You deserve those Spendors man. I noticed you got separates....do you like tubes? If so, you could put a tubed preamp up front to pair with your Parsound amp for a wonderful hybrid sound.
MikeT.
Displaced Irish Cajun
The toast with tea is appreciated, I've been a friend of Bill W's since 1982....was a real mess in the 70's.
I have been thinking, thinking hard about tubes and am afraid of them. I'm not much of a technician and it seems I read a lot about the maintenance required with them. I suppose I could ask my local hifi store for a home audition, but I've actually got a Parasound 2100 preamp on the way and am selling my Emotiva USP-1 which is good, but I find it a just a bit bright, not too much, just a bit. If the 2100 doesn't work out, the tube preamp might be a good option. I really like the high current capability and fast response of the 2125 amplifier.
slippers-on
Music...let it move you!
Yeah I had already been drinking 17 years before 1989...thats when I got out the gutter...LOL! Naw...you won't have maintenance with a tubed preamp...some fun with tube rolling but thats about it. Now with a tube power amp with a big power supply that might be a different story. I've never had experience with the Parsound New Classic line but have with the HALO series and me like. So im sure the NC line is also good....hmmm a 2100, man you really are having fun! Yeah there are some good tube pre's out there.
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audiodon
Addicted Member
Tubes shouldn't be feared.
What people do is try and get a toe into the water on the cheap and they have problems that seem over their head. Then they tend to shout about unreliability and write warnings frequently in capital letters about voltages that can kill you. Foolishness!
That's the wrong way to do it.
You find a reputable private seller who'll have your back or a reputable dealer and you'll be fine and learn what you need to learn.
Spendors are tube friendly.
What people do is try and get a toe into the water on the cheap and they have problems that seem over their head. Then they tend to shout about unreliability and write warnings frequently in capital letters about voltages that can kill you. Foolishness!
That's the wrong way to do it.
You find a reputable private seller who'll have your back or a reputable dealer and you'll be fine and learn what you need to learn.
Spendors are tube friendly.
MikeT.
Displaced Irish Cajun
Huge appreciation for your calm and sensible response Audiodon. Very, very helpful. I keep trying to talk myself into thinking I'm done upgrading but it's not working.
Slippers-on suggested I would enjoy tube rolling (I had to look up what that meant), so actually it sounds like a tube preamp might allow for some experimentation without having to by new hardware.....
Looks like I will have some research to do, but that's part of the fun.
Permanent Waves
Digital Man
Congrats on the speakers and the 28 years! :thmbsp:
Spendor makes some good stuff; I like the A6's (and they aren't even my preferred sound signature); they are particularly good with vocals and very smooth overall.
And the Spendor SP100R2's are one of my favorite speakers for classical music.
Spendor makes some good stuff; I like the A6's (and they aren't even my preferred sound signature); they are particularly good with vocals and very smooth overall.
And the Spendor SP100R2's are one of my favorite speakers for classical music.
MikeT.
Displaced Irish Cajun
Thanks, I'm listening now to Alchemy - Dire Straits Live on LP, but also love Diana Krall, Allen Toussaint, Horace Silver and mostly any kind of jazz, except Pat Metheny, Chick Corea and Keith Jarrett (a little too intense for me). I've never heard the Spendor SP100R's, a three way. It seems like I've always gone for the two-way loudspeakers, something about them I've never be able to put my finger on. The A6's are smooth but also remarkable in the detail they bring out and the timbre of instrumental reproduction.
audiodon
Addicted Member
I find that the refined sound of tube gear seems to appeal if you listen for long periods due to the lack of listener fatigue.
If you want it right up front and quickly, SS is the way to go. It takes a while for tubes to kind of heat up and deliver what they can, or for you to adjust to what magic they provide, depending on your perspective.
These are, of course, generalizations.
From a circuit perspective, simple tube circuits do no harm. For SS, the circuitry must be quite complex to do no harm. It can be done with either technology, but for my money, it's tubes. I know how to fix 'em though.
If you want it right up front and quickly, SS is the way to go. It takes a while for tubes to kind of heat up and deliver what they can, or for you to adjust to what magic they provide, depending on your perspective.
These are, of course, generalizations.
From a circuit perspective, simple tube circuits do no harm. For SS, the circuitry must be quite complex to do no harm. It can be done with either technology, but for my money, it's tubes. I know how to fix 'em though.
slippers-on
Music...let it move you!
Thanks, I'm listening now to Alchemy - Dire Straits Live on LP, but also love Diana Krall, Allen Toussaint, Horace Silver and mostly any kind of jazz, except Pat Metheny, Chick Corea and Keith Jarrett (a little too intense for me). I've never heard the Spendor SP100R's, a three way. It seems like I've always gone for the two-way loudspeakers, something about them I've never be able to put my finger on. The A6's are smooth but also remarkable in the detail they bring out and the timbre of instrumental reproduction.
Nothing like a good simple two way with a simple crossover.