The Spendor Thread..
- Thread starter Bigerik
- Start date
Art K.
The Voodoo You Do!
I do not, but I have read nothing but great things about them. The mid/bass driver material in my A6R was developed for the D7 originally and then became part of the upgrade from the A6 to the A6R...I do believe.
MikeT.
Displaced Irish Cajun
It's how a lot of folks feel about their Spendors. Congrats on the A6's. I've had mine for about a year and my feelings haven't changed. I still shake my head in disbelief occasionally. I'm still gushing after a year.
audiodon
Addicted Member
It's interesting that you both bring that listening to the music issue up.
Criticisms of Spendor speakers often highlight the fact that their neutrality exposes the sonic nature of the upstream components. While some don't understand that this is the case, others look at the purchase of Spendors as a slippery slope that would force system upgrades.
Whether that's a good thing depends on your perspective I guess.
Criticisms of Spendor speakers often highlight the fact that their neutrality exposes the sonic nature of the upstream components. While some don't understand that this is the case, others look at the purchase of Spendors as a slippery slope that would force system upgrades.
Whether that's a good thing depends on your perspective I guess.
Lee Harvey
Well-Known Member
Those look really nice with the Exposure gear driving them! :yes:
A marriage made in heaven! And those Exposure mono blocks are to die for.
Art K.
The Voodoo You Do!
They generally show together as they are both distributed by Jay at Bluebird Music. He also usually shows with Van den Hul cables. I prefer Chord with this combination but VdH is great as well. The D102mkIII from VdH would make a great interconnect match along with D352 speaker cable.
audiodon
Addicted Member
I just had some fun with a friend.
He's demo'ing some used Spendor S9 speakers. These are pretty much full range three way speakers that may have pioneered the look of Spendor towers now. They are about ten years old, but in very good shape. They're a bit wider than my A9s because they have a single 8" driver for the LF and the rear firing port is wood where later refining made that port a composite with spikes on it.\
The S9 speakers have pretty good photos in this expired ad I stumbled across:
http://dcn6dj2nji5qr.cloudfront.net...sic-british-speaker-2013-09-01-speakers-33351
They're the descendant of the FL9, but may have created the form-factor that Spendor is now using for towers.
Being a former soundman for bands, I do tech because I can but my first love is optimizing systems in rooms. My friend's room is probably about 14' x 25' if you consider the partially partitioned front entryway part of the room.
Well, over three quick listening and repositioning sessions, I got the system to go from performing fairly well to properly scaled and fabulous, with a true stereo image hanging well above the speakers, as well as forward and behind the speakers. The spikes aren't on yet, we've tipped the speakers back with some marble stone samples in the house as examples for a kitchen renovation.
Also, I brought over one of my tube integrated amps, the HK hot rod as shown in this thread: http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=416045
Internet rumor mongering says these speakers like big power SS amps, but that's not my experience in this environment. We took out the big power SS amp and put this tube amp in and it really lit up the speakers. Then there was a little bit of pushing them closer to the back wall for proper bass loading.
The final piece that really dialed them in was introducing a powered subwoofer for that bottom bottom only. Even though this was a cheap one and I couldn't dial it in exactly the way I like it because the lowest crossover frequency was too high, it really gave the big instruments their proper weight in the mix while still providing the best of the full range speaker experience. Within those parameters and with that subwoofer, I still think it's a touch too low in amplitude, but non-directionality in the subwoofer is preserved. At a higher amplitude, you might be able to localize it.
These speakers are not new, but the are the proper scale for the room and work well in that environment. Plus, I had a blast being given permission to play and getting good results.
He's demo'ing some used Spendor S9 speakers. These are pretty much full range three way speakers that may have pioneered the look of Spendor towers now. They are about ten years old, but in very good shape. They're a bit wider than my A9s because they have a single 8" driver for the LF and the rear firing port is wood where later refining made that port a composite with spikes on it.\
The S9 speakers have pretty good photos in this expired ad I stumbled across:
http://dcn6dj2nji5qr.cloudfront.net...sic-british-speaker-2013-09-01-speakers-33351
They're the descendant of the FL9, but may have created the form-factor that Spendor is now using for towers.
Being a former soundman for bands, I do tech because I can but my first love is optimizing systems in rooms. My friend's room is probably about 14' x 25' if you consider the partially partitioned front entryway part of the room.
Well, over three quick listening and repositioning sessions, I got the system to go from performing fairly well to properly scaled and fabulous, with a true stereo image hanging well above the speakers, as well as forward and behind the speakers. The spikes aren't on yet, we've tipped the speakers back with some marble stone samples in the house as examples for a kitchen renovation.
Also, I brought over one of my tube integrated amps, the HK hot rod as shown in this thread: http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=416045
Internet rumor mongering says these speakers like big power SS amps, but that's not my experience in this environment. We took out the big power SS amp and put this tube amp in and it really lit up the speakers. Then there was a little bit of pushing them closer to the back wall for proper bass loading.
The final piece that really dialed them in was introducing a powered subwoofer for that bottom bottom only. Even though this was a cheap one and I couldn't dial it in exactly the way I like it because the lowest crossover frequency was too high, it really gave the big instruments their proper weight in the mix while still providing the best of the full range speaker experience. Within those parameters and with that subwoofer, I still think it's a touch too low in amplitude, but non-directionality in the subwoofer is preserved. At a higher amplitude, you might be able to localize it.
These speakers are not new, but the are the proper scale for the room and work well in that environment. Plus, I had a blast being given permission to play and getting good results.
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Sound Dragon
Yawns and sets his couch on fire!
Can the Spendor fans give me an idea of what the Spendor sound is and if there are large changes in the sound through different incarnations. Is their a difference between modern Spendor and vintage Spendor?
frperdurabo
AK Member
I can only speak about my Sp1s, but here goes: Think classic BBC monitor. An LS3/5a with more extended treble and bass, without the mid-bass bump. If you're local (on LI?) you're welcome to PM me to come over for a listening session. Bring your own sources/amps, if you like, too. If you need another excuse, remember: no sales tax on clothing in Jersey.
Added:
This offer is open to any AKers in the tri-state area.
Added:
This offer is open to any AKers in the tri-state area.
MikeT.
Displaced Irish Cajun
One of the descriptions of Spendor is "they do nothing wrong". I've heard this from several people. The newer Spendors might have a little more detailed midrange and high end but they don't jump out at you. The reproduction of instrumental timbre is incredible for their price range.
My listening sessions have extended considerably since the A6's came home.
Comments from other Spendor owners would lead me to believe they have been pretty consistent in their characteristics over the years.
davidro
Lunatic Member
Mike do u feel older Spendors sound a little darker than the recent line ups? that's what i hear from many ppl.
Art K.
The Voodoo You Do!
Definitely agree with this. The A series in particular have a more modern (for better or worse depending on your tastes) take on the Spendor sound. They are still distinctly Spendor...great midrange and timbre but more open with more extension on both ends. Every Spendor I have listened to makes wonderful music (to my ears) and there are very few other brands I can say that about. DeVore Fidelity would be another.
davidro
Lunatic Member
think that can easily be described as darker by some.
I don't usually hear of warm and lush being described as dark tho.
