Amplifier Recommendation for Spendor D9.2 Speakers

Luxman is a great pairing. Cambridge Edge series also. I’ve got three Spendor D series speakers. D9.2, D7, D1. The next amp I get will probably be Luxman L509x for the 9.2’s. Have CA Edge W and NQ on the D7’s, and the D1’s get Electrocompaniet currently.  Still building out the 9.2 system.

Agree that the D series is a more modern sounding speaker than classic Spendor, and I prefer that about them. So I wouldn’t pair with a brighter sounding amp, for example.  I'm a fanboy and also have the older SA1's, which preceded the D1's, and have the tweeter that is similar to the classic Spendor sound.  So I like both but prefer the D series.

I have D9s and have used them with X250.8, XA30.8, Benchmark AHB2, Bryston 4B3, and AtmaSphere Class D monos.   I've enjoyed them greatly with each amp, including the Benchmark which has a different sound signature than the others.

My listening room is small (12ishx17ish) and I never once got the 250.8 to leave its class A bias, so thus the switch to the cheaper 30.8.   If I was in a large room I would likely stick with the 250.8 between those two, but I do like the extra midrange magic and soundstage depth I think I hear with the XA amp.  The 4B3 was a great match with them too and I think offered the best bass in my room of any amps on that list.

The only two amps I still own are the 30.8 and AtmaSphere.   Definitely checkout the AtmaSphere monos if you get a chance. 

Cheers

+1 @noromance take a look at Ralph’s new AtmaSphere GaN amp that may give you everything you’re looking for without the increased electric bill and/or added heat.

Pass X250.8 is excellent at low volume. Essentially Class A operation

Thanks everyone.  I do notice that the speakers seem to fill in at higher volumes, something I did not anticipate.  Would Pass X260.8 or 250.8 do a better job at lower volumes?  

You might like the Circle Labs M200 power amplifier. Here's a thread on Audiogon from other members who own Circle Labs.

Atma-sphere Class D.

of course what @soix says is key and @hilde45's comment is spot on, the speakers are not hard to drive, many many amps will work well from a power output perspective

my personal view is that the spendor d series offers a lively fairly detail oriented sound, so i would err on the side of smooth, very high quality solid state gear (for better bass control) - think pass, hegel, classe, accuphase, ayre and so on

other option is to use stronger tube amps to get a more natural beauty to the music produced by the spendor towers, like better audio research, c-j, bat, vac, the like

better mcintosh could do well too, they have both ss and tube amps obviously, they impart a warmth and richness to the sound at some expense of ultimate resolution

Previously owned the Spendor D9 speakers.  Started with a Ayre VX-5/20 power amp (SS 175 watts/channel) with a VAC tube preamp and then a Gryphon Diablo 300.   I have also listened to them with a DSA 100 watt pure class A amp.  They preform well will solid state and performed well with all the amps over 100 watts.  The speakers can be very precise in the tweeter section and tubes might smooth that a little, but the mids and bass do like some power for their best performance.

if your room is large your mac may not be enough to energize the spendors. if your room is medium sized you can tube roll the small signal tubes and greatly improve the amps transparency and refinement.

amp choice also depends on your preamp.

my spendor d7.2 like your 9.2s thrive on tube amps and also class A solid state.

The rogue audio m 180 dark mono blocks have a smooth, powerful and neutral tube sound that merges well with the Spendors.

I currently have a Pass Labs Class A xa30.8 and it does very well too but not as refined as the Rogue Tube amps.

SPENDOR - EXPOSURE -VAN DEN HUL

Ive seen this particular combination featured at a couple of audio expos. The following article also mirrored this setup.

curiously I asked the exhibitor why the VDH cables, when the majority were using either NORDOST Valhalla or CARDAS Clear. His take was that it was their bespoke and strongly preferred system synergy cable loom choice they found to best perform with the bespoke sonic signatures of the EXPOSURE amp and SPENDOR speakers paired together.

FWIW ,,, …. sounded fine to me,…

What improvements are you looking for and what sound characteristics are most important to you?

I'll be curious, too, to hear reports. Spendor's literature indicates that this speaker has an impedance of 8 ohms (min 4.6) with recommended amplifier power of 25-250 watts. That leaves the field wide open!