Spendor D9.2 vs. Harbeth super hl5 plus xd + REL Stentor III vs. Spendor Classic 100?

I don't really see the Spendor D series sitting comfortably with the Harbeth or Classic Spendor speakers.   The D series floor standing speakers are, to my ears, "Spendors" in name only: otherwise they are simply modern speakers and sound like it.  I don't find any particular continuity from their classic sound, no particular "Spendor magic" in the mids that sounds like Spendor.    Which doesn't mean someone can't like their mids of course...they just aren't the same.

The Harbeth and classic Spendors have at least something in common - that rich midband and classic box tuning which seems to give vocals in particular an organic presence, weight and roundness.

I owned the Harbeth SuperHL5 plus, and still own a little pair of Spendor S3/5s and even those share that similar trait.   I've been eager to hear the newer Spendor classic speakers but they are rare as hens teeth for audition.

prof +1  I heard Classic 100 and D7 in same system same day; there was no comparison, the Classic was so much better on all fronts.  I heard the SLH5 in a very different space/system, and found it a little bright.  Quite unlike the 40.2's that I ended up with.  I'd rank the 40.2 just a tad above the Classic 100.  Some people manage to put 40.2's in remarkably small spaces.  If you have a full meter behind from the back of the cabinet, and good space to both sides, I would think it could work.  The other speaker I would rank #3 was the Vienna Acoustics Liszt.

totally agree w prof on all his remarks ...  not that the spendor d series is bad... 

I also agree with prof and of the OP's listed speakers and Classic 100s would be my choice. @noromance How far do you think they need to be from the wall? 36" is a pretty good distance in my experience.

Basically @kren0006, @prof and @twoleftears are saying the same thing. Preferences do matter and that is what it boils down to.I enjoyed the D7 when I auditioned it. The way I put it is - if you like to rock, then D series else the Classic series.