Spendor speakers

My experience is in line with the comments so far. I've been very happy with my Spendor SP1/2 loudspeakers, which I run with ample solid state power amplification (McIntosh MC352 stereo amp). They are natural-sounding, non-analytical speakers that are not fatiguing in any way. New, the Spendors are pretty expensive for what they are, but I found a used pair for less than $2K including the essential Sound Anchor stands. The SP1/2 won't handle deep bass, however, and I believe it is essential to get a subwoofer to hear them at their best. My current subwoofer is a single REL Stentor, which has made a huge difference. A lot of Spendor owners use REL subwoofers, sometimes in pairs. Others have reported excellent bass with the Spendor SP100, but I have not auditioned them. Still others have also reported success with Spendor loudspeakers on relatively low power, whereas I find them to perform well with a high current amplifier. I suspect that high-power tube amplification would be a nice match for Spendor. If you are able, do experimentation with amplifiers to see what you like.

Just one more comment on the power issue. I use a tube amp with my SP1/2Es. The amp is an Image 65i with 6550 output tubes and is rated at 50 watts a channel. I listen at an average volume of 80 to 85 dB in a medium-small room (about 15' X 14' with 9 1/2' ceilings) and the amp very comfortably powers the speakers. I previously used a Bel Canto S300 (solid state with 150 watts/ch) and do not believe I lost anything in dynamics when I switched to the lower power tube amp.

I have both the Spendor Classic 1/2 and 2/3e speakers. Both have a mid-range to die for, with the 1/2's having a slightly deeper bass but, as others have said, bass is not why you buy the Spendor Classic speakers. New Spendor 2/3's sell for about $3,500; new 1/2's for about $5,500.

My listening room is 14'x15'. I use a solid state Audio Analogue Puccini integrated amplifier (50 watts) and a Pathos Classic One hybrid integrated amplifier (70 watts) to drive the Spendors to very loud levels. They have a flat 8 ohm impedence and are easy to drive. I also use an Eastern Electric M-520 tube integrated amplifier (18 watts). The music is just magical, whether powered by a solid state or tube amplifier.

I've got the current S8E's and they sound fantastic. Smooth but extended highs, really good bass, terrific imaging... a great speaker in any age, and they do come up used from time to time here on A-Gon.

spendor bc1/69's (only 69 pairs made)...ls3/5a's..both incredible and beyond rare....still under 2k when you find them.