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Upgrade from Spendor SP 1/2, what's next?

I currently have a pair of original SP 1/2's and am upgrading from a Cayin TA-30 to a Cayin a88t to drive them. Listen mostly to classical and jazz vocals and love the sweet mellow warm sound. I'm considering trying a new speaker and was thinking of going to a floor stander. What Spendor floor standing speaker (or other maker) would you recommend? The room is 20' x 14' with 10' ceiling, wood floors, minimal furniture.
mikewdc
goheelz's avatar
goheelz
297 posts
 
Try a good subwoofer. Spendor SP1/2E + REL Stentor worked for me, creating a solid foundation and seemingly improved soundstage. Let us know how your changes work out.
mikewdc OP
22 posts
 
I will try some auditioning. I suspect that I might find the new amplifier (which I've not yet received) may also have a significant impact. Who knows, maybe it doesn't get any better than the SP 1/2's--that's not a bad thing!

Goheelz, thanks for the subwoofer suggestion. I should have added that I have a REL Strata II.
clio09
3,356 posts
 
The REL suggestion is a good one. You have the speakers on the long wall which is preferable and far enough from the back wall, although I was able to get mine out to 5' and this increased depth. Play around with toe-in as this may help too. Even 1/8' increments can make a difference. I had mine toed-in about 20 degrees.

Personally, I never got what I desired out of my 1/2e speakers with moderately powered tube amps, even in a smallish room. IMO these speakers perform better with solid state amps, about 150 watts give or take to start.
mlsstl
1,438 posts
 
Personally, I never got what I desired out of my 1/2e speakers with moderately powered tube amps, even in a smallish room. IMO these speakers perform better with solid state amps, about 150 watts give or take to start.
Interesting - I went exactly the opposite. I had a Bel Canto S300 at 150 watts per channel and went to an Image 65i with 6550 outputs and 50 watts a channel. I'm very pleased with the current setup and have no urge to change out either amps or speakers.

As they say, horses for courses. ;-)
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
I am using SP 1/2 Es with a pair of REL Stadium subs, works very well. Use either MF M3 Nuvista [275 watts] or 4 Meridian 605 mono amps [300 total a side] to drive them. I would try a GOOD high powered transistor amp and see what I thought of the sound. I have several other speakers but these are the ones I spend the most time listening to. You are not going to get the same sound from another speaker, make sure you know what you are looking for before you switch.
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