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Former Spica owners ... what did you trade up to ?

This question is brought on by my borrowing of a friend's Spendor s3/5. The spendors are very highly reviewed, particularly in the area of imaging. To cut a long story short I lived with the spendors for 3 days and then put back my trusty Spica Angelus and the conclusion...

The spicas are head and shoulders above the Spendors in every possible way, but especially in imaging. With the spendors it was very apparent that the sound was coming from two small boxes. The sound was also veiled, which surprised me since their top end extension is supposed to be superior to the aging angelus.

Ok the Spendors win in looks. But that's it.

So that got me thinking, with all the review hype out there I need to hear from previous spica owners on which speakers they have found to be a clear upgrade, both monitors and floorstanders.
seandtaylor99
unsound
7,318 posts
 
I had a friend who went from TC-60's to Dunlavy 4's.
triode
263 posts
 
Let's see...from TC50s w/Kinergetics subs, to Snell EIIIs, to Snell Type Bs, to Dunlavy SCIIIs, to Reference 3A Royal Masters...to my present Avantgarde Duo Omegas. Doubt I'll ever go back to cones in boxes.
cwoll
3 posts
 
I just BOUGHT a pair of TC-60s, sure they have some roll off problems, but who cares? The music is so inviting.

I just upgraded to a Cary tube pre and the Spicas sing like angels.

And when I want a more direct front row experience I plug in Paradigm 40's.

Though I like the ability to have two different sets of speakers with different strengths for a variety of music
I would consider the idea of selling both pairs for pre-owned Thiel 2.3's perhaps, hoping they would combine the best of the two above. OK maybe 75% spica 25% paradigm.
seandtaylor99 OP
1,262 posts
 
Cwoll, I think you'd like Green Mountain Audio Europas. They are like Spicas with a slightly more forward, detailed, less rolled off sound, firmer bass, much greater SPL and dynamic handling and ...... imaging that betters the spicas.

Like the Spicas they need very careful placement, but they really deliver once setup.
rackon
301 posts
 
I enjoyed my Spica TC-60s for several years powerd by tube amps in a small room. They were incredible at imaging and disappearing...sweet sounding provided you kept your head in a vise and played small scale music through them. However, I cannot live by imaging alone.

I had them as a second system while I agonized over my Maggie 1.5s. After I sold my Maggies I temporarily moved them into the main room...ugh, they didn't go low enough or have the dynamic capability to handle the large scale classical music I mostly listen to.

I sold the Spicas to a good home - they're back in a second system...tube amps are still feeding them, they still image like crazy and they still sound great with small scale jazz and chamber ensembles.

I replaced the Spicas with Alon Vs, which gave me the bass and dynamics I had been looking for along with many of the virtues of my Maggies - transparent, unboxy, open and fast - plus they have a huge soundstage and wide sweetspot. They image quite well.

In my office sytem I now have Nola Minis, which are smaller than the Spicas but do sound terrific - just as sweet but more bass, more extended treble and *much* more dynamic.

Everybody's happy.
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