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Budget Hunter: Spendor S8e vs Totem Hawk

I'm replacing a pair of B&W Matrix 804s with something less fatiguing and (hopefully) more musically involving.

A pair of Spendor S8e ($1200) and a pair of Totem Hawks ($1800) are for sale locally. I like what I've read about both. Before I drive an hour and a half in opposite directions to audition, I hoped I might get some insights from this group about any personal experiences you may have had. Likes and dislikes. My tastes in music runs the gamut but the human voice is the common thread through all of it.

The rest of my system is capable but modest. A Musical Fidelity A300 dual mono Integrated (150/250), MF A3 CD transport, Denafrips Aries II, Rega P2 and a Bluesound Node2i.

Thanks in advance!
craig_co
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,764 posts
 
Those speakers should have grills. I think you should pass on them. Take a look at the sold listings on HiFi Shark. Those speakers are not worth $1200.
https://www.hifishark.com/search?q=spendor+s8e
jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
i am not a wood worker and have no knowledge of what it takes to relaminate or re-veneer the cabinets... good you are seeing them in person; the photos look good but one must check in person to be sure

i am also curious about the bottoms, don’t these speakers have bottom plinths? are there threads for spikes? speakers like that need to be grounded with spikes to sound their best

also, i agree about the grilles... as mentioned above by yogi

not many sets of these around, so shouldn’t dismiss, but needs a good check out and maybe some negotiation on a fair price

good luck
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,764 posts
 
@jjss49
Good catch. Those should have bottom plinths with spikes! No photos of the rear?
craig_co OP
15 posts
 
Thanks for your responses. Greatly appreciated.

I have a few questions about the appearance. Where are the plinths and, curiously, where is the 'ledge/lip' on the bottom of the front baffle that the logo/badge typically sits? Very odd.
jetter
3,052 posts
 
@craig_co and yogiboy. Are you are saying that there is not only no speaker grills, there are also no holes on the speaker to insert the speaker grills, leading to the conclusion that the speaker has been re re-veneered?

This besides the missing base.
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