SPICA revival and modification

Here's a Spica story for ya' - Around 1987 or '88, after having heard new TC-50's in a showroom, I bought a used pair at Stereo Exchange (in NYC). When I got them set up, I was pleased but they didn't seem as incredibly magical as the new pair had at the dealer (on W. 8th St). I figured it must be my "cheap" receiver being the problem - so back to Stereo Exchange for a decent integrated amp (Phase Linear).

When I got that fugly thing hooked up, I was surprised to find no difference in sound quality from the receiver - so I returned the integrated.

I kept fidgeting with the Spicas to try to get them "right", but something kept bugging me that I couldn't put my finger on. The drivers all sounded fine, etc. - I thought I was going crazy, maybe just being neurotic, and after about 3 weeks of this, I tracked down Spica's phone number in New Mexico and called for some advice.

Whoever picked up the phone had me check the above mentioned "serial number" on the back of one speaker and they went off to check something re: those particular units I guess. When they came back, they hadn't found anything unusual to report, but said "Out of curiosity, what's the code on the back of the other speaker?"

I came back to the phone with the other code - and they immediately informed me that this was NOT a factory matched pair! So hmmmm, what did that mean? I called Stereo Exchange - and guess what - they had bought TWO pairs of TC-50's at an auction and hadn't realized they shouldn't mix and match - and they didn't have a record of who bought the other pair (supposedly)!

Called Spica back, and they told me the only way to get them right was to ship the pair back to New Mexico - which I did.

About a month later, my Spica's reappeared via UPS - Spica had replaced ALL FOUR drivers and crossovers, and they sounded great. So the "component matching" that SPica performed really did account for a huge amount of their magic - which certainly makes sense re: imaging.

The only thing that was missing when I opned the box was the hefty bill I had been expecting, so I called Spica again to ask how much I owed them and their reply was - ZERO - they didn't even charge me for the return shipping !!!

How about that for customer service on a pair of $500 speakers that I didn't even buy new?

The only thing that was missing when I opned the box was the hefty bill I had been expecting, so I called Spica again to ask how much I owed them and their reply was - ZERO - they didn't even charge me for the return shipping !!!

How about that for customer service on a pair of $500 speakers that I didn't even buy new?

...no wonder they went out of business.

I am still kicking myself - I lived in Albuquerque, NM for 8 years and never picked up a pair of Spicas. I retrospect I really regret that one.

GR Research recently did an update to both the crossover and tweeter of a pair of TC-50s (at the owner's request). I urged Danny (of GR) to offer the modifications to the general public and am now glad to say he is offering them at a very reasonable price! Based on the measurements he has posted and the familuarity which I have of both the replacement tweeter and Danny's work, I think these mods are a no-brainer for anyone looking for modern update of an original classic. Danny even published a step response measurement to show how the mod didn't effect the orignal designer's intent of what made the TC-50 so unique (in it's day).

Great story!! I paid $250 to update my speakers from the first version to the second. The problem was they ran out of early drivers (Audax had a problem with a supplier)> Sapica had to start using a new version. This meant revised crossovers and a upgrade to the tweeter.

The revision is casually referred to as the TC-50i which started shipping in January of 1988. My guess is they wound up upgrading yours to the TC-50i specs