This is great -- thanks for posting your very informative thoughts on the sound of the 2/3s. My space is about 4x9 meters, with the system and listening position on the long walls of one end of the rectangle. I wonder if the 3/1s would be enough? The advice I was given on another forum was to go for the 2/3s over the 3/1s for my space. The thing is, I don't listen loud, but do like a full sound.
Who's heard Spendor Classic 2/3s?
- Thread starter rischa
- Start date
Thanks, yes, I previously asked for advice regarding the Spendor Classic series on the Steve Hoffman audio forum. Great feedback from those who'd heard them, but not many had. I was Hoping to have more luck here, pfm being UK based. It seems to have worked as I've gotten some helpful posts from folks already.
Regarding amplification, I currently run a few tube amps including a KT88 amp at 45 wpc, and an EL34-based amp at 20 wpc. My understanding is that the Classic series works well with tubes, but I'm actually interested in them because I want to transition to solid-state for everyday listening. I would never get rid of my tube amps, but with the price of tubes going up so fast, I want to make them last longer by using them less. Unfortunately, my Omega speakers don't pair well with solid-state, so I've been researching other options, mainly the Spendors. I'll be looking at solid-state integrateds up to about $5K (new or used) and want to have the Speakers in position and broken-in when I start auditioning. 65db is loud for me, so I'm sure I'd enjoy them with my tube amps while I shop.
ciderglider
pfm Member
The Classic series may work acceptably with valve amps, but I have read several people claiming they benefit from a solid state amp capable of supplying lots of current. Having said that, on paper the Classic speakers are not inefficient,and not do they present a difficult load to an amplifier.
I’d suggest organising a home demo of the 2/3, your room is reasonably big. If you go for the 3/1 you’d probably always have the 2/3 gnawing away at you! I sort of regret not going for them as they’ve gone up in price but I do intend trying a pair at home to satisfy the urge. Don’t underestimate the 3/1 though, they’re remarkably capable and seem to fly below the radar which is surprising seeing as how good they are. Both speakers probably won’t wow you in a dealer demo but they get under your skin when you live with them a while, Ed Selleys online review sums them up well.
Yes that’s interesting, I had the A7’s previously and they wrecked my head with overly hot upper mids and lack of mid bass texture
Goat
pfm Member
For that space, the 2/3 would be ideal I reckon, subject to a home demo to confirm.
I haven't checked on this thread since the spring, but thought I'd follow-up to say I'm not pursuing the Spendors anymore.
New 2/3s are honestly a stretch for my budget (about $7,000 with proper stands here in the US, over $8,000 with Spendor stands), so I was mainly shopping used. But I noticed there was consistently 3 or 4 pairs available at any given time on the used market, which seemed like a lot for a current-production speaker that probably doesn't sell in large quantities here in the first place. I realized that even if I bought them 2nd hand at a good price, I wouldn't be able to easily re-sell them if they didn’t work out. My interest in the 2/3s was based on hearing them at a show where they were hooked up to an amp I'd never be able to afford, so I didn't want to take the chance they'd sound good in my modest system, and then not be able to pass them on.
I appreciate everyone's contributions to this thread.
New 2/3s are honestly a stretch for my budget (about $7,000 with proper stands here in the US, over $8,000 with Spendor stands), so I was mainly shopping used. But I noticed there was consistently 3 or 4 pairs available at any given time on the used market, which seemed like a lot for a current-production speaker that probably doesn't sell in large quantities here in the first place. I realized that even if I bought them 2nd hand at a good price, I wouldn't be able to easily re-sell them if they didn’t work out. My interest in the 2/3s was based on hearing them at a show where they were hooked up to an amp I'd never be able to afford, so I didn't want to take the chance they'd sound good in my modest system, and then not be able to pass them on.
I appreciate everyone's contributions to this thread.
I enjoyed about a year with the Spendor Classic 3/1s (not the 2/3s, one size down) found them excellent all-rounders in a room about 3.5 metres by 5.5 metres. I ran them variously with Naim, Rega and Exposure electronics, including the NDX2 streamer/DAC. The size was just right to give me the best of shoebox sized BBC lineage speakers, with enhanced scale and depth. Finding myself with too many pairs of speakers, and looking ahead to a not-to-distant future move from a house to an apartment, I sold them. The Neat SX3i stayed. The Neats, about the same size, bring more verve or vividness to the music, and more slam in the bass, but I miss the Spendors, which I found faultless and even-handed across I wide range of music, from Hendrix to Handel…
P.s. regrets for any confusion; I had the smaller 3/1s, not the 2/3s
P.s. regrets for any confusion; I had the smaller 3/1s, not the 2/3s
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gryphongryph
pfm Member
I have the Graham Audio LS 5/9 designed by Derek Hughes, a wonderful speaker,fantastic tone and timbre, also quite a bit of drive, will get your feet moving to the music very easily.
I have them now in a room 4.16x4.20 m and if you like to listen at moderate levels, then this room works fine.
In my living room which is 6x8 m I can play them much louder, although I very seldom play very loud, enjoying music on more moderate levels much more.
The Graham Audio line of speakers are mostly if not all designed by Derek Hughes.
I have them now in a room 4.16x4.20 m and if you like to listen at moderate levels, then this room works fine.
In my living room which is 6x8 m I can play them much louder, although I very seldom play very loud, enjoying music on more moderate levels much more.
The Graham Audio line of speakers are mostly if not all designed by Derek Hughes.