Spendor S3/5R2 not really a review

[Haselsh1]

OK so Sue and I had to give up our fabulous rented detached place and move in to a tiny cottage in a rural Lincolnshire village. The owners of the big place wanted it back and so you know, we got the boot. Along with many things, my B&W CM8 S2's had to go because the new room is 14 feet by 11 and the hi-fi now has to fire across the room not down it. Remembering my time back in 1995 with a pair of Rogers LS3/5a's I decided I would get S3/5R2's by Spendor which should be a good match with a valve pre/power setup. The only place to have them was Harrow Audio so I went online and ordered them in cherry wood finish and paid through Paypal. Within the hour I got a call letting me know they only had black finish so I instructed them to cancel the order and I would have a rethink. A few days later they called again saying that they had located a pair in cherry wood finish at Spendor so I paid again and all was well. They arrived, we moved and a week later I got to listen to them. Sue and I were slightly bemused when we took off the grilles to find a slightly dark line around the outside of the front baffle which matched the cabinet but not the lighter front baffle. To us, this indicates a factory recon pair but they were sold to us as brand new.

Anyway, last night, Organika by the Peaking Goddess Collective on CD. Yes, no real low frequencies when compared to a room 22 feet long and floorstanders but Jesus, the detail in the midband..! On one track there appeared a nice little bit of guitar trickery. Sue says "Where the fuck did that come from..?" Clearly we have never heard it before. There is just so much information being brought forward but then there is a generally forward presentation anyway compared to the B&W's. The other thing of note is the precision of the stereo image. Bloody amazing.

All of our listening so far was done in ultralinear mode using eight Ohm taps.

[southall-1998]

I've had older Spendor S3/5R.

When they break in you should get a warm tone and slightly laid back presentation. Without losing detail.

S.

[Haselsh1]

I've had older Spendor S3/5R.

When they break in you should get a warm tone and slightly laid back presentation. Without losing detail.

S.

Shane really looking forward to that. The previous B&W's changed so much after a few months the difference was amazing. Have you any preference for speaker cable to go with the Spendors in a valve based system..?

[southall-1998]

Sorry, I can't help you with the cable bit. All I will say is, Suck It and See.

S

[RobbieGong]

Congrats Shaun,

Spendors are renowned for being special in the mids - it's a key aspect of their dna from what I've read and heard over the years.

The are also said to be non fatiguing which is another positive in my book.

Some may translate that to polite or unexciting, regardless they do have a repututation for producing some great speakers.

[Yomanze]

Spendor S3/5s have some of the best treble I’ve ever heard in a speaker. Exceptionally nuanced with a super detailed, but not at all etched, top end. Tiny speakers!

[Mikeandvan]

My lounge is 14 by 16/18 (lounge and kitchen combined). I found the S3/5R failed to fill it, I was a bit underwhelmed by their overall sound, but I didn't give them much of a trial. I found it pointless trying them any further as it was clear my floorstanders were much more suited to my lounge. I would like to try them in my bedroom, just to hear them as they're meant to be, which is in a smallish room, but that would involve buying a second system or drilling holes in my floorboards (rented property, but they'll never know), to drop down speaker cables. Do you have them on stands? I was thinking wall brackets.

[IHP]

First of all, sorry to hear about things on the domestic front but rural Lincolnshire does sound agreeable !

I'm a bit of fan of the small speaker (my room is 12 x 12 feet) and have always wanted to try the Spendor 3/5 in any form. I've currently settled on Harbeth P3ESR for some time now though still get very tempted when I see used Spendors pop up for sale. Just bought and plugged in a pair of JR149s (another 3/5a derivative ?) which really are lovely.

Anyway, your post has enthused me yet again to try these speakers, thanks for that :-). I do think small speakers in a suitably sizes room can do wonderful things.

[rigger67]

Sue says "Where the fuck did that come from..?"

She's a keeper, mate ! :kiss:

[Haselsh1]

She's a keeper, mate ! :kiss:

Oh yes and she loves going out on the Harley as well in the summer.

[Haselsh1]

Thanks everso for your comments you lot. I do love the Spendor's but I need time to acclimatise really. I also need some good quality speaker cables to get the best out of them. So far we have not listened to any vinyl but that will come, however, given the change in the B&W's, I can't wait for the Spendor's to settle down a bit. Yes, I would have preferred Harbeth's but you know, do the best you can with what you have. Harbeth's of course would have been a load more money.

Regarding the new cottage, yes, rural Lincolnshire is bloody wonderful and so dark at night that sleep is just so easy but the place is really small and having been kind of spoiled by a big detached place, adapting will take some time.

Again you guys, thanks for your comments.

[RobbieGong]

Speaker cable as you know can be a mine field.

Have heard good things about Chord Epic Twin. A mate / work collegue upgraded to them and is most impressed, says they are excellent.

They are not what I'd call cheap at all but he only has a couple of metre runs each side so wasnt bothered.

[hifi_dave]

My go-to choice is Talk-3. At £4/mtr, I haven't found anything better - to my ears.

[RobbieGong]

My go-to choice is Talk-3. At £4/mtr, I haven't found anything better - to my ears.

Sounds like a bargain ! What HIFI rated it highly too https://www.whathifi.com/talk-electronics/talk-3/review

You'll have a lot of change over too compared to the £50 per metre asking price for Epic Twin ;)

[hifi_dave]

How/why they do it for the price is beyond me but glad they do. You can find very similar cables selling for 10 x the price.

[Haselsh1]

Regarding loudspeaker cables we eventually settle for Tellurium Q Blue which have improved things no end. Regarding the Spendors though, I have reservations.

Yes, a great match with valve amplification and yes, the level of detail displayed so obviously is bloody wonderful but there may be a problem. Listening to Ezio 'Black boots on Latin feet' the sound is absolutely amazing but when the mid gets a little enthusiastic and complex the sound from the Spendors gets a little compressed and confused. It is not something I have heard before from any speakers I have every owned but it is apparent with these. I am currently thinking that our previous B&W's were a World better than these but simply not suitable for the current room.

Listening to Shawn Mullins 'Soul's Core' the reproduction is fantastic but there is this problem with the central midrange getting slightly muddled and compressed. I am certainly thinking that an equivalent pair of B&W's may have been a much better option although not such an easy amplifier load.

[Haselsh1]

Well, well, I have just swapped filters on the M-DAC from transientXD to slow roll off and the problem is no longer present. One thing though, these speakers are incredibly directional. Tiniest movement and the image shifts all over the place but I am still gobsmacked by the levels of detail. Peter Mallick Group 'New York City', the accordian in this track is now so obvious whereas previously it has been almost hidden. Wonderful stuff.

[Mystic Mac]

Hi Shaun, I’m following this thread with interest as I myself am looking at the little S3/5r2 or even the A5r. I mostly listen to electronic stuff like the Ozric’s etc and lots of acoustic so was initially wary of buying blind. I was afraid a lack of bass would be a problem for electronica... how are you finding them in that respect?

Thanks
Justin

[Haselsh1]

Hi Shaun, I’m following this thread with interest as I myself am looking at the little S3/5r2 or even the A5r. I mostly listen to electronic stuff like the Ozric’s etc and lots of acoustic so was initially wary of buying blind. I was afraid a lack of bass would be a problem for electronica... how are you finding them in that respect?

Thanks
Justin

Justin, I can only give my own personal view on things but having had a 22 foot room with B&W CM8 S2's, there is a definite lack of very low bass with the Spendors. In fact, there is a total absence of any really low rumbly stuff. Against this though is the huge increase in low level detail and recorded ambience or I guess 'reverb'. The sound with the S3/5R2's is way more organic and natural leaving the B&W's sounding cold and sterile in comparison. However, the B&W's clearly won the race in low bass. I have listened to a few early Ozric albums and the sound is seriously good but the more recent over manufactured albums are very clearly shown up for what they are. Regarding stereo imaging, it is bloody stunning with huge separation.

Pink Floyd, WYWH, disappointing..? No way. Amazing surround sound from just two speakers. Huge stereo.

Bass guitar..? Really good presentation. It is there and complete. Electronic bass..? Hmm... not really. However, filter sweeps are really crisp and attacking and very true to the sound of whatever filter is being played.

Acoustic Alchemy..? Oh wow. Bloody marvellous stuff. Really good ambient sound with huge stereo. So easy to distinguish between nylon and steel as you would expect with some really nice digital synth touches.

Really liking them now I have swapped around the M-DAC filter, way better than before. Absolute bargain at just under seven hundred quid although not run in yet. Let's not mention vinyl, jury still out.

[Mystic Mac]

Thanks for your comprehensive reply Shaun.

I was almost completely sold on the them at this point....”sound with the S3/5R2's is way more organic and natural”, that’s the qualities I’m looking for in my next speaker. Although I don’t want thumping bass, I want to hear those synthetic bass lines and rumbling from low down... maybe I need to experiment with the bungs and positioning of my speakers before laying out for a new pair.

Thanks again for your insight

[ReggieB]

Justin, if you are interested I've got a pair for sale in the Private Exhibitions (http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?55554-FS-Spendor-S3-5R2-speakers).