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Spendor and Tubes

I thought that I would take a moment to dispel a common misconception about the large Spendor Classic speakers and low power tube amplification. I have been a Spendor Classic fellow since 1980 -- having briefly tried the Harbeth line as well (I prefer Spendor...YMMV). I have owned every speaker in the line and now run the SP100s in my living room and the 1/2Rs in my small dedicated listening room.

I have enjoyed both speakers immensely with the stupendous McIntosh MC352/C2200 combo. But it wasn't until I made the switch to Cary amps that I realized that the speakers, to my ears, sound best with quality tube gear.

The SP100s are now driven by a Cary SLI80 F1, all-triode, 40 wpc. An ACI Titan II sub resides in the corner. Meanwhile, the 1/2Rs by an older 11 wpc Cary SEI300 in a nearfield set-up. No sub required.

I have had audiophile friends with $$$ systems by to listen and they leave shaking their heads in wonderment and bewilderment at what they're doing wrong.

My point? Don't believe everything you read. Yes, the Spendors are a very stable 8 ohm load on an amp. But the synergy with the Cary gear (Morrow Audio SP4 & MA4 cables) is simply breathtaking. Not "sluggish" in the least. Plenty loud when needed. Sublime with all kinds of music from Bach to bluegrass to China Cat Sunflower.

Long live two channel!
jdmeyers77
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
6,996 posts
 
Jdmeyers77,
Your results don`t surprise me, Given a speaker of reasonable load and efficiency. The low -moderate power but high quality tube amplifier would absolutely be my choice if the objective is pure and natural music reproduction.
throwing more solid state watts into the mix is counter productive, at least in my experiences.YMMV.
Best Regards,
emiliop
14 posts
 
I ran my Spendor SP 100s with a Art Audio Diavolo amp for years very successfully. Did the system do "Rock"? Well sort of but it really did vocals and small ensemble instrumental like no other combo I ever tried.
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
2,678 posts
 
I use Quicksilver tube amps with Spendor 3/5's and I would never go back to solid state. Spendor and tubes are made for each other!
rbrowne
173 posts
 
I tried a couple of amps when I had a pair of Spendor S3/5's. One was an 80 wpc hybrid integrated that sounded very nice but the best results were with an 18 wpc Audio Note P2 SE single ended amp. Go figure. A small room made it work out as well as it did.
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chashas1
596 posts
 
I'm glad you're happy with your sound, but if driven right, why would you need a sub with the sp-100s? I've never thought they needed a sub if driven with the right amp.
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