{"id":1252,"date":"2018-07-03T14:02:03","date_gmt":"2018-07-03T06:02:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/famous-av.com\/?p=1252"},"modified":"2018-07-03T14:02:03","modified_gmt":"2018-07-03T06:02:03","slug":"whathifi-spendor-classic-2-3-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/famous-av.com\/?p=1252","title":{"rendered":"WhatHiFi? – Spendor Classic 2\/3 review"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Few speakers on the market can match the heritage of Spendor\u2019s Classic 2\/3s. This design can trace a direct line back to the highly regarded SA2s, which were launched in 1980.<\/p>\n

But the engineering ethos behind the product goes back even further, to ideas developed by the BBC engineering department in the 1960s.<\/p>\n

Does that put these speakers at a disadvantage compared to high-tech alternatives from the likes of Dynaudio or Bowers & Wilkins? As long as the distinctive styling and relatively large size aren\u2019t an issue, we don\u2019t think so.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Build and compatibility<\/h3>\n
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These Spendors are 54cm tall, about a third bigger than most of their standmount competition, and they need to be positioned well clear of walls to sound balanced. They’re\u00a0likely to be most at home in medium-to-large rooms.<\/p>\n

While the dedicated, open-framed wooden stands \u2013 the Fortis, made by\u00a0Hi Fi Racks<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 cost a hefty \u00a3600, we can\u2019t find a preferable alternative as far as performance and aesthetics are concerned.<\/p>\n

The BBC-inspired engineering is most obvious in the speaker\u2019s cabinet construction. Most rivals aim to make the enclosure as rigid as possible to give the drive units a solid foundation to work from and minimise any cabinet wall movement. Spendor\u2019s Classic models take a different approach.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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No matter how rigid you make the cabinet there will always be some cabinet resonance. This will add distortion to the sound the drive units make.<\/p>\n

Making the enclosure more rigid will only make that resonance higher in frequency, crashing\u00a0the midrange region where our ears are most\u00a0sensitive.<\/p>\n

The BBC approach is to make the cabinet walls thin\u00a0(so they flex at low frequencies, where our hearing is less discriminating)\u00a0and to control resonance by carefully, but heavily, damping the cabinet panels. Spendor\u2019s Classic models have always used this method, and the 2\/3s are no different –\u00a0though this latest model features a far more rigid front baffle.<\/p>\n

In these speakers, the company has further refined the technique by using new visco-elastic damping pads in strategic places. The pads absorb vibration energy and turn it into heat, but the speakers don\u2019t get noticeably hotter during heavy use.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The Classic 2\/3s\u2019 mid\/bass driver is all-new. It\u2019s an in-house unit, which is something of a rarity for a manufacturer of Spendor\u2019s modest size. Most rival companies buy in their drive units from OEM suppliers such as Scanspeak or SEAS.<\/p>\n

The mid\/bass unit has a 21cm diameter polyamide fibre reinforced polymer cone and a die-cast magnesium alloy chassis, the latter for its rigidity. Every aspect of the design has been honed, from the cone surround right the way through to the suspension and motor system, all in a bid to optimise performance.<\/p>\n

The 22mm surround dome tweeter has been around for a few years, but remains a fine performer. Its unusual profile is designed to deliver extended highs while maintaining wide dispersion characteristics.<\/p>\n

The tweeter and mid\/bass driver are mated with a high-quality and carefully calibrated crossover network. It\u2019s a relatively simple circuit and is none the worse for that.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Sensitivity is quoted at 88dB\/W\/m while nominal impedance is 8ohms (with a minimum of 6.8ohms). These figures suggest the Classic 2\/3s are easy speakers to drive for most quality amplifiers.<\/p>\n

These are, of course, premium speakers and so positively demand good-quality source components and amplification if you want the best from them.<\/p>\n

We use our reference\u00a0Naim NDS\/555 PS\u00a0<\/a>music streamer,\u00a0Clearaudio Innovation Wood\u00a0<\/a>turntable and\u00a0Gamut D3i\/D200i<\/a>\u00a0pre\/power combination with great results. Rega\u2019s\u00a0Elex-R\u00a0<\/a>is pressed into use too, without issue. The Spendors simply reflect the quality of the signal they receive.<\/p>\n

The cabinets look like they\u2019ve been made with care, and the real wood veneer is neatly applied. This latest generation of Spendor\u2019s Classic speakers have grilles that are held on with magnets.<\/p>\n

This not only makes it far easier to take the grilles off, but the speakers also look much neater without them. There are two finish options for the enclosures \u2013 the dark walnut of our review samples, or cherry.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Sound<\/h3>\n
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The Classic 2\/3s have an easy-going sonic nature, one that draws the listener into the music rather than shouting for attention.<\/p>\n

These speakers may not win out in a quick dealer comparison, but given time their considerable charms are obvious. Most modern rivals sound smaller, leaner and more aggressive by\u00a0comparison.<\/p>\n

Tonally, the presentation is pretty even. There\u2019s certainly less warmth to the midrange and bass than in previous generations, but there remains a lack of overt aggression.<\/p>\n

This characteristic doesn\u2019t go as far as taking the venom out of tracks such as Nirvana\u2019s\u00a0Come as You Are<\/em><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 where the 2\/3s show a surprising amount of attitude \u2013 but it still makes poor recordings and below-par electronics a little more palatable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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As we listen to a range of classical music from the gorgeous\u00a0Clair de Lune<\/em><\/a>\u00a0by Debussy right the way through to Stravinsky\u2019s often frantic\u00a0The Rite of Spring<\/em><\/a>, we\u2019re aware of the Spendor\u2019s impressive sonic authority and their ability to deliver dynamics \u2013 both subtle and large-scale \u2013 with remarkable grace.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a beautiful sense of fluidity to the way these standmounters go from quiet to loud, and it\u2019s coupled with a delicate sense of ease most rivals struggle to approach.<\/p>\n

Those large mid\/bass drivers really manage to shift plenty of air without sounding like they\u2019re working hard at all. Push harder and the Classic 2\/3s retain their composure and refuse to harden.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Of course, there\u2019s lots of bass \u2013 how could there not be with such a generous cabinet volume and such big mid\/bass units? But it\u2019s delivered with finesse as well as plenty of weight and power.<\/p>\n

Compared to previous generations of this model, there\u2019s far more in the way of precision \u2013 the Classics revealing the texture of low frequency notes with considerable skill.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s plenty of punch too, as we find out with Major Lazer\u2019s\u00a0Pon de\u00a0Floor<\/em><\/a>. Hard-hitting music such as this reveals a level of rhythmic momentum that challenges the likes of Dynaudio\u2019s award-winning\u00a0Special Fortys<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Earlier generations of this Spendor could sound a little sedate\u00a0but, given the right music, the 2\/3s are happy to party. That\u2019s something we weren\u2019t expecting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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It\u2019s not all change though. The 2\/3s remain true to their heritage in delivering a midrange that is seamless and inviting. Voices come through with body, weight and just the right degree of natural warmth.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s plenty of detail too, with the standmounts picking up subtle nuances and instrumental textures without highlighting the fact unduly.<\/p>\n

These are speakers that we could listen to for hours on end without tiring, yet they have enough in the way of excitement and drive to entertain when the music demands.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Verdict<\/h3>\n
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The 2\/3s surprised us quite a lot during the review period. They retain the charm and easy-going nature of their highly regarded predecessors, but now have the punch and rhythmic precision to work well with a wider range of music.<\/p>\n

We can\u2019t think of a better all-round alternative at this price level.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Few speakers on the market can match the heritage of Sp … <\/p>\n

\u95b1\u8b80\u5168\u6587\u3008WhatHiFi? – Spendor Classic 2\/3 review\u3009<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1252","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-spendor"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/famous-av.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1252","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/famous-av.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/famous-av.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/famous-av.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/famous-av.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1252"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/famous-av.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1252\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1274,"href":"https:\/\/famous-av.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1252\/revisions\/1274"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/famous-av.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1252"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/famous-av.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1252"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/famous-av.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1252"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}