Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Spendor SP3/1P Speakers by Gatos

Model:	SP3/1P
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$2450.00 Aus.
Description:	Rear ported stand mound monitor
Manufacturer URL:	Spendor
Manufacturer URL:	Spendor

Review by Gatos on March 26, 2006 at 04:59:56
IP Address: 202.67.88.223

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for the SP3/1P

The SP3/1P is the smallest of the Spendor Classic series.
It's a rear ported mini monitor speaker, with bi wiring facilities and Spendors 'own' tweeter and mid/bass units.
The technical specs can be found here: http://www.spendoraudio.com/exp1024.htm
I use the SP3/1P at the end of a Densen DM 10 integrated amplifier, biwired with Symo cables and placed on Atacama stands.
A speaker with a wonderful midrange, very musical, and the sound of most - if not all - acoustic instruments ( violins, cellos, guitar, horns etc.), is extremely realistic.
The human voice is reproduced in a very natural way, with great detail, female vocalists in particular, are there in the room right in front of you, the breething technique, the vibrato of the voice, is all there, very convincing.
They are particularly suited to Classical Music, with their neutrality and lack of colouration, allowing the listener to hear what's on the recording, without adding or taking away any information.
Very revealing of quality sources, i.e. the difference btw CD players is quite obvious, and there seems to be a certain 'chemistry' btw the Spendors and the Linn Sondek LP12 I use.
My little Spendors are well into the room ( 7.5 x 5.5 mtrs), in free space, and they have no problem in filling the room with realistic levels of sound, without increased distortion or hardening of their sound.
Set away from walls and at a distance of 2.2 mtrs from one another, they deliver a large sound, way beyond their modest physical size, with great 3 dimentional soundstage extending to the side walls of the room and with a great front to back depth. Sheer magic!
Thank you Spendor for a great product.

Product Weakness: They tend to keep me up at night VERY late, can't stop listening to them!
Product Strengths: Natural sound, midrange purity, great build, easy load for amps.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Densen DM 10
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	NONE
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Linn LP 12 / Naim CD 5i
Speakers:	8 ohm, 88 dB / 1 mtr / 1 watt/60-20 khz
Cables/Interconnects:	Cardas, MIT, Symo
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classical, Opera, Jazz
Room Size (LxWxH):	7.5 mtrs x 5.5 mtrs x 3 mtrs
Room Comments/Treatments:	Normal furnishings, living room
Time Period/Length of Audition:	3 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	None
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition):	N /A

Product Weakness:	They tend to keep me up at night VERY late, can't stop listening to them!
Product Strengths:	Natural sound, midrange purity, great build, easy load for amps.