[porsche951]

I bought these speakers about a month ago, and wanted to post a quick review for anyone considering new speakers. First, they can be had for well under list price if you do a bit of hunting. I'm pairing them with a Unico integrated with Mullards, Cairn Fog 2.0 24/192 with upsampling chip, JPS Labs FX interconnects, and Dimarzio Super M-Path speaker cables and AC cords. My dedicated listening room is 35 ft. by 16 ft. with 9 ft. ceilings, walls and corners are treated with rigid fiberglass based acoustic panels. After reading the glowing reviews(taken with a healthy scepticism)I found a dealer near San Diego who had them set up in a decent treated listening room. Armed with a few very familiar c.ds; Some Miles Davis, Fournier playing the Bach cello suites, and a few others, I settled into the showroom couch and listened to Miles' My funny valentine(live version)These speakers have wonderful imaging and as one reviewer said, seem to have a nice balance from bass to treble. I'm a jazz musician and teacher, so I know what a trumpet, piano and sax are supposed to sound like up close. Unfortunately, many speakers don't get the tone right. These do. Very natural, unfatiguing sound, yet nicely detailed. After setting them up in my listening room about 3 ft. from the rear wall, 8 ft. apart and toed in to point directly at my listening position, they sounded pretty good right out of the box, but a month of daily playing has firmed up the bass considerably. I recently listened to the remastered Pink Floyd, Dark Side of The Moon, and to use the cliche, heard things I hadn't before. The separation of instruments and vocals in the soundstage is first rate and reminds me of listening to playback in recording studios when I have helped mix c.ds. Highly recommended for Jazz and classical. Nice, well defined bass, but not ideal for Hard Rock, or other bass heavy music unless used w a subwoofer. My previous speakers have included: Monitor Audio Golds, Audio Physics Virgo 3, and many studio monitors.

[mcgsxr]

Porsche, welcome to the Circles, and nice review!

[porsche951]

Mark, thanks for the kind words. I have enjoyed this site for quite a while.  Where else can one discuss the acoustic merits of petrified guano. I try not to obsess over my system more than twice a day. Once on Sundays. Best wishes to everyone.

[BeeBop]

Porsche951, Do you mind saying how much the Spendors cost? Ball park figure will do.

[porsche951]

BeeBop,
             They were exactly, uh, I mean roughly $1,395.00 plus tax. I believe list is $1,695. Contact me for details.

[Occam]

could you describe the differences you found between the Spendors and the Virgos?

TIA

[porsche951]

Occam, The Virgos are wonderful speakers. They are a little cold and analytical sounding to me, compared with the Spendors, which were less than half the price of the virgos. As I mentioned in my review, The Spendors seem to get the tone of instruments really well. Piano, which I feel is one of the most difficult instruments for speakers to reproduce, sounds more like a piano through the Spendors. Right now I'm listening to Hilary Hahn, the violinist, playing the Bach concertos and the tone of her violin is clear, slightly warm sounding, due somewhat to my relatively warm sounding cables and Mullard tubes, yet not overly warm. It sounds like a violin should, to my ears. Speakers such as the Virgos, Merlins and other relatively detail oriented speakers combined with silver cables and solid state amps, in other words, a detail oriented system like I used to have, in the long run to me was unsatisfying and very fatiguing to listen to. Having been a musician for more than thirty years, real live music doesn't sound hyper detailed and fatiguing in my opinion. I can listen for hours now without ear fatigue, and I'm really enjoying my c.d. collection again. Just my two cents. Happy listening!

[Hogg]

Nice review. Thanks for taking the time to write it.   There's a fellow on AudioAsylum, moniker is "Guth", who has reviewed and praised the Spendor 5e's as well.
  Did you audition any other models in the Spendor line?

                                                               Jim

[porsche951]

Hogg, Like the (Guth) that you mentioned, I also listened to the Spendor 1/2. I preferred the s5e, because to me it sounded more balanced and life like. Just my opinion.

[porsche951]

It seems that the list price for the S5e has recently been raised to $1,799.00. Back to my scotch, Miles "flamenco sketches", and beautiful wife ...

[drphoto]

Nice to see a review on Spendor. They're on my short list.

Did you hear the S8e by any chance?

The first truly 'hi-end' speaker I ever heard was the little LS3/5 and loved it.

[porsche951]

drphoto, I haven't heard the S8e. What other speakers are you considering?

[porsche951]

This morning, having decided that my system sounded terrific; In the true audio circle tradition of incessant noodling, I decided to try a speaker wiring method that I had read about in several posts. It's the one where you wire bi-wirable speakers with a single pair of cables. Keeping the jumpers in place you connect the positive cable to the positive treble post, and the negative cable to the negative bass post. Considering the tweak was free, I figured if there was no improvement I would just switch the cables back again. After fiddling with the cables for a few minutes, while my wife and puppy looked on with expressions of wonder and pity, I finally made the required connections. Taking my place in my "listening chair" I proceded to listen to a c.d. that I'm very familiar with. Almost immediately my wife said, " It sounds different". It did sound different. While my dog closed her eyes, perhaps to focus on what the difference was, I decided that there was a noticable improvement in the dynamics and clarity of the violins. My wife agreed. My puppy apparently had fallen asleep, no doubt due to the improved tone of the solo violin. Perhaps your dog will enjoy this tweak as well.

[guest1632]

It seems that the list price for the S5e has recently been raised to $1,799.00. Back to my scotch, Miles "flamenco sketches", and beautiful wife ...

Hi Porsch951,  Where did you audition the Spendors? Grew up in San Diego, and used to know the various audio shops down there. Tucson is definitely lacking in a good audio shop.

Ray

[porsche951]

Ray, I auditioned the speakers at Jeff's Sound Values in National City, just south of San Diego. I'm a real estate agent and investor in South Orange County if you ever consider moving back.  I just sold a condo to a good friend of mine, and the property has appreciated $25,000.00, and we're still in escrow! More importantly, his son is returning from Iraq this Friday, in one piece, so he is a happy man. Continuing my shameless plug, if any Orange County audiophiles would like to enjoy their music, while taking in a beautiful view, contact me. I'm one of those rare Californians who was actually born here, so I know where the best views are. Happy listening to everyone.

[guest1632]

Ray, I auditioned the speakers at Jeff's Sound Values in National City, just south of San Diego. I'm a real estate agent and investor in South Orange County if you ever consider moving back.  I just sold a condo to a good friend of mine, and the property has appreciated $25,000.00, and we're still in escrow! More importantly, his son is returning from Iraq this Friday, in one piece, so he is a happy man. Continuing my shameless plug, if any Orange County audiophiles would like to enjoy their music, while ta ...

Hi Porsch951,

Sounds like a new guy on the block. I first bought stuff from Dow up on el Cajon Blvd when they were just a small store, and Wrights World of Sound and Briers Sound when they were on University ave. and park. Hey that goes back about 30 years. Mac and Advent speakers. I'd heard good things about the Spendors, they've been around awhile.

Nope, have no intention of moving back to Southern Cal, way to expensive. an apartment, one bedroom for a grand. You can find one here in Tucson for under half that, minus a couple of hundred or so. Plus the traffic is awful in central OC. Talk to you later, and sorry for hijacking the thread.

Ray

[porsche951]

Ray, things have changed a bit since you lived here. In Laguna Niguel, a one bedroom apt. is closer to $1,800.00 a month, while a 2000 sq. ft. home with a view goes for around $825,000.00. Four years ago the same house was closer to $425,000.00. Last year we enjoyed 27 percent appreciation, this year we're predicting "only" 15 percent. Such is the price for living near the ocean and wearing short sleeves in the winter, while there are blizzards raging back east. Happy listening to everyone.

[guest1632]

Ray, things have changed a bit since you lived here. In Laguna Niguel, a one bedroom apt. is closer to $1,800.00 a month, while a 2000 sq. ft. home with a view goes for around $825,000.00. Four years ago the same house was closer to $425,000.00. Last year we enjoyed 27 percent appreciation, this year we're predicting "only" 15 percent. Such is the price for living near the ocean and wearing short sleeves in the winter, while there are blizzards raging back east. Happy listening to everyone.

[porsche951]

Yesterday evening, while watching my puppy relieve herself on my Unico amp, I had a sudden inspiration. I had been thinking about how sound can travel great distances over a body of water. Then it occurred to me that liquid is the ultimate conductor. I looked at my amp, then at my speakers and finally at my speaker cables that were feebly trying to send the sublime melodies of Beethoven from amp to speakers. If I could somehow connect the two, not with wire but with a continuous stream of liquid, I would finally be able to eliminate the offending speaker cables forever! In less time than it takes to tell about it, I had filled the puppy's water bowl to the brim, and with an inspired combination of words and gestures, I encouraged her to drink her fill. With one hand, I disconnected one of  my speakers and moved it very close to the amp, while holding the dog with my free hand. Finally, the moment of truth had arrived. Grasping the c.d. player's remote in one hand, with my thumb poised over the play button, I carefully aligned the dog with the amps binding posts and the speakers nearby binding posts. It took several minutes to get everything properly lined up, and then; almost on cue, my puppy provided the stream of fluid. I hit the play button, not entirely sure what would happen, but willing to find out. There was a flash of light, accompanied by a loud squeal from the amp as the liquid connection was made. Later, when I regained consciousness, my wife tells me that I muttered to her that I had, for a few brief seconds attained audio nirvana. Unfortunately, I cannot remember what I heard. My wife also asked me why the puppy won't  go near the stereo anymore.

[randog]

Funny, man.

Have you tried positioning these speaks close to the rear wall? I'm looking for a pair of speakers for my master bedroom and room is tight. The Spendor literature mentions something about being able to place the S5e close to the rear wall.

I've been contemplating a pair of 1/2e's - used - for a great price (which I haven't seen) but you've got my curiousity up about the S5e. I've also been considering the 3/5 monitor. But, like I said, my main concern is proximity to the rear wall. Any additional comments about that are welcome.

Thanks,
Randog