british monitors

ohskigod

trying a british monitor was allways on my to do list for audio. I bought a Rogers LS-6 about a month ago for 200.00 bucks or so (figured how could I go wrong) and really like them. there going to be around for a while, as they currently are running off a sonic impact t-amp in my game rig, with surprising results.

I tried it in my main 2 channel with a Haffler 500 amp, but not with my modded Anthem Amp 1 yet (again, on the "to do" list). During my research, I found a lot of British companies put out similar models to eachother, in particular, with the BBC licensed models such as the 3/5 monitor (tiny, and very sought after, fetching over a grand when they pop up). I know Spendor, and Rogers both made one, and I believe Harbeth did too.

while having similar models when your dealing with a 3rd party lisence makes sence, I also seem to see occational similarities in other models. I notice that my Rogers LS-6 looks pretty close to the Spendor sp2.

here is a link to some pics of the Spendor http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1163694994

and here is a link to an add with a pic of the Rogers LS-6 (not mine, but look identical) http://gon8.audiogon.com/i/c/f/1156950107.jpg


I noticed this when I was looking through Audiogon and found the Spendor in my area, and remember Russman and others saying some good things about the brand. Anyone have an affinity toward the british speakers that know more about this?

Emlyn

All of the Spendors I've listened to have a similar house sound that's not quite the same as any other brand's. It's not for everyone, not at all like the big "American" sounding speakers like Polk used to produce, soft in bass and top extension but very smooth in the midrange, especially remarkable in vocals and almost spooky imaging for a cone and box speaker. I enjoy the Spendor sound just as much as any other speaker, moreso for some things. Harbeth and the new Stirling line (sold through acousticsounds.com) are supposed to have a "British" sound to them but I haven't heard anything from those two companies myself. The old Epos line is somewhat similar as well. I don't have a pair of the BBC Monitor sized speakers because they simply lack bass and dynamics unless they're used for nearfield listening in a small room. The one word I would use to describe Spendor's overall sound is "romantic"--which is why I keep mine in the bedroom.

ohskigod

you hit the nail on the head. oddly enough, I;ve been listening to the Rogers on my 2 channel rig with the anthems and the Jolida. overall presentation is definitly smaller than the bozaks (as I would imagine, i.e. bookshelf vs big @ss floorstander). They are definitly an interesting speaker to listen too. played with positioning a little and found that imaging you were talking about. they do throw a wide stage for a bookshelf/monitor. I find myself liking certain recordings on the Rogers over the Bozaks. Neil Daimond's greatest hits for one sounded quite lifelike, particularly his voice, and horn instruments.

I find identifying individual intruments on certain recordings a little easier than the bozaks. but of course, the bozaks just win commandingly in terms of dynamics and a top to bottom presentation. that being said, I'm going to leave the Rogers hooked up for a while and listen to different things.

by the way, I actually heard a pair of Harbeths when I picked up the Bozaks. great overall sound, and the depth of the soundstage hit me the most. those things just disapeared in the room, but for 3500 used (and like 7000+g's new accordsing to the owner), they better kick arse!
I would love to hear those Harbeth's on my system, since I like how the Bozaks sound on mine far more than his, and it wasnt like he didnt have good gear. maybe he just had them placed wrong.

unc2701

I've heard some spendor towers... 8e's I think. Couldn't believe that a 2 way speaker sounded that good. 'course it was backed up with a Musical Fidelity A5 and a Wadia CD player.

Anyhow, I wouldn't say that they're at all lacking authority in the bass region.

Emlyn

The S8e's are considerably different in internal design from earlier Spendor speakers, although they managed to keep most of the spirit of the older designs intact. Everything from drivers to cabinet construction changed to better compete in the home theater arena with the tower designs. The earlier speakers used thin-walled cabinet construction, while the newer versions use more mainstream materials and rigid bracing. Their tower speakers do indeed produce deeper bass now.

dorokusai

I love british speakers...high end extension is overrated anyways.

RuSsMaN

Ditto.

The one thing I regret selling most, was my Spendor 1/2's. Maybe PJdami will let me buy them back one day....

audiobliss

Don't Energy and Wharfedale speakers have some of that characteristic 'British' sound? If not, then I guess I've never heard it.

unc2701

Emlyn wrote:

The S8e's are considerably different in internal design from earlier Spendor speakers, although they managed to keep most of the spirit of the older designs intact. Everything from drivers to cabinet construction changed to better compete in the home theater arena with the tower designs. The earlier speakers used thin-walled cabinet construction, while the newer versions use more mainstream materials and rigid bracing. Their tower speakers do indeed produce deeper bass now.

Yeah, now that I think about it, I believe the new ones have Seas/ Scan-speak drivers, which is something of a departure from the older ones.

phono2

Didn't Polk Audio use Spendor speakers as a reference when developing the Monitor 7 and 10? I have some mid seventies agitprop from Polk that indicates so. The Spendor model isn't given, reference is only given to "the Spendor speaker" - did Spendor start with a single model?

RuSsMaN

They started with the BC1 in 1969, and have never had a model named simply 'the speaker' or 'the Spendor Speaker'.

BTW, I bagged a pair of SP-1's, I'm back in Spendor 'splendor' again!

ohskigod

the Rogers have been in my 2 channel for a little bit. I have to say, I think I like the Bozaks better, gotta love that big sound, but this speaker wins hands down for vocal presentation. I've owned alot of speakers, and many have trouble getting femal vocals at higher volumes right, the Rogers just cruises without breaking a sweat. its like that is what they were made to do.


I'm gonna have some fun with that for a while

might very well bring them to polkfest with me, along with the stands that Troy requested I bring.

George Grand

I'm sure everybody knows the company is named Spendor cause the guy is named Spencer and his wife is Dora. Maybe you didn't know. You do now.

Systems

George Grand wrote:

I'm sure everybody knows the company is named Spendor cause the guy is named Spencer and his wife is Dora. Maybe you didn't know. You do now.

Unfortunately I think Spencer Hughes sold off the company years ago when it was struggling.

When I worked in an Audio store in the mid 80's I took a real liking to the Rogers LS7's .They were easily the best sounding speakers we had for under a $1000.
Spenders,Harbeths and Rogers speakers all seemed to have great midrange. It must have been a result of the work all these did for the BBC.

mhardy6647

The Polk Monitor 7's and 10's were by all accounts tailored to give the "British Monitor sound" (KEF's, Spendors, Rogers, Chartwell, etc., etc.) to a generation of folks -- mostly college students IME -- at a much more affordable price. I'd say they were very successful in that regard, too.

About the only speakers I wanted more, back in 1977 or so, than the Monitor 7A's I purchased were a pair of KEF 105's or a pair of Quad ESL-57's. I've yet to manage a pair of the big KEF's, but I do now own a pair of Quad ESL-57's. Not exactly "British monitors", but pretty sweet midrange from these.

pjdami

Been a while since I've posted. Hello everybody! Post Katrina down here in the New Orleans area has been difficult to deal with.

I'm lucky enough to have three pairs of Spendors. The S8s, the famous BC1s, and the SP 1/2s that Russ sold me (immaculate pair of great sounding speakers). All of them have the glorious Spendor midrange and with female vocals and a tube amp can paralyze a man in his seat. Placement for bass is pretty important as one has to mess around with that for a while but I wouldn't call them bass shy either just different bass than what we are used to. My SDA CRS+ for example have a distinctly heavier bass to them but some may call it borderline boomy after you hear some Spendors. I think its a matter of accuracy but that like everything else in audio is up to opinion and personal preferences.

The BC1s have more of a deeper or "loose" bass sound to them compared to the S8s or the SP 1/2s but again the S8s and SP 1/2s are probably more accurate with their tighter bass. The BC1s still have the best sounding midrange of all of them as good as the S8s and SP 1/2s are its scary good. The sensitivity of the BC1s are noticeably lower. The Spendors all sound great on my Rogue tube amp using my Cal Audio Labs CL15 as a source direct to the tube amp with no preamp. Very clean signal which counters the "romance" of the Spendor sound but this configuration can sound a bit harsh say with MMGs. Recently I've acquired some JM Labs Electra 906s that have more top end than the Spendors although I'm not quite sold on if I like that. Everytime I swap out speakers, I tend to go back to the Spendors. I like them that much.

Spendors may not be for everyone, but as far as being very neutral and with that killer midrange on tube gear it is definitely a speaker line that I have stopped and stayed with for the past few years. I've heard a lot of great things about Harbeth from former Spendor owners but I haven't ventured down that path yet.

One of the owners of a local hi-fi shop here in town carries a lot of speakers (JM Labs, Maggies, Paradigm, Spendors, etc.) and he owns a pair of 25+ year old Spendor BC1s in his own personal rig. This guy could have anything he wants but has long found his happiness with the BC1 line. I'm so lucky to have bagged a pair in great condition.

Oh yeah, Russ, the SP 1/2s will not ever be resold to anyone else but you. You gave me an absolutely fabulous deal on some serious hi-fi speakers that were in minty condition. SP1's eh? Those bad boys should really have some low end grunt to them. Enjoy.

RuSsMaN

Yeah, and I STILL have your Sound Anchor stands. I'll get those in route AFTER Thanksgiving, I sent you an email a little while back, and honestly forgot about them. Addy still the same, I assume?

SP1's broham, the less refined father to the 1/2's I let you steal from me. My piss poor attempt to get 'that' sound back! 8 inch 3 way, with a lesser mid and tweet than the 1/2's.

Cheers,
Russ