The Spendor S100 is the first version of the British manufacturer’s flagship model. They had many incarnations like the later SP100, SP100R1, SP100R2 or SP100 Classic.
3 expensive, fantastic natural diameter, solid base made of 12 inch bass and wonderfully sewn top, giving extremely tangible and real plates.
Spendor S100: Sound
The first thing to pay attention to in the case of Spendor is undoubtedly the amazing diameter. However, this is not a style of playingAudio Noteorsnell. It also differs significantly fromtannoyorJM LAB. Probably a bit closer to themharbethBut it’s a bit more sophisticated and lenses a kind of sound.
Theoretically, the above brands focus strongly on reflecting the colors and a large amount of information in this band, but each of them does it in a different way. Everyone is interesting and engaging, but different.
- tannoyIt is coherence, big sound, a bit bright, open and absolute live spectacle. However, it is sometimes strict, sometimes too light, sometimes you have the impression that it is a bit simplified as a whole.
- focalIt is openness, detail, in the case of Polikevlar, liveliness, speed, tangibility – but not on the same scale as, for example, Tannoy.
- snell/ Audio Note plays with velvet sound, but it does not have the power of larger drivers, a bit of scale is missing (although it can be made up for with a set). You can also fault the speed or the quality of the treble.
Spendor does it differently. They do not try to play live, over-openness, liveliness. It produces a kind of distance to the recording we listen to. It is more like observing a performance than strictly participating in it … On the other hand, its bass can kick, give the sound a scale and momentum.
Nevertheless, it is always a bit polite – and upstairs and dynamically. The diameter itself does not push us to our knees, but it is incredibly natural, real. so unforced. proper. just.
The biggest drawback of ‘hundreds’ is the bass, which is really difficult to encourage to play faster, contouring. This type is just like that and you have to accept it.
S100 – what will he play with?
The S100 has an impedance-friendly crossover and you can easily play with them even with a 300B or 2A3 lamp. Regardless of the number of watts pumped into them – the bass is always a bit teddy – although multi-colored. Some speakers seem to play 2-3x faster at the bottom.
For acoustics, jazz, vocals, blues, it’s hard to choose a more complete column.The condition is to combine spends with thin-line electronics, with a good bandwidth, preferably with a triode in single ending.
I had the opportunity to hear them fromAudio Note Here, Amplifonem WT40 or Audion 300B, as well as with KR Audio.
In the dark, however, I would combine them with a class Sugden type transistor or an amplifier based on the 211/845 tube.
It is important, however, that the electronics are not too greasy / slow, because these features will overlap with the way of playing the Spendor S100.
My recommendation is primarily an A-class amplifier, although I do not exclude a good game with Spec or Devialet – I feel that it could be liked under the skin.
Okabling also likes rather slim and retail. Regardless of what electronics and cables I connected – I never managed to roll the diameter, sometimes it was a bit too bright, sometimes a bit subdued, but never colored. The mountain was usually very classy, although not like the one from Revelator in Living Voice.
It is also worth mentioning that I did not have any loudspeakers that would sound so outstanding with vinyl.
It’s almost unbelievable as smooth, calm, natural and real was the sound of the S100. No other columns that I tested at home were able to reflect the charm of the black plate so well.
Spendor S100 – my opinion
In faster productions of pop music or Rock Spendor, he will give the impression of a 50-year-old who went on the pitch to play a match with teenagers.
It will last 90 minutes and will do its job, but will follow them like a late Krychowiak in the Polish national team. Somewhere he will play very well, but sooner or later he will spill out.
Sound reproduction, however, is not football, and Spendor are not speakers intended for popular music.These are not gimmicky columns either. These are speakers for a mature listener who knows what he expects from audio equipment and what he will listen to.
By choosing them consciously, we can listen to them for hours without a trace of fatigue.
The S100 guarantees a juicy, full, three-dimensional, natural, colorful sound. With a certain amount of restraint typical of a slightly older gentleman.
Their big disadvantage is certainly the size – it is simply difficult to place them well in a small room that is not strictly intended for audio. Stands – their height, stiffness – there is a very large field for experiments in their reception.
Sound-wise, however, they can easily fit in my 20 sq m of the living room, they will also play a much larger room, but then you will have to pump into no more than 8W or 10W.
In many respects, these are absolutely top loudspeakers that I had, I believe that you can squeeze a competitive sound in the price shelf up to PLN 100,000 for new loudspeakers.
I sold them quite quickly, because the person who came to Cabasse Sampan 311 accidentally heard them at my place … (I forgot to change the listening cables) and could not forget. I have a purchase option on the horizonLiving Voice IBX-R2So I needed cash and the S100 changed the house.
Nevertheless, if I could afford to collect the S100 loudspeakers, they would undoubtedly stay with me for many years.
