Hey (Not So Big) Spendor! – Audio T Reading Size Up The Little Spendor Classic 4/5
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A hearty hello to everyone from us at Audio T Reading, from pastures new in Swallowfield. Last June we did a feature article on “Three Little Lionhearted Loudspeakers“ and taking centre stage were the Neat Petite Classic, the Audio Note AX One/II, and the Harbeth P3ESR XD. Back then we asked the question “Is bigger always better?” going on to discuss the many virtues of those premium little loudspeakers. It was one of the most fun speaker shoot-outs we have ever done, however there was another pair of speakers that we would have loved to include in the showdown that unfortunately weren’t in our possession at the time. On the upside, we have now been able to get our hands (and ears) on the missing “little loudies” and have spent a good amount of very enjoyable time with them – so without further ado let us to tell you of our tremendous trio becoming a colossal quartet and let us share with you our experience with the wee Spendor Classic 4/5…
A LITTLE BIT OF BIG HISTORY – SPENDOR’S MINI MONITOR HERITAGE
Spendor have certainly played their part in the history of small but mighty British loudspeakers, most notably of course playing a key role in the manufacture of the legendary LS3/5A studio monitor under licence from the BBC – these went on to reach the homes and studios of many thousands of likely happy punters. While not an exact replica, the Spendor Classic 4/5 is certainly a huge nod to that classic monitor with a re-invigorated take on that design to meet the demands of the modern music and home audio consumer.
Back then, the initial job of the LS3/5A was to scrutinise the quality of BBC transmissions from within the tiny confines of their dedicated broadcast vans, most likely in an all-analogue environment. But now, courtesy of the Classic 4/5, Spendor has delivered a tiny transducer that excels at conveying the sonic nuances from the upstream electronics in both the digital and analogue domain. Most notably when you hear these mini marvels, the memo this time around from Spendor appears to be “bring forth the music”; bring it in as huge a dose as possible and from as small a cabinet as possible… surely impossible?
THE CLASSIC 4/5 THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS – HOW DO THEY SOUND?
Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS) is described here as being a ‘rare brain-related condition that makes things look or feel larger or smaller than they actually are’ and incidentally is believed to be ‘most common in children’. Well… it must be said, we are the biggest kids going when it comes to boundless enthusiasm for all-things-audio, and we must confess that this dinky duo from Spendor has certainly left our senses in a state of child-like, AIWS disarray – a good kind if such a thing exists!
On first listen to the Classic 4/5, the spread of sound in front of us was appreciably grander than the dimensions of the cabinets had us believing it would be. Further auditioning revealed a sweetly extended top end, wonderful clarity and openness throughout the midrange, and the bass on offer – while not plummeting the depths of the room – was bewitchingly big and full sounding, taking us back into AIWS territory once again.
Our best discovery with these slender Spendors is how beautifully musical they are – they won’t punch you in the rib cage, at least not in an overt way, when a kick drum hits hard. Nor will they pound out a brazen rock track with the kind of vest-ripping, chest-outward bravado that some might crave for. But what the Classic 4/5 never fail to achieve is to get the core musicality of the message across; these baby boxes unassumingly lure you into listening sessions that end up way longer than intended, whatever the genre. It’s this most desirable trait that leaves us repeatedly grinning like a cheshire cat.
THE SKINNY ON THE SKINNY SPENDORS – LASTING IMPRESSIONS
The Spendor Classic 4/5 aren’t an unfamiliar breed in that they are a sealed-box design on the slimmer side, but this time-honoured approach does buck a modern movement of seemingly hordes of loudspeakers that tend to favour impressing its audiences with beefed up lower-ends and striking dynamics.
Whilst the Classic 4/5 are recommended for use with 25w -100w per channel amplification, we found that they deliver their best, most balanced, presentation when partnered with the likes of the Lyngdorf TDAI-1120 all-in-one player or the Rega Elicit Mk5 integrated amplifier, both punching at the higher end of the quoted power range. In fact, we even tried these bijou Spendors with an amp delivering 125 watts per channel, the hefty Rega Aethos, and the sonic outcome was magnificent.
With more juice behind the Classic 4/5, we found that the fullness in their upper bass strengthens, without losing any definition or tautness, and the result was more coherence with the rest of the audio spectrum and a broader canvas of musical images that convince rather than impress.
CONCLUSION
When compared to the previously showcased triumvirate of the Neat Petite Classic, Audio Note AX One/II and Harbeth P3ESR XD, the Spendor 4/5 hold themselves in said company with consummate ease and are not in too dissimilar a mould to the P3ESR XD; both are exceptional sealed-box allrounders, although each set possesses a special sonic character of its very own.
All four of these bantamweight boxed pairs certainly warrant your attention and are superlative in their own right. If you would like to know more, or would like to hear a set of these splendid speakers in action, please do contact us or your nearest Audio T store; our knowledgeable team will be most happy to assist you.
Thank you for reading.
Rishi – Audio T Reading
If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to Contact Us.
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A BIT ABOUT OUR NEW STORE
Our new Swallowfield store is accessible via the 600 bus route from Reading town centre and is very easy to reach by road with the A33, M3 and M4 all nearby. On arrival you’ll find ample free parking right on our doorstep, and our showroom and demo rooms are all on ground level.
The picturesque surroundings here provide many places to enjoy a countryside walk, a riverside stroll, or a picnic. There are local sites of interest to explore such as the Blackwater River, Wellington Country Park, Siren Craft Brewery and a host of cute village pubs with gardens.
Also during the Summer Bank Holiday weekend in August, nearby Swallowfield Park plays home to the vibrant Swallowfield Show. When you come to see us, why not make a fun day of it?
The products featured here can be found or enquired about at the following Audio T stores:
