Hi,
This is just an update giving my rationale for this purchase, not a review.
I have had the Martin Logan Electromotion ESLs for over a year now. They are great speakers. Very natural, very detailed. In my view, great for digital music. But when I got on to vinyls, they tended to sound a bit too resolving, almost harsh when playing massed strings or multiple horns. I had auditioned quite a few speakers when I got the ESLs, including Tannoy Gold monitors, Quad Z4, PMCs, Magnapan 1.7, etc. Over the past few months, I listened attentively and tried to identify the characteristics of many units at shows, dealer demos and friends' set ups. I was not sure whether I liked them over my ESLs. I also heard the Harbeth SLH5 plus, the Harbeth 40.2, Apertura Armonia, Sonus Faber Serafino, with no specific budget in mind. I think I got a feel of what I wanted. So when I heard the Spendor Classic 100 and Classic 200s, I knew I was heading in the right direction. Between the 100s and the 200s, the difference in sq did not justify the difference in price. Amba of Audiolounge, Pune, let me have a home audition. I puled the trigger on the Classic 100s and have had them for a week. In comparison to the ESLs, they are extremely refined, though missing some detail sometimes. In comparison to the Harbeths, they are somewhat laid back ( On the Harbeths, I found the vocals standing out a bit, while on the Spendors, they blend into the music). The speakers sound extremely well balanced to my ears and in my room (which is 14 x 22', with the speakers placed 4 feet from the front wall and 2 feet from the sides. Listening position is just outside the vertex)). These are heavy speakers, at around 38 kgs. each. The looks are very retro, very old school, and I like that.The bass is prominent, but never boomy. With eyes closed, the speakers disappear and the music blends into the front wall and beyond. The sound stage is impressive, though nothing compared to the Nagra monoblocks and separates at the the dealer's, which are well beyond my means.
I still love the ESLs and haven't decided to let them go yet. I wonder whether I should think of a tube preamp or dac/preamp combo. If yes, which one? The input capacitance of my Cary Power amp is 22Kohms.
In summary, I'm very pleased with the purchase and hope to retain the Spendors for a long long time!
This is just an update giving my rationale for this purchase, not a review.
I have had the Martin Logan Electromotion ESLs for over a year now. They are great speakers. Very natural, very detailed. In my view, great for digital music. But when I got on to vinyls, they tended to sound a bit too resolving, almost harsh when playing massed strings or multiple horns. I had auditioned quite a few speakers when I got the ESLs, including Tannoy Gold monitors, Quad Z4, PMCs, Magnapan 1.7, etc. Over the past few months, I listened attentively and tried to identify the characteristics of many units at shows, dealer demos and friends' set ups. I was not sure whether I liked them over my ESLs. I also heard the Harbeth SLH5 plus, the Harbeth 40.2, Apertura Armonia, Sonus Faber Serafino, with no specific budget in mind. I think I got a feel of what I wanted. So when I heard the Spendor Classic 100 and Classic 200s, I knew I was heading in the right direction. Between the 100s and the 200s, the difference in sq did not justify the difference in price. Amba of Audiolounge, Pune, let me have a home audition. I puled the trigger on the Classic 100s and have had them for a week. In comparison to the ESLs, they are extremely refined, though missing some detail sometimes. In comparison to the Harbeths, they are somewhat laid back ( On the Harbeths, I found the vocals standing out a bit, while on the Spendors, they blend into the music). The speakers sound extremely well balanced to my ears and in my room (which is 14 x 22', with the speakers placed 4 feet from the front wall and 2 feet from the sides. Listening position is just outside the vertex)). These are heavy speakers, at around 38 kgs. each. The looks are very retro, very old school, and I like that.The bass is prominent, but never boomy. With eyes closed, the speakers disappear and the music blends into the front wall and beyond. The sound stage is impressive, though nothing compared to the Nagra monoblocks and separates at the the dealer's, which are well beyond my means.
I still love the ESLs and haven't decided to let them go yet. I wonder whether I should think of a tube preamp or dac/preamp combo. If yes, which one? The input capacitance of my Cary Power amp is 22Kohms.
In summary, I'm very pleased with the purchase and hope to retain the Spendors for a long long time!
