Spendor S3/5R² Standmount Speakers – Black Oak

Here we have a pair of classic small loudspeakers from British company Spendor. The design of the S3/5R² harks back to the original BBC LS3/5A which of course is still coveted by audiophiles the world over. Our examples are in good condition noting a couple of tiny blemishes to the veneer and come in original factory packaging along with our standard three month warranty.
Spendor Say….
The multi award winning Spendor S3/5 loudspeaker was launched in 1997. It rapidly achieved worldwide recognition among discerning audiophiles and critical reviewers as a natural and more neutral sounding successor to the legendary BBC designed LS3/5A mini-monitor loudspeaker.
Ten years later an improved S3/5R was introduced. With a new bass-mid drive unit and a new crossover network the S3/5R achieved what many thought impossible – new levels of transparency and imaging coherency, a more articulate bass delivery, while retaining the enjoyable fatigue free listening experience which so clearly distinguished the original Spendor S3/5 from other small loudspeakers. Today the S3/5R is also recognised as a small, versatile, modestly priced loudspeaker that consistently delivers a highly enjoyable listening experience and works well with a wide variety of ancillary equipment, from analogue to digital and tube to solid state. With the launch of the new S3/5R², Spendor takes another huge step forward with this enduring classic design.
The new Spendor S3/ 5R² benefits from substantial technical advances which have been successfully proven in recent Spendor designs like the SA1 and other Classic R2 models. It maintains the charm and enjoyable music making qualities of the original S3/5’s while delivering significant improvements in low frequency articulation, dynamics, power handling, transparency and sound integration. Like its predecessors it has a fine technical performance and a natural even sound balance.
The S3/5R² is a 2-way infinite baffle stand-mount design with a new 14cm Spendor bass-mid drive unit. The drive unit has machined magnet pole plates to increase cone excursion and power handling, and to reduce thermal compression. The ep39 polymer cone with phase correction technology gives an even and extended high frequency response. This allows the crossover frequency to the tweeter to be set very high, beyond the frequency range in which the ear is sensitive to transition effects, which ensures seamless sound and a clearly defined stereo image.
The new 22mm wide-surround tweeter combines the extended frequency response of a small diaphragm with the low frequency characteristics of a larger diaphragm to give stable low distortion response over a very wide frequency range.
A meticulously engineered phase linear crossover network integrates the drivers seamlessly. The network is mounted on a non-resonant panel. Single wiring via a pair of insulated gold plated terminals ensures uncompromised performance and consistent sound. High linearity audio grade capacitors and an easy to drive 8 ohm load guarantee complete compatibility with a wide range of amplifiers from solid state to the most esoteric tube designs.
The S3/5R² combines a ‘Classic’ Spendor thin-wall damped cabinet panel structure with controlled bracing. The cabinet is now constructed using different panel thicknesses. Each panel is designed to have a specific resonant characteristic and the different natural resonances combine evenly to dissipate any vibration. The result is you don’t hear any unnatural sound from the cabinet.
High electrical driver damping and a non-ported enclosure allows the S3/5R² to be installed close to a wall. If you prefer not to use a stand it will sound excellent on an open shelf or wall bracket. The new S3/5R² is an ideal surround/rear loudspeaker for combination with other Spendor loudspeakers.
Specifications:
Type: 2 way stand or open-shelf mount loudspeaker
Enclosure Type: Sealed
HF Drive Unit: 22 mm wide-surround dome
Bass-Mid-Unit: 140 mm with EP39 polymer cone
Sensitivity: 85 dB for 1 watt at 1 metre
Crossover Point: 4.2 kHz
Frequency Response: 75 Hz to 20 kHz, ± 3 dB anechoic
Frequency Range: – 6 dB 60 Hz typical in-room
Impedance: 8 ohms nominal, minimum 6.2 ohms
Power Handling: 100 watts un-clipped programme
Terminals: Gold plated 4 way binding posts single-wired
Dimensions: 305 (H) x 165 (W) x 190 (D) mm
Weight: 4.6 kg each

For a review from Hi-Fi News madazine please click HERE

For a second opinion from US publication Stereophile please click HERE