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Spendor Classic 4/5

Loudspeakers

Relative price

typical

Among the 26 loudspeakerss in the catalogue, this one is typical.

A band places a component against its peers and carries no price. It is deliberately the only price indicator on this page: a second one, measured against a different set, would narrow the two together far enough to give the figure away.

What it is

Smallest model in Spendor Classic line; designed and manufactured in Hailsham, East Sussex. EP77 polymer cone is Spendor proprietary.

Used in 4 systems (L-Rega-1, Lo-Linn-1, Lo-Michell-1, Lo-Rega-1). BBC-tradition sealed-box voicing; gentle/warm balance.

Competition record

Assessed against 10 rivals across the sixty systems: 4 head-to-heads won, 46 lost.

Where it gives ground

The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.

  • timing and drive ×22
  • low-level clarity ×11
  • bass control ×2

Who it comes up against

Emmae Reginae (custom)

26 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Silent Path, Twin Arms, Vocals-First

Against the Characterful brief, the Emmae Reginae (custom) keeps the slot decisively.

With the Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units), the pairing gives up most on timing and drive.

On its own merits the Spendor Classic 4/5 is the weaker loudspeaker for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the loudspeaker position.

overloads graduallyZaph|Audio ZRT project measurements (driver-level)

Neat Iota 2

7 lost · Artisan, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Silent Path, Vocals-First

Against the Characterful brief, the Neat Iota 2 keeps the slot decisively.

With the NVA S80 Stereo, the pairing gives up most on timing and drive.

On its own merits the Spendor Classic 4/5 is the weaker loudspeaker for that brief.

ProAc Tablette 10 Signature

6 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Twin Arms

Against the Intimate brief, the ProAc Tablette 10 Signature keeps the slot decisively.

With the NVA S300 Stereo (Artisan), the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

On its own merits the Spendor Classic 4/5 is the weaker loudspeaker for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the loudspeaker position.

Epos ES-7N

2 lost · Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Epos ES-7N keeps the slot clearly.

With the Audiolab 9000P, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.

On its own merits the Spendor Classic 4/5 is the weaker loudspeaker for that brief.

NVA Cube 3

2 lost · Cavity-Native, Twin Arms

Against the Twin Arms brief, the NVA Cube 3 keeps the slot decisively.

On its own merits the Spendor Classic 4/5 is the stronger loudspeaker — but it loses here on fit: the way it sits with the rest of this system under the Twin Arms weighting.

Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge

1 lost· 2 won · BBC Sound, Vocals-First

Against the BBC Sound brief, the Spendor Classic 4/5 takes the slot clearly.

With the EAR Yoshino V12, the pairing gains most on timing and drive.

On its own merits the Spendor Classic 4/5 is the weaker loudspeaker — yet it wins here on fit: the pairing with the EAR Yoshino V12 gains timing and drive under the BBC Sound weighting.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the loudspeaker position.

Neat Petite Classic

1 lost · Characterful

Against the Characterful brief, the Neat Petite Classic keeps the slot clearly.

With the Audiolab 9000P, the pairing gives up most on timing and drive.

On its own merits the Spendor Classic 4/5 is the weaker loudspeaker for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the loudspeaker position.

Harbeth P3ESR XD2

1 lost · BBC Sound

Against the BBC Sound brief, the Harbeth P3ESR XD2 keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Spendor Classic 4/5 is the weaker loudspeaker for that brief.

With the Sugden A21 Signature, the pairing gains most on timing and drive.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the loudspeaker position.

Rogers LS3/5a Classic SE

0 lost· 1 won · BBC Sound

Against the BBC Sound brief, the Spendor Classic 4/5 takes the slot clearly.

With the EAR Yoshino V12, the pairing gains most on timing and drive.

On its own merits the Spendor Classic 4/5 is the weaker loudspeaker — yet it wins here on fit: the pairing with the EAR Yoshino V12 gains timing and drive under the BBC Sound weighting.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the loudspeaker position.

dynamic range is wider... music flowsHi-Fi+ (Sircom) 2021

Falcon Q7 Complete@Home

0 lost· 1 won · BBC Sound

Against the BBC Sound brief, the Spendor Classic 4/5 takes the slot clearly.

With the Creek 4040A, the pairing gains most on timing and drive.

On its own merits the Spendor Classic 4/5 is the weaker loudspeaker — yet it wins here on fit: the pairing with the Creek 4040A gains timing and drive under the BBC Sound weighting.

What the reviewers said

BBC-derived classic mini-monitor heritage Spendor Classic line positioning + Hi-Fi News· Tonal body
voice and instrument articulation focus Spendor + Hi-Fi News heritage reviews· Presence & articulation
open, focused and expansive soundstage What Hi-Fi? 2021· Spatial resolution
wonderfully articulate and fluid What Hi-Fi? 2021· Presence & articulation
seamless and cohesive What Hi-Fi? 2021· Tonal consistency
resolve so much detail What Hi-Fi? 2021· Micro-dynamic resolution
never... rattling your organs Hi-Fi Choice 2023· Bass extension

How it scores

Clarity

  • Spatial resolution 82 from listening evidence

Voice

  • Tonal body 72 from listening evidence
  • Presence & articulation 76 from listening evidence

Bass

  • Bass extension 64 from listening evidence

LowerVolume

  • Micro-dynamic resolution 76 from listening evidence
  • Tonal consistency 76 from listening evidence

Specifications

speaker typestandmount
enclosure typesealed
way count2
drivers15cm EP77 polymer bass/mid + 22mm polyamide dome tweeter
crossover hz4200
sensitivity db84.0
nominal impedance ohm8.0
minimum impedance ohm6.6
recommended amp w25/100
frequency response hz55/25000
dimensions mm188/308/165
weight kg5.0
finishesCherry, Walnut
stand requiredTrue
notes