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Budget Hunter: Spendor S8e vs Totem Hawk

I'm replacing a pair of B&W Matrix 804s with something less fatiguing and (hopefully) more musically involving.

A pair of Spendor S8e ($1200) and a pair of Totem Hawks ($1800) are for sale locally. I like what I've read about both. Before I drive an hour and a half in opposite directions to audition, I hoped I might get some insights from this group about any personal experiences you may have had. Likes and dislikes. My tastes in music runs the gamut but the human voice is the common thread through all of it.

The rest of my system is capable but modest. A Musical Fidelity A300 dual mono Integrated (150/250), MF A3 CD transport, Denafrips Aries II, Rega P2 and a Bluesound Node2i.

Thanks in advance!
craig_co

Showing 7 responses by jjss49

jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
craig

just noticed these... a little more $ than s8e but they are mighty fine and in your backyard!

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisa9893-spendor-fl10-full-range

would be an interesting alternative to a harbeth c7 or super 5, less $ than those, better bass response

good luck, happy hunting :)
jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
@craig_co

don’t know where you are located... here is a set... unmolested... maybe a road trip to get them?

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649675252-spendor-s8-e-speakers-cherry-finish/
jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
Totems are well made speakers, have a good following. The metal tweeter does have a propensity for brightness/harshness, esp. with solid state gear. One can use tube gear to take the edge off some, but one needs to be careful with matching tube amps as Totems are typically lower impedance and lower efficiency, so tube amps may smooth out the treble but in the process, also lose a good bit of the good bass response (given their size) which is one of Totem’s typical strengths.
jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
op

perhaps ask the seller of the s8e set if he has photos of the damaged speakers before he sent them to the refinisher...
jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
here is an old listing with excellent photos of the speaker in stock/original form...

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649453146-spendor-s8e/
jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
i am not a wood worker and have no knowledge of what it takes to relaminate or re-veneer the cabinets... good you are seeing them in person; the photos look good but one must check in person to be sure

i am also curious about the bottoms, don’t these speakers have bottom plinths? are there threads for spikes? speakers like that need to be grounded with spikes to sound their best

also, i agree about the grilles... as mentioned above by yogi

not many sets of these around, so shouldn’t dismiss, but needs a good check out and maybe some negotiation on a fair price

good luck
jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
i would go for the spendors... unless you like a bright treble presentation... which the totems will provide

musical fidelity amps are not super smooth, the sound is more or less neutral solid state (so i would choose speakers with a dose of warmth)
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