Hi guys, used to own the A6. The A6 was gorgeous for natural timbre. voices and acoustic intruments sounded dead on. However, all the new A line spendors lack bass. They roll off at 50hz. This is big problem IMO. Even the A9 with 2 bass drivers is bass light. I found it frustrating. Caused me to seek out bass heavy recordings. Didn't try them with a sub. With a sub they would probably be sublime. But stand alone, they just need more bass and given the price they really should have more. In the same league but WITH bass is PMC. They have a similar tonal quality IMO to the spendors, but they have much more bass. Highly recommend for spendor lovers.
Spendor A9 : Your first impressions
Hi,
I just upgraded my 3 years old Totem Forest with the Spendor A9. It's my first experience with Spendor speakers but after 3 month of listening to find the Forest successor, I believe the A9 is the one.
My system is
Oppo 83bd SE or Imac + AE + Toslink
Dac PS Audio DlIII Cullen IV
Plinius 9200
Hovland Radia
Acoustic Zen Cables
I find the A9 very neutral and quick but the most improvement over the Forest is on timbers accuracy, they are just beautiful. It's also very transparent, so one must pay attention to the association.
They are not spectacular at first, but cd after cd, you can't just stop listening to them. I like the air between instruments, and especially with voices. The forest used to emphasize the voices over the rest, here there is more space to put everything in the right place.
The bass is clean but not very deep, which is maybe the only weakness I see. Although it doesn't bother me, as I don't like boomy speakers.
The sensitivity is over 90dB, and are easier to drive than the Totems.
I use to listen to Jazz, world and classical.
In my quest to replace the Forest (which I loved), I've tried:
802D : associated with Mac amps, and it was not great (maybe not 802 fault)
Cremona M : boomy and colored medium...not my taste at all
Some Adam speaker : aggressive highs
Peak Consult Princess Sign.: a big curtain between them and you, where is the presence and the transparency ?
Some Nola floorstanding speaker: boxy sound, which is weird with theses medium and tweeters outside the cabinet !
Devore Gibbons 8: superb small speakers, so musical, but in the same league as the Forests (slightly more expensive). I regret to not have tested the Nines.
Wilson Sophia 3: a lot of energy and obviously very good. Best bass I've heard. Not as refined mediums & highs as the Magico. 2,5 x more expensive than the A9.
Magico V2: clearly an other class, like the sophia, but I know why they are so expensive. Although for the money I believe the A9 give you 95% of these two...
So now if other people own or have listened to these A9, you are welcome to give your impressions here.
Fabien
I just upgraded my 3 years old Totem Forest with the Spendor A9. It's my first experience with Spendor speakers but after 3 month of listening to find the Forest successor, I believe the A9 is the one.
My system is
Oppo 83bd SE or Imac + AE + Toslink
Dac PS Audio DlIII Cullen IV
Plinius 9200
Hovland Radia
Acoustic Zen Cables
I find the A9 very neutral and quick but the most improvement over the Forest is on timbers accuracy, they are just beautiful. It's also very transparent, so one must pay attention to the association.
They are not spectacular at first, but cd after cd, you can't just stop listening to them. I like the air between instruments, and especially with voices. The forest used to emphasize the voices over the rest, here there is more space to put everything in the right place.
The bass is clean but not very deep, which is maybe the only weakness I see. Although it doesn't bother me, as I don't like boomy speakers.
The sensitivity is over 90dB, and are easier to drive than the Totems.
I use to listen to Jazz, world and classical.
In my quest to replace the Forest (which I loved), I've tried:
802D : associated with Mac amps, and it was not great (maybe not 802 fault)
Cremona M : boomy and colored medium...not my taste at all
Some Adam speaker : aggressive highs
Peak Consult Princess Sign.: a big curtain between them and you, where is the presence and the transparency ?
Some Nola floorstanding speaker: boxy sound, which is weird with theses medium and tweeters outside the cabinet !
Devore Gibbons 8: superb small speakers, so musical, but in the same league as the Forests (slightly more expensive). I regret to not have tested the Nines.
Wilson Sophia 3: a lot of energy and obviously very good. Best bass I've heard. Not as refined mediums & highs as the Magico. 2,5 x more expensive than the A9.
Magico V2: clearly an other class, like the sophia, but I know why they are so expensive. Although for the money I believe the A9 give you 95% of these two...
So now if other people own or have listened to these A9, you are welcome to give your impressions here.
Fabien
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- 18 posts total
- 18 posts total