Spendor S3/5 standard vs “SE” version????

Mfm6--I recently bought but ended up selling the standard S3/5 because I found its sound very similar to how you describe the S3/5R. I found the treble fatiguing even at 50-60dB and figured it was probably because of my room. The highest highs rolled off, but the octave below that seemed very forward. I did, however, find the bass to be more natural in my (larger) room than you describe. I could definitely see why people love them: vocals were positively alive and stringed instruments had a lot of presence and body. In the end, my ears just didn't enjoy their emphasis. Glad to hear the SEs have been winners for you! I have some different speakers on the way now but will definitely give the SEs a listen if I get a chance down the road.

Good discussion here as the Spendor S3/5 in whatever version, are some speakers I'm definely interested in when I do my next speaker upgrade. Just from what I'm reading it looks like the SE version might be the one that suits my listening taste the best.

I'd like to add to my previous comments on the S3/5R, that they had fewer hours on them than the S3/5se I compared them with. If the R were not fully broken in, perhaps this contributed to my experience with them....(?)