Spendor v. 'briks?
Posted by: Phil Barry on 03 January 2004
Several years ago I set my sights on Spendor S100 or SP100s. I've been able to hear S100s and 'briks - in non-ideal circumstances, to be sure, but what I have heard certainly has influenced me.
I have done nothing like a scientific comparison, but to my ears, the 'briks show up S100s problems, and the S100 show up brik problems.
I like the tonality of the S100s and the speed and detail of the 'briks. Is there anything out there that combines the good elemenst and avoids the weaker elements of both?
Thanks.
Phil
I have done nothing like a scientific comparison, but to my ears, the 'briks show up S100s problems, and the S100 show up brik problems.
I like the tonality of the S100s and the speed and detail of the 'briks. Is there anything out there that combines the good elemenst and avoids the weaker elements of both?
Thanks.
Phil
Posted on: 04 January 2004 by Arthur Bye
Phil:
I don't want this to turn into a stand war but a good bit of what John says is unfortunately true. I've had/have both Briks and SP100's. If it's the tonality of the SP100 that you like I would stick with them. If you want more bass speed get a set of custom Mana stands for them. This is especially true if you've got suspended wooden floors. I've tried all different kinds of Mana setup (LP12, CDX, CDS1, 2, Phase 4- 5 tier stand. Some I liked (LP12, CDS1) some I did not (CDS2, Nac252). Easily the most noticable of the lot is when used as a speaker stand.
I'm using Mana stands with my NBL's right now and find them a very compelling combination. Bit of a knife edge in the treble sometimes but its a small price to pay when your bass is set right.
There are some prior posts from Marco/Stallion about the glories of Mana when combined with SP100's. He goes on a bit, but the overall result was positive.
Ron Toolsie has some similar positive posts about Mana as does Mick.
It's definitely worth a listen even if the price is a bit steep.
Arthur Bye
I don't want this to turn into a stand war but a good bit of what John says is unfortunately true. I've had/have both Briks and SP100's. If it's the tonality of the SP100 that you like I would stick with them. If you want more bass speed get a set of custom Mana stands for them. This is especially true if you've got suspended wooden floors. I've tried all different kinds of Mana setup (LP12, CDX, CDS1, 2, Phase 4- 5 tier stand. Some I liked (LP12, CDS1) some I did not (CDS2, Nac252). Easily the most noticable of the lot is when used as a speaker stand.
I'm using Mana stands with my NBL's right now and find them a very compelling combination. Bit of a knife edge in the treble sometimes but its a small price to pay when your bass is set right.
There are some prior posts from Marco/Stallion about the glories of Mana when combined with SP100's. He goes on a bit, but the overall result was positive.
Ron Toolsie has some similar positive posts about Mana as does Mick.
It's definitely worth a listen even if the price is a bit steep.
Arthur Bye
Posted on: 23 February 2004 by lp12
Hi, I have heard a few of the Harbeths, none of the Spendor. I am not a fan but have one insight that might be of help.
I believe that harbeth and Spendor are in 'some' ways reasonably close in design, both decendants of the BBC speaker design philosophy. I also read recently that the Harbeths use a slightly lighter cone material than the Spendors and the writer (sorry dont remember where I saw the review) said that the Harbeths did a little better with detail than the Harbeths.
Might be worth looking at a compable harbeth to the Spendor, i imagine there is one.
Best Regards,
Adam
I believe that harbeth and Spendor are in 'some' ways reasonably close in design, both decendants of the BBC speaker design philosophy. I also read recently that the Harbeths use a slightly lighter cone material than the Spendors and the writer (sorry dont remember where I saw the review) said that the Harbeths did a little better with detail than the Harbeths.
Might be worth looking at a compable harbeth to the Spendor, i imagine there is one.
Best Regards,
Adam
Posted on: 23 February 2004 by Mick P
Chaps
I have a pair of Briks mounted on Mana stands and they sound great.
The only person who, to my knowledge, has demmed a pair of Briks and Spendors in the same system is JW of Mana.
Both he and his partner came out in favour of the Briks. All this can be seen on the Mana forum.
Marco's room is small whilst JW's is large, so size of room may well have an impact.
You really have to do the dem yourself to be totally sure which you prefer.
If you do go for the Briks, for goodness sake, plonk them on Mana because it is a natural marriage.
Regards
Mick
I have a pair of Briks mounted on Mana stands and they sound great.
The only person who, to my knowledge, has demmed a pair of Briks and Spendors in the same system is JW of Mana.
Both he and his partner came out in favour of the Briks. All this can be seen on the Mana forum.
Marco's room is small whilst JW's is large, so size of room may well have an impact.
You really have to do the dem yourself to be totally sure which you prefer.
If you do go for the Briks, for goodness sake, plonk them on Mana because it is a natural marriage.
Regards
Mick
Posted on: 23 February 2004 by graphoman
are both the Spendor and Linn “neutral” with regard to genres (pop vs classical) in your view?
graphoman
graphoman
Posted on: 23 February 2004 by Eric Barry
Something I've wondered about John Watson's Spendor audition--did he plonk them down where his Briks stood, or did he fart about with speaker position before setting up a Mana stack? The Spendors are not meant for back wall placement, and furthermore the tweeter should be directly on axis (important both for height and for toe-in), so dropping them in for Briks will put them at a big disadvantage.
I may disagree with the above comments on depth. The Spendors have greater soundstage depth if sitting near the sweetspot while the Briks have little depth. However, something about the Briks' soundfield fills the listening room in a more present way and they sound great off axis--I'd guess it's the top-firing drivers doing that.
Watson said the Briks sound more interesting and I would agree (I own both speakers). However interesting is not always good. Their primary strength is that transients sound amazing. Second, the bass is nice. But midrange tonal color and richness is not a strength.
The Spendors' biggest problem is they are a bit ripe in the mid and upper bass, secondly they don't have endless treble extension, third they are a bit polite on transients, fourth they sound a bit constricted. On the other hand they are very coherent, pretty good with pace, and have a lot of scale for the price. The Spendors don't need a ton of power either--they are popular with the SET crowd. However, an easy way to lighten the load is to bi-amp (they are tri-wired). A 140 is fine on just the bass driver.
If I had to choose between them I'd have a very difficult time, though ultimately I too would like a combination of traits. As a pipe dream I'd be interested in designing a three way sealed box that attempted to mate the strengths of Briks and Spendors but I know nothing of design or construction, it just seems like a good idea.
Phil you might want to hear the Harbeth Compact 7es, which has a specially designed cone material which is stiffer and less resonant than the polypropylene of the Spendor or the Bextrene of the B110 (Briks, Kans, LS3/5as), and a metal dome tweeter. Supposed to be crisper and more detailed than Spendors but still with BBC tonality. For what they are they are a bit of a bargain at $2199 (as against $2900 for Spendor SP1/2) but prices are due to rise in March due to the exchange rate. I haven't heard them myself, but I'd like to.
--Eric
I may disagree with the above comments on depth. The Spendors have greater soundstage depth if sitting near the sweetspot while the Briks have little depth. However, something about the Briks' soundfield fills the listening room in a more present way and they sound great off axis--I'd guess it's the top-firing drivers doing that.
Watson said the Briks sound more interesting and I would agree (I own both speakers). However interesting is not always good. Their primary strength is that transients sound amazing. Second, the bass is nice. But midrange tonal color and richness is not a strength.
The Spendors' biggest problem is they are a bit ripe in the mid and upper bass, secondly they don't have endless treble extension, third they are a bit polite on transients, fourth they sound a bit constricted. On the other hand they are very coherent, pretty good with pace, and have a lot of scale for the price. The Spendors don't need a ton of power either--they are popular with the SET crowd. However, an easy way to lighten the load is to bi-amp (they are tri-wired). A 140 is fine on just the bass driver.
If I had to choose between them I'd have a very difficult time, though ultimately I too would like a combination of traits. As a pipe dream I'd be interested in designing a three way sealed box that attempted to mate the strengths of Briks and Spendors but I know nothing of design or construction, it just seems like a good idea.
Phil you might want to hear the Harbeth Compact 7es, which has a specially designed cone material which is stiffer and less resonant than the polypropylene of the Spendor or the Bextrene of the B110 (Briks, Kans, LS3/5as), and a metal dome tweeter. Supposed to be crisper and more detailed than Spendors but still with BBC tonality. For what they are they are a bit of a bargain at $2199 (as against $2900 for Spendor SP1/2) but prices are due to rise in March due to the exchange rate. I haven't heard them myself, but I'd like to.
--Eric