Spendor 4/5 (1989–1994)
The Spendor 4/5 is one of those quiet classics that never made much noise in the press but earned lasting devotion from owners. A compact 2-way stand-mount with a 6.5-inch woofer and a 1-inch soft-dome tweeter, it was produced from 1989 to 1994 — a period when Spendor was transitioning to new ownership. It arrived at a list price of $430 per pair, though at least one long-term owner recalls it selling for $399 when he first encountered it.
What the record shows is a speaker prized for balance rather than bass. Doug Schneider of SoundStage Network, who has owned a pair for nearly 30 years, described their "wonderful balance" and "magic in their midrange," while acknowledging the bass is lacking in the lowest octave. He found them best in a nearfield setting — which suits their size and intent. Vintageaudiophile.com similarly calls the 4/5 a classic mini-monitor with balanced, uncoloured sound, outstanding midrange openness, and beautiful imaging when placed on stands near a wall. One forum owner, posting in 2012 after 20 years with a pair, put it simply: they are not bass-heavy and are all about musicality.
Specifications are thin beyond the driver complement. Known figures include an impedance of 8 ohms and a frequency response of approximately 70Hz–20kHz, with sensitivity around 84dB — low for the era, but workable in nearfield use. No crossover frequency, dimensions, or cabinet details are documented in the available sources.
Surviving period coverage is nearly nonexistent — a 1974 Studio Sound survey of Spendor monitors appears to predate this model, and later mentions in Audio magazine are classified ads rather than reviews. The 4/5's reputation has been built almost entirely by word of mouth among owners who kept them for decades. That may be the most honest measure of the design.
- Type: 2-way stand-mount loudspeaker
- Drivers: 6.5" woofer, 1" soft-dome tweeter
- Impedance: 8 ohms
- Frequency response: ~70Hz–20kHz
- Sensitivity: ~84dB
- Production: 1989–1994
- List price: $430/pair
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