Spendor A1 (1988)
The Spendor A1 was the company's late-1980s budget offering. It was a two-way, rear-ported stand-mount that sold for $465 USD at launch in 1988. Chief engineer Philip Swift designed it while Spendor was under the ownership of Audio Fidelity, and it was aimed squarely at the Japanese market, where compact, high-quality two-ways were in strong demand. It sat below the SP2 in the lineup, and the hi-fi press described it as a budget model in Spendor's range. Sensitivity is 84dB, nominal impedance is 8 ohms, and the recommended amplifier range is 25 to 75 watts per channel.
The drivers are a 180mm polymer-cone bass/mid unit designed in-house at Spendor and a dome tweeter, crossing over at 3.5kHz. The cabinet is finished in real walnut veneer. The manufacturer described the construction as "interlocked," with a limpet-damped front baffle, and the crossover components sit on a separate board to minimize vibration effects. The A1 is designed to be placed close to a wall, with its reflex port firing rearward to reinforce the low end. The cabinet is magnetically shielded, and a single pair of binding posts handles the connection.
Reception was warm. The Absolute Sound's reviewer called it "a remarkably well-balanced and natural-sounding mini-monitor," and the broader press liked its natural midrange and tuneful bass. A common caveat, echoed by owners and reviewers alike, is that the bottom end can be shy if the speaker isn't positioned near a wall. That fits the design intent. Used prices have been rising steadily, though a pair in good condition with original packaging could still be found around £250 as of 2016.
Two things to watch for on a pair today. The foam surrounds on the bass drivers are prone to deterioration, and the crossover capacitors are considered consumable items. Both are straightforward to replace, and both are part of the expected maintenance on a speaker now pushing forty years old.
Known specifications:
- Type: 2-way, bass reflex (rear port)
- Drivers: 180mm polymer cone bass/mid, 19mm soft dome tweeter
- Crossover: 3.5kHz
- Sensitivity: 84dB (1W/1m)
- Impedance: 8 ohms nominal
- Dimensions: 200 × 300 × 250mm (W×H×D)
- Weight: 9kg each
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