Spendor S3/5R2 (c. 2013)

The S3/5R2 is the second-generation iteration of Spendor's compact two-way monitor, a speaker that wears its LS3/5A lineage openly — the dimensions closely follow the original BBC design, though Spendor was careful not to make it a slavish copy. It stands a little over 30cm tall and is notably shallow at roughly 18cm deep. Inside, it mounts a 140mm mid-bass driver and a 22mm soft dome tweeter in a sealed enclosure, with the cabinet built using the same thin-wall, internally-braced construction as the rest of the Classic range. The fit and finish drew praise from Hi-Fi Choice, which found the S3/5R2 solidly built, attractive, and worth its £850 asking price.

This is a small, low-sensitivity speaker — variously rated at 84 or 85dB/W/m depending on the source — and it wants a decent amplifier to show its best. A Dutch forum discussion from January 2013 circled around exactly that: one owner reported his Spendors "play fine" on 50 watts of class A, while a moderator noted that given the low sensitivity, the speakers "can handle a hefty amplifier." The owner's final verdict was simpler: "it just sounds good." The S3/5R2 was also listed as "SAM ready" for Devialet's Expert Pro amplifiers, meaning the amplifier could be configured to match the speaker's specific characteristics.

One curiosity: the S3/5R2 succeeded the S3/5se, which Art Dudley reviewed for Stereophile in July 2003; the R2 update was covered in the same magazine by a writer reflecting on his friendship with Dudley. The model was sold in North America as Spendor's smallest and least expensive bookshelf speaker, completing the Classic line alongside the A3 floorstander.

Known specifications (where sources agree):

• Type: 2-way, sealed bookshelf/standmount
• Drive units: 140mm mid-bass, 22mm soft dome tweeter
• Frequency response: 75Hz–20kHz ±3dB anechoic
• Impedance: 8 ohms nominal (6.2 ohms minimum)
• Power handling: 100W unclipped programme
• Dimensions: 165 × 305mm (W×H); depth approximately 180–190mm depending on source
• Weight: 4.6kg

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