Yamaha SPM-3
The Yamaha SPM-3 is a 3-way floorstanding loudspeaker. What sets it apart in Yamaha's history is the enclosure, which is made of resin concrete and is sometimes described as having a stone front baffle. That was a novel way to build a cabinet in its era, and it's the main reason the SPM-3 is remembered today. One owner who bought a pair new in 1982 called them spectacular and the best-sounding speakers they'd owned. Another source describes the SPM-3 as "a milestone in the history of the box speaker."
On paper the SPM-3 is a fairly straightforward 3-way design. The midrange and tweeter are arranged one above the other, and there are two rear bass reflex tubes. The dense, inert resin concrete cabinet was the point, and the idea was to kill unwanted cabinet coloration dead. One translated source describes the bass/midrange driver as a "43 cm three-part" membrane, but that text is garbled and should be read with caution. What's clear is that this is a heavy, physically substantial speaker for its size.
Documentation on the SPM-3 is thin. No production years, original price, or crossover details have surfaced in the record. Period and contemporary listings show it was a rare and unusual model that has since become a sought-after vintage item. Owners who have lived with them tend to be fiercely loyal.
Known specifications:
- 3-way floorstanding loudspeaker
- Frequency range: 38 Hz – 20,000 Hz
- Power handling: 40 W maximum, 60 W program
- Nominal impedance: 8 ohms
- Sensitivity: 91 dB W/m
- Dimensions (W × H × D, incl. base): 333 × 575 × 280 mm
- Weight: 15 kg
- Resin concrete enclosure with two rear bass reflex tubes
Audio (October 1984, p.236) listed the SPM-3 among phono cartridges in its annual directory. That's an apparent editorial misclassification, but it confirms the model was on the market by 1984 and circulating in the US import channel.
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