Views on Spendor A9 and B&W805d

[Drummo]

After some opinions please.
I listened to the Spendor A5 and was reasonably happy then made the mistake of listening to the A9. Hard to then settle for A5's after hearing the A9. Yes I know a big price jump. Anyway thought I'd listen to a few other speakers and ended up listening to the B&W 805d's and was frankly very impressed. I just have a hard time justifying the same price for the B&W's as the A9's. I know I should be going on the sound but ... I also feel you generally pay more for the B&W's because of the name. All the reviews I've read say the B&W's are the stand out.
Thanks

 

[TLS Guy]

After some opinions please.
I listened to the Spendor A5 and was reasonably happy then made the mistake of listening to the A9. Hard to then settle for A5's after hearing the A9. Yes I know a big price jump. Anyway thought I'd listen to a few other speakers and ended up listening to the B&W 805d's and was frankly very impressed. I just have a hard time justifying the same price for the B&W's as the A9's. I know I should be going on the sound but ... I also feel you generally pay more for the B&W's because of the name. All the reviews I've read say the B&W's are the stand out.
Thanks

Personally I would vote for the Spendor, unless you want a bookshelf. I have always been impressed with Spendor speakers.

The owner and designer is one of that group of fine engineers who came from the famous BBC speaker research projects. Their speakers always have that lovely BBC balance.

They may not grab you by the throat at first, but I think you will be able to live with them over and extended period and really get to like them.

Personally I think in the B & W 800 range you need to be at the 804 D or preferably the 803D at least to have something comparable to the Spendor A9.

 

[cornelius]

I agree, I heard some domestic Spendors for the first time the other day (I've only heard them in recording studios) and they sounded great. I prefer them to B&W.

I stumbled on the Spendors because I was auditioning some Harbeths which I liked even more - not the sexiest looking speakers, but easily one of the best I've ever heard. After hearing them, I went to the Harbeth site and found the designer is not at all into any hifi BS (speaker break-in, fancy cables/stands, mega-buck amps...).

 

[dkane360]

I had never heard of Spendor until now, and I just wanted to comment on how absolutely beautiful some of those speakers are. My favorites are the Spendor ST's.

 

[ohskigod]

I agree completely with this. A textbook instance where price does not equate to a better speaker. I never understood the allure of the B&W's at the pricepoint, particulary the 805's. I heard them, hooked up to ridiculously expensive tube monoblocks and the result....not good to my ears. it might have been because I was expecting magic for that pricepoint. I;ve heard the 805's in a couple other settings, enough to know tht for the most part, the high end B&W's just do not justify there price to me.

I have owned some of there older bookshelves that I liked though ( particularly the DM series that had silk tweeters that were a little more laid back then most B&W's)

I've heard a set of Spendors once, they were effing fantastic. can't remember what they were though. I consider them speakers I would never pay for myself but understand why people do if they have the cash burning a hole. B&W? not so much

 

[Drummo]

Thanks guys, appreciate it. I will give the spendors another listen because the sound room had a few acoustics problems, the dealer hadn't quite finished it when I was there.
The look of the A's don't overly grab me but I'm after sound most, looks not so much.
Cheers