When a manufacturer revises a product we love, it’s always
going to go one of two ways. Luckily, in the case of the Spendor A6Rs, the
result is all good.
The Award-winning Spendor A6 speakers from 2009 have been
given a makeover, with big changes including a new mid/bass drive-unit and a
re-engineered crossover. You’d never know it to look at them, though, as they
keep the same compact, understated design as their predecessors.
There’s a lot of the A6 charm in these new speakers. The
musical ability is very much still there and the A6Rs show a keen interest in
making any music you throw at them feel right at home.
Coherent across the board
They put in a superb performance across the frequency range,
showcasing a surprisingly deep and punchy low end alongside an expressive
midrange and a detailed, refined treble. Each feels like a well-judged part of
a whole, slotting together perfectly to produce a well-balanced, coherent
listen.
They are a
fantastic pair of speakers
This is in no small part down to that new 18cm mid/bass
driver, which uses materials developed for Spendor’s much pricier D7 speakers.
Detail is second to none too, and there is layer upon layer
of subtlety and fine detail to grasp onto. Notes have depth and dimension,
nuances are picked up in all their glory and vocals are conveyed with all the
reality and emotion with which they were recorded.
The original A6s were never dynamic slouches, but the A6Rs
show another level of dynamic attack that outshines even our Award-winning PMC
Twenty 23s they keep a strong grasp on bouncing bass-lines, with a low end
that’s both punchy and agile enough to keep up with the energy found elsewhere
in the frequency range.
Excellent with dynamics
Listen to Miley Cyrus’s Wrecking Ball and the A6Rs do a
great job of contrasting the powerful choruses against the quieter, more
melancholy verses. They’re not scared of going quiet either, something that
really makes all the difference when building momentum in a track.
They keep the same
compact
And just try to fluster them – you’ll quickly find it’s next
to impossible. From giving them full-on orchestral pieces to feast on to
challenging them with something like DJ Shadow’s beat-shifting Organ Donor,
they never lose their cool or composure.
Their upfront character does require some consideration when
it comes to system matching, though. The treble stayed just on the right side
of bright and aggressive when we were testing them with our reference Bryston
and Naim kit, but matching with a similarly forward amp could tip the scale
into hardness – something worth considering if you’re building a system from
scratch.
The Spendor A6Rs are a fantastic pair of speakers that
manage to do so much right and very little wrong. They won’t go as loud as
something like the Tannoy Precision 6.4s, but they’ll go pretty close
challenging for scale and stereo image.
Of course, this all comes at a premium that puts them
towards the top of the price bracket compared with their competitors. Audition
them, though, and you’ll hear where every penny of your money is going.
The Spendor A6Rs
are a fantastic pair of speakers that manage to do so much right and very
little wrong.
Rating
For: Great dynamic attack; admirably rhythmic; stacks
of detail; organized; well-balanced.
Against: Treble could become too bright if paired
with the wrong amp.
Verdict: An outstanding pair of speakers that deliver
detail and dynamic punch in spades.
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Specifications
·
Sensitivity: 88dB
·
Crossover point: 3.3 kHz
·
Impedance: 8 ohms
·
Finishes: black ash, cherry, light oak, dark walnut
·
Dimensions: 875 x 192 x 280 mm
·
Weight: 18 kg
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