Spendor BC-1 loudspeaker Specifications

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Description: Three-way, stand-mounted, reflex-loaded, dynamic loudspeaker. Drive-units: 8" Bextrene-cone woofer, 1.25" soft-dome tweeter, 0.75" soft-dome supertweeter. Crossover frequencies: 3kHz, 13kHz. Nominal impedance: 8 ohms. Power handling: 55W program, maximum. Maximum sound pressure level: 101dBA.
Dimensions: 25" (635mm) H by 12" (305mm) W by 12" (305mm) D. Recommended stand height: 8" (203mm).
Price: $570/pair (1978); no longer available (2013).
Manufacturer: Spendor Audio Systems Ltd., G5 Ropemaker Park, South Road, Hailsham, East Sussex BN27 3GY, England, UK. US Distributor: Audio International, Washington DC (1978); Bluebird Music Limited, 500 Witmer Industrial Estates, Niagara Falls, NY 14304 (2013). Tel: (416) 638-8207. Fax: (416) 638-8115. Web: www.bluebirdmusic.com.

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COMMENTS
pj's picture

When I was in high school in 1977 I bought these speakers. Holt's assessment is right on. 

They were reconed with Harbeth Radial drivers, which improved the performance considerably.

I enjoyed listening to them this afternoon.

jmsent's picture

They were my first "high end" speakers. Loved them, even with all their flaws. Very listenable. But the woofer was very fragile, and with a strong bass pulse could be partially demagnetized or quickly destroyed. Holt's subjective listening description was fairly accurate, but his "subjective frequency response graph" is utter baloney.  There was no huge peak at 12kHz. The speaker had a smooth, rising response in the treble and then dropped like a rock above 13kHz. I rather suspect he was hearing some whistles or other garbage coming from  the primitive Celestion 1300 tweeter.

MVBC's picture

But the BC-1's strongest asset, its musical naturalness, is unfortunately going to be lost on most audiophiles who, unfamiliar with the sounds of live acoustical instruments, are incapable of recognizing it when they hear it.

Wise words...wink

sdone's picture

I did not have this loudspeaker, but the stand on which it is sitting in the photo is the Speaker Upper, a very nice sturdy stand for such speakers. I have them under my McIntosh speakers which I bought back some 45 years ago and they are still made. The loudspeakers still sound as good as they did.

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