Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
All
AC1
reviews
Manufacturer details
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 165 x 305 x 188mm
- Weight: 5kg
- Frequency Response: 55Hz – 25kHz
- Impedance: 8 ohms (min 6.6)
- Amplifier Power: 25-100watts
- Sensitivity: 84dB
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- Spendor loudspeakers are uniquely designed to flex and interact with the music, achieved via thin-walled cabinets with strategically placed viscoelastic damping pads, rather than heavy damping, to reduce blurring.
- The brand's drivers are designed and manufactured in-house, including specialized EP77 polymer cones, to achieve specific performance goals and seamless integration within their speakers.
- Their 'Linear Flow' port technology uses aerodynamically profiled baffles to create a tapered twin-venturi port, resulting in a low phase shift and improved bass agility.
Select products
A-Line Loudspeakers
- Positioning: The entry-level range in Spendor's lineup, offering compact and versatile loudspeakers.
- Description: Features energetic and engaging sound, making them ideal for small to medium-sized rooms. They use linear flow port technology, which enhances bass performance even when placed close to walls, setting them apart from the D-Line and Classic series that focus more on transparency and scale. This series is perfect for those with a moderate budget seeking a lively and fun listening experience without the need for extensive space or high-end amplification.
D-Line Loudspeakers
- Positioning: The mid-range offering, providing a balance of performance and sophistication.
- Description: Known for their dynamic and pure sound, they excel in clarity and resolution, making them suitable for audiophiles who value detail and precision. The D7.2 and D9.2 models incorporate advanced cabinet designs that minimize distortion, offering a more refined sound compared to the A-Line's focus on energy and the Classic's warmth.
Classic Loudspeakers
- Positioning: The high-end, premium range, embodying Spendor's traditional design and sound philosophy.
- Description: Delivers a warm and rich sound, capturing the essence of the original recording with a nostalgic touch. They include advanced materials like Kevlar composite drivers for enhanced bass and midrange clarity, distinguishing them from the more modern-sounding A-Line and D-Line.
Our take on the brand
Look inside the brand
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
First up: our 5th-generation Linear‑Flow (twin‑Venturi) port used in our D7.2 and D9.2 loudspeakers. Inspired by aerodynamics research, even F1 diffuser tech, it enables controlled airflow with reduced turbulence, giving you bass that’s tight, accurate, and uncoloured - even in smaller rooms or loudspeakers placed close to a wall.
Second: Again, used in our D-Line series, our LPZ tweeter paired with EP77 polymer cones. The LPZ tweeter uses a stainless-steel front plate and precision micro‑foil to create a linear, phase-correct output-imagine the clarity of a finely focused camera lens. That, together with our EP77 polymer mid/bass cones and Kevlar bass units, delivers Spendor’s unmistakeable clarity, neutrality, and musical realism.
What's your approach to customer support?
We encourage customers to reach out to their authorised Spendor retailer or distributor as the first point of contact. They’re well-equipped to help with setup, basic troubleshooting, and warranty queries. Most issues are resolved quickly at that level, and it keeps things local and convenient for the customer.
If there’s a more technical issue that needs our attention, the dealer will liaise directly with us here at Spendor. From our UK facility, we offer practical, honest support, whether that means supplying a replacement part, giving technical guidance, or handling a product return.
What we believe sets us apart is our personal, no-nonsense approach. We're a close-knit team, and that allows us to respond quickly and thoughtfully. If something goes wrong, we aim to make it right with minimal fuss and maximum clarity.
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
I love this question! It’s hard to pick three, but here are our standing picks that can really show off what Spendor does best:
- “Hotel California” (Live – Eagles): Beautiful layering - acoustic guitar plucks, live room ambience, vocals - it’s a showcase for detail and atmosphere.
- “Royals” – Lorde: It’s all about that punchy, disciplined bass and beam‑straight vocals-excellent for revealing rhythm precision and the tweeter’s clarity.
- “Take Five” – The Dave Brubeck Quartet: Classic sax lines, brushed cymbals, piano timing-it tests imaging and rhythm on a new level.
What other products pair best with yours?
We design our loudspeakers to be honest and revealing, so we’re proud to say they work well with a wide range of quality electronics. That said, we’re always a little cautious about making specific recommendations. Taste in sound is personal, and what suits one listener may not suit another.
That said, over the years we've found that products from Naim, Cyrus, Exposure, Chord Electronics, and Auralic consistently complement our speakers. They bring out the musicality and natural balance that Spendor is known for, and together they create systems that are expressive, engaging, and a joy to listen to.
Used
Spendor
What if you spend more?
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Our summary
Product Strengths
- Delivers clear, dynamic, spacious, full-range sound that reveals every detail in a recording
- Exceptional styling and build quality
- Outstanding dynamic capabilities and tonal balance
- Wide dispersion and seamless integration across seating positions
- Versatile sealed/ported design for multiple room configurations
Product Considerations
- Large and heavy, requiring planning and effort for installation
- Requires high-quality amplification to reach its full potential, AV receivers are not ideal
- Cannot be auditioned before purchase due to direct-to-consumer model, with returns being a hassle due to size/weight
- May dominate smaller listening spaces, requiring a recommended listening distance of 13 feet
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- It has better low bass than Sonus Faber Sonetto V G2 and Estelon Aura
- It holds its own against speakers like Perlisten R7t, Perlisten S7t, KEF Reference 5 Meta, Focal Kanta No.3, Focal Sopra 2, Sonus Faber Sonetto VIII, Paradigm Founder 120, and Revel PerformaBe F328Be
Takeaway: The Arendal 1528 Tower 8 loudspeaker is a great choice for people who want exceptional sound and build quality. These speakers are versatile for both music and movies, making listening a truly immersive experience
Video review
Our take on the brand
Product Strengths
- Exceptional sound quality with unparalleled clarity and detail
- Cutting-edge driver technologies are used for superior performance
- Stunning aesthetics with premium finish options (Datuk Gloss and Midnight Blue Metallic finishes)
- Versatile performance in both home theatre and hifi applications
- Robust construction with high-quality components
Product Considerations
- Premium pricing may not suit all budgets
- Substantial size requires adequate space for optimal placement
- May require high-quality amplification to reach its full potential
Takeaway: The Bowers & Wilkins HTM71 S3 Signature Centre Speaker offers exceptional sound and build quality, making it a worthy addition to any audio system. It is a great choice for those seeking the ultimate center channel experience.
Video review
Our take on the brand
The hardest working speaker in any home theater and yet the least appreciated. Natural, True vocals are never easy while maintaining super low distortion and extreme dynamics that movies demand is what sets the R-series apart. The same DPC control with clarity that make you forget you have speakers in your room at all and just enjoy yourself. Designed to be mounted on optional stand, or mounted to a wall with our tilt swivel bracket. Sharing “trickle-down” technology from our flagship S-Series, the DPC-Array here based on three 26mm domes, guarantees excellent directivity control and timbre matching with all R-Series speakers. The Silk diaphragms developed ground up, chosen specifically their smooth, effortless representation of midrange and treble. The 165mm woofers are made from our proprietary HPF pulp, two years in development, bringing new technology to one of the oldest materials used in loudspeaker design.
Product Strengths
- The R5c center channel speaker allows dialog to be clear and intelligible amid layers of effects sounds
- The R5c maintains performance and clarity even when listening decently off-axis
Product Considerations
- Impedance drops rather low, so more quality power on tap to use with these speakers is better
- Too much bass or upper bass was present
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Revel F228Be towers: Revels tended to make vocals and some instruments sound strangely "tall," whereas the Perlisten was far more of a point-source presentation with vocals and instruments being centered to the speaker
Takeaway: The R5c is great for listening to music or for home theaters. It ensures all voices can be heard clearly, even when there are a lot of other sounds.
Video review
Our take on the brand
ELYSIAN Centre brings a new dimension to the ELYSIAN series performance, tuning the application for mind-blowing home theatre settings. Each component part is engineered to the very highest standard. The drivers, the crossover, the cabinet – every aspect has been developed in harmony and without cost constraint to push the project to its performance limit. This thorough and no-compromise approach has led the Wharfedale engineers to create a benchmark in affordable, audiophile-grade luxury loudspeakers. Cutting-edge design and class-leading technology are combined to deliver musical reproduction that will proudly challenge the world’s finest loudspeakers.
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Unrivalled audio clarity and detail across a vast frequency spectrum
- Dynamic three‐way design delivers immersive, lifelike sound
- Innovative AMT tweeter produces crisp, sparkling highs
- Robust bass reflex technology for deep, resonant low frequencies
- Exquisite hand‐polished finishes that double as statement décor
- Flexible placement providing consistent performance throughout the room
Product Considerations
- A premium investment best suited to the discerning audiophile, where professional setup is recommended to fully exploit its potential
Takeaway: The Elysian C delivers immersive, lifelike sound with clarity and detail. Its design will enhance any living space and provide consistent performance throughout the room.
Video review
Our take on the brand
What competes at this price?
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Small compared to others in its price range, making it suitable for smaller spaces and those with aesthetic constraints
- Capable of expansive staging, creating a holographic presentation with good depth and dimensionality, regardless of the amplifier used
- Delivers refined treble regardless of the price of the amplifier connected
- Spacious sound space and large sound stage
Product Considerations
- The claws that come with the Totem Bison are not adjustable
- Totem recommends zero toe-in, and this seems to be a good recommendation
- Sound may vary, based on personal height
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The Totem Bison has forward side of neutral treble versus neutral to dark treble of the Buchardt S400 Mark II; the Bison is slightly warm in the midrange versus the Buchardt being warmer overall; the Bison has tonally richer bass, but the Buchardt has more bass overall
- The Totem Bison has forward side of neutral treble versus neutral to dark treble of the KEF R3 Meta; imaging on the Bison can be the same or slightly better; the Bison has tonally richer bass, but the R3 Meta has more bass overall
- Both the Totem Bison and Focal Aria 906 are on the forward side of neutral with treble, but the Bison's treble attack is slightly soft whereas the Aria 906's is slightly sharp; the Bison has a fuller midrange sound and slightly warmer tone, and the Bison's bass is juicier, more organic, and richer overall
- The PSB Alpha T20s are very similar in size to the Totem Bison Towers (32.5 inches tall), thus they are smaller audiophile floorstanding speakers
Takeaway: The Totem Bison offers attributes found in many top speakers and is a good option for those with size constraints who still want great treble refinement and a holographic midrange. It can be paired with both expensive and affordable amplifiers.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Impactful bass moves air and adds visceral depth to music and movie effects, even without a subwoofer
- Seamless and engaging sound makes every album feel fresh and enthralling, maintaining consistent, pleasing audio without causing listener fatigue
- Vocal presence allows for relaxed listening and renders music in a way that encourages sharing with others
- Attractive design blends technical prowess with stylish aesthetics, with options for different finishes like Moss Green
- Wide dispersion offers a broad soundstage and an enveloping soundfield
Product Considerations
- Expense relative to its capabilities is a potential consideration
- In small rooms, performance could suffer due to the high-mounted tweeter and narrow vertical dispersion window
- When pushed, the 'No. 2' tower center channel model, being a 2-way, may run out of headroom before the No. 2 towers
- A slight lack of dynamics in the bass and high mids around the vocal sweet spot was noted
- Edgy, crisp, and definitive resolution evokes excitement, though these may not be the right choice for all listeners
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to RBH Sound 61-SFM/R, the RBH digs deeper and has its tweeter at a more typical listening height, however, the Aria Evo X No.4 is undeniably better looking
- Compared to SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacles, the Ultra Evolution Pinnacles have deeper and more powerful bass, although its overall frequency response isn't as neutral
- Compared to JBL HDI-3800, the JBL boasts a very wide dynamic range, having a narrower dispersion but more even off-axis response
- Compared to Arendal Sound 1723 Tower, the 1723 Towers have a bit more elevated treble on-axis, but the build quality is certainly a step above the Aria Evo X No.4 or pretty much anything at their pricing, and they can dig deeper in bass
Takeaway: The Focal Aria Evo X is a stylish speaker that sounds great, making it a good option for people who care about both aesthetics and audio quality. It offers powerful performance with seamless sound, bringing music to life.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Lute-shaped cabinets improve sound dispersion characteristics, and help them sonically disappear in the room
- Models like the Sonetto 5G2, 8G2, and Center G2 feature a Camellia midrange driver, which avoids resonances associated with round-shaped midrange drivers
- The woofers and mid-woofers feature a paper-pulp sandwich cone to ensure a natural tone, and a precise and dynamic bass response
- The DAD lens in the tweeter fixes phase issues, allowing the soft dome tweeters to perform linearly all the way out to 40 kHz
- The new concrete base provides more stability, and better vibration management
Product Considerations
- The Sonetto I G2 and Sonetto II G2 bookshelf speakers need good current to show their best, due to their sensitivity (86 dB and 87 dB respectively)
- High quality power amplification is recommended for all Sonus Faber speakers to showcase their improvements
- Careful attention to setup of the Sonetto speakers will reward the listener greatly
- Some models use a downward-firing reflex port, which provides placement flexibility, but careful attention to placement is still needed
Takeaway: The Sonetto speakers offer a smooth, musical sound with detailed clarity and tonal accuracy for both music and movies. They bring high-end design and technology from Sonus Faber's flagship models to a more accessible price point.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Vocals are rendered with rich detail and precise holographic imaging
- Excellent dynamic range and can handle a large room if given enough power
- Exceptional build quality with braced, inert cabinet construction
- Cutting-edge loudspeaker design, with proprietary technologies like the AL-MAC tweeter and CARBON-X woofers
- Gorgeous aesthetics and are available in various finishes, making them suitable for high-end interior décor
Product Considerations
- Some unevenness in its measured response, though this may not be readily audible in a typical listening environment
- Some upper treble raggedness, mostly in the on-axis response
- Needed to be positioned further back for the sweet spot to properly 'open up'
- Spiked feet can be hazardous to hard flooring if not handled carefully
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Founder Series draws on innovations from Paradigm's Persona range, but adds new technologies
Takeaway: The Founder speakers offer great sound quality and luxurious design, making them a worthwhile investment for audiophiles. The 100F is an excellent choice for larger rooms, while the 70LCR offers versatility as a center or front speaker.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Clearer, louder, and crisper sound compared to the KEF R2C
- More prominent and distinct mid-range due to the dedicated mid-range driver
- The Meta material absorbs sound emanating towards the back of the cabinet, resulting in a cleaner, purer treble performance
- Nice wide dispersion, which makes it suitable to be used as a center channel in a horizontal orientation
- Superior nuance and detail in music compared to other speakers in the same environment
Product Considerations
- Limited bass extension; a subwoofer is recommended for deeper bass
- Larger footprint compared to the R2C, which may present placement challenges, such as blocking the TV sensor
- As a sealed box, it does not compete as well with ported speakers in bass extension
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs. KEF Q150: More detail, nuance, and clarity across the entire frequency range—the R6 Meta is more forward in its presentation
- Vs. KEF R2C: Clearer and louder sound with greater impact, thanks to its larger drivers
Takeaway: The R6 Meta is a fantastic speaker, especially for music, providing detail and nuance. Three of them can give a seamless front soundstage.
Video review
Our take on the brand
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