Spendor Classic 2/3 Loudspeaker at Vinyl Sound Buffalo, NY USA

The Spendor Classic 2/3 is a 2-way reflex standmount loudspeaker from Spendor Audio Systems (Rotherham, England, UK), available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, NY, USA. Built around Spendor's proprietary 22cm polyamide fibre-reinforced cone bass/mid driver with a 22mm polyamide dome tweeter, the Classic 2/3 covers a frequency range of 35Hz to 25kHz at a sensitivity of 88dB, with an 8-ohm nominal load compatible with amplifiers from 25 to 200 watts. Awarded 5 Stars by What Hi-Fi? and praised by HiFi & Musik (Sweden) as the standmount that "could be called all-round and versatile," the Classic 2/3 delivers the captivating warmth, transparency, and dynamic contrast of the Spendor Classic series in a BBC-heritage cabinet that transcends its size.

BBC Engineering Heritage in a Large-Format Two-Way Standmount

The Spendor Classic series traces its engineering principles to the BBC's loudspeaker research of the 1960s — thin-walled, damped cabinets that accept controlled resonance and displace it to frequencies where human hearing is least sensitive, producing a naturally fast and non-fatiguing sound. The Classic 2/3 applies these BBC-derived principles to a large-format two-way standmount built around a 22cm bass/mid driver — an unusually large cone for a two-way design. Where most two-way standmounts use 13cm to 17cm drivers for both bass and midrange duties, the Classic 2/3's 22cm polyamide fibre-reinforced cone provides the cone area normally associated with a dedicated woofer. This extra radiating surface gives the Classic 2/3 the punch, weight, and bass extension — to 35Hz in-room — that similarly sized competitors with smaller drivers cannot match, while the BBC-derived cabinet construction ensures the presentation remains easy-going, naturally balanced, and musically engaging at all listening levels. The cabinet features a meticulously refined crossover network, enhanced cabinet structure, elastomer panel damping throughout, and a front-firing single reflex port — all hallmarks of the post-2017 Classic series overhaul that transformed every drive unit and crossover across the range.

22cm Polyamide Fibre-Reinforced Cone, Bullet-Shaped Phase Plug, and Polyamide Dome Tweeter

The heart of the Classic 2/3 is its 22cm bass/mid driver — a polyamide fibre-reinforced cone in a die-cast magnesium alloy chassis, fitted with a bullet-shaped phase plug at the centre of the cone. The phase plug disperses acoustic resonances at the base of the cone, reducing the coloration that can emerge when a large-diameter driver is asked to reproduce midrange frequencies close to its operating limits. This combination of polyamide fibre reinforcement, cast magnesium chassis, and phase plug produces a driver that remains low-distortion and composed under high drive levels — a critical characteristic for a bass/mid unit handling frequencies from 35Hz through to 3.6kHz without a dedicated midrange driver to relieve it. Above 3.6kHz, a 22mm polyamide dome tweeter provides smooth, extended high-frequency output to 25kHz over a wide listening area. Two pairs of gold-plated precision binding posts on the rear allow bi-wire or single-wire amplifier connections, and the cabinet sits on dedicated Spendor Classic 2/3 stands, available separately, for optimal imaging and mechanical coupling.

Key Features

• 22cm Polyamide Fibre-Reinforced Bass/Mid Driver: An unusually large 22cm cone — polyamide fibre reinforced, in a die-cast magnesium alloy chassis — provides the bass extension, weight, and cone area of a dedicated woofer within a two-way design, extending in-room response to 35Hz.
• Bullet-Shaped Phase Plug: A phase plug at the centre of the 22cm cone disperses acoustic resonances at the base of the diaphragm, reducing coloration when the large driver operates through the midrange frequency band.
• 22mm Polyamide Dome Tweeter: A wide-surround dome provides smooth, low-distortion high-frequency output to 25kHz over a broad listening window, characteristic of Spendor's Classic series tweeter design philosophy.
• BBC-Heritage Thin-Walled Damped Cabinet: Elastomer panel damping with optimised positioning converts unwanted cabinet resonances into the bass region where hearing is least sensitive, producing the non-fatiguing, naturally transparent Classic series presentation.
• Single Front-Firing Reflex Port: A carefully tuned front-mounted bass reflex port provides the Classic 2/3's deep 35Hz extension while offering practical placement flexibility near rear walls.
• Meticulously Refined Crossover Network: A 3.6kHz crossover point with high-linearity inductors ensures seamless integration between the 22cm bass/mid driver and the 22mm tweeter, preserving phase coherence and tonal balance across the handoff.
• Bi-Wire Gold-Plated Binding Posts: Two pairs of precision gold-plated binding posts allow single-wire or bi-wire amplifier connections for maximum installation flexibility.
• Magnetic Grille: Tool-free magnetic grille fits and removes without clips, maintaining the cabinet's clean visual lines in a traditional BBC-heritage aesthetic.
• Dedicated Stand Required: The Classic 2/3 requires dedicated Spendor Classic 2/3 stands (sold separately) for optimal imaging height, mechanical coupling, and bass performance.

Technical Specifications

Awards and Critical Recognition

• What Hi-Fi? — 5 Stars: "The 2/3s surprised us quite a lot during the review period. They retain the charm and easy-going nature of their highly regarded predecessors, but now have the punch and rhythmic precision to work well with a wider range of music."
• HiFi & Musik (Sweden): Called the Classic 2/3 "an all-round and versatile" standmount that "can fill larger rooms and play both deeper and with higher sound pressure" than comparably sized rivals.
• HiFi Lautsprecher (Germany): Reviewed the Classic 2/3, citing its easy-going nature and immersive sound character.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Spendor Classic 2/3?

The Spendor Classic 2/3 is a 2-way reflex standmount loudspeaker from Spendor's Classic series, featuring a 22cm polyamide fibre-reinforced cone bass/mid driver and a 22mm polyamide dome tweeter spanning 35Hz to 25kHz. Awarded 5 Stars by What Hi-Fi? and reviewed by HiFi & Musik (Sweden) and HiFi Lautsprecher (Germany), it is manufactured in the UK with a BBC-derived thin-walled damped cabinet and requires dedicated stands for optimal performance. Its 22cm bass/mid driver provides the bass extension and dynamic authority normally associated with dedicated woofers, making the Classic 2/3 the largest two-way design in the Classic standmount range.

How does the Spendor Classic 2/3 compare to the Spendor Classic 1/2?

The Spendor Classic 2/3 and Classic 1/2 are both large-format BBC-heritage standmounts in the Classic series, but differ fundamentally in driver architecture. The Classic 2/3 is a two-way design — a single 22cm polyamide fibre-reinforced cone handles both bass and midrange duties from 35Hz to 3.6kHz. The Classic 1/2 is a three-way design with a dedicated 150mm EP77 polymer cone midrange between the woofer and tweeter crossover points, isolating the midrange driver from bass frequencies. The Classic 1/2's three-way layout produces a cleaner midrange by design and extends deeper (30Hz vs 35Hz), while the Classic 2/3 is a more compact, lighter option at 33.1 lbs versus 48.5 lbs per speaker. The Classic 2/3 is also 2dB more sensitive (88dB vs 87dB), making it easier to drive with lower-powered amplifiers.

How does the Spendor Classic 2/3 compare to the Harbeth SHL5 Plus XD?

The Spendor Classic 2/3 and Harbeth SHL5 Plus XD are direct rivals in the BBC-heritage large-format standmount category. Both use thin-walled damped cabinet construction, large-diameter cone drivers, and reflex bass loading. The key difference is driver architecture: the SHL5 Plus XD is a 2.5-way design using Harbeth's RADIAL2 polypropylene mid/bass cone, while the Classic 2/3 is a pure 2-way with Spendor's polyamide fibre-reinforced cone. Harbeth's RADIAL2 midrange has a warmer, more lush character; Spendor's polyamide cone is somewhat more forward in the upper midrange and more extended dynamically. The SHL5 Plus XD is also more sensitive and slightly more demanding in amplifier requirements. Both are approximately similar in cabinet size and require dedicated stands. HiFi & Musik highlighted the Classic 2/3's ability to fill larger rooms and play at higher sound pressure than comparable standmounts — a capability that compares favourably with the SHL5 Plus XD at high listening levels.

What amplifier pairs best with the Spendor Classic 2/3?

The Spendor Classic 2/3 accepts amplifiers from 25 to 200 watts into a stable 8-ohm nominal load (minimum 6.8 ohms). At 88dB sensitivity it is among the easier-to-drive speakers in the Classic standmount range, and a quality 40W to 60W integrated amplifier will perform well in medium-sized rooms. Its BBC-heritage character and smooth impedance curve make it a natural match for tube amplifiers — a 30W to 50W push-pull EL34 or KT88 design will produce the richly tonal, naturally balanced presentation the Classic 2/3 is built around. For high-volume listening in larger rooms, a 100W to 150W solid-state design such as a Hegel H390 or NAD M33 will extract the full dynamic headroom of the 22cm bass/mid driver's 150-watt programme rating.

Is the Spendor Classic 2/3 suitable for large rooms?

The Spendor Classic 2/3 is specifically noted by HiFi & Musik as a standmount capable of filling larger rooms and playing at higher sound pressure than typical compact speakers in its category. Its 22cm bass/mid driver provides the cone area to move significant air at sustained high SPL without compression, and the 35Hz in-room extension delivers genuine bass weight in large spaces. However, its BBC-heritage easy-going character means it rewards careful positioning and quality amplifier partnering in large rooms rather than simply playing louder. A front-firing reflex port and BBC-derived cabinet damping make it relatively placement-flexible compared to rear-ported designs of similar bass performance.

Where can I buy the Spendor Classic 2/3 in Buffalo, NY or the United States?

The Spendor Classic 2/3 is available at Vinyl Sound in Buffalo, NY, USA, an authorized Spendor dealer serving customers across the United States. Vinyl Sound carries the full Spendor Classic range alongside matching stands, amplifiers, and source components for complete system builds. Contact the Vinyl Sound team for current availability, finish options, and in-store audition scheduling.