Mission 782 vs Spendor SA1 speakers

Hi FennerMachine

Keep the Mission 782's or better still sell the 782's and SA1'S and get a pair of 782SE's

Btw, i just want to be clear that i don't deal with used/secondhand products.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

Hi Rick.

Your advise has always been appreciated.

I'm going to leave the 782's on for a few weeks to see if I like them long term and then switch back to the SA1's for a bit just to make sure – I haven't seen any SA1's for what I paid for mine so want to make sure I don't regret selling them if that's what I decide as I might not be able to replace them.

Anyone have suggestions on what spikes I could use on the speakers as I've misplaced mine? IAG no longer do those parts for them (still do the drive units).

Any old spikes will do. They will most likely be either 6mm or 8mm metric course threads.

Hi FennerMachine

Thanks and your welcome.

As Overdose has already mentioned 782's use 6mm spikes. These should be relatively easy to source.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

Question about the Quad 303 power amp.

As I plan on keeping it, do you think its worth getting it serviced now or wait until it has signs of needing it? It is currently working fine as far as I can tell. The speakers are silent unless music it playing. No pops or crackles. The amp makes a noise like a power sub station hum when close to it but was told that the transformer will make some noise. Can't hear it over 1 foot away.

I've seen some 6mm spike sets on eBay. Might they do?

IMO You shouldn't be too quick to get shot of the SA1s........longer term they could fit better into the system you might have in 2 to 4 years time.

It's very easy to forget just how good a part of your system is, by taking it for granted.....until that is, you sell it. You need to hear both sets of speakers with a really good amp (eg. Leema Tucana or Sugden IA-4) to see what the potential is, thus allowing you to keep the most future proof ones.

Cno

Thanks CnoEvil.

Good advise.

I think I'm set on keeping the Quad amps for life but I suppose anything can happen so I need to keep my options open. I'm leaving the Missions on for a few weeks then swapping back to the Spendors for a few weeks to see what I prefer overall. The thing with the Missions is that I have the matching 78C centre that also has new mid/bass cones and 78DS rears. Having said that I rarely (once or twice per month) use my surround system and I'm not too fussed about the tonal matching of the front 3 speakers. Or maybe that's why I don't bother much with movies any more? Maybe I should consider getting a Spendor centre speaker?

I will make you a small bet.....you won't have both Quads (or possibly the SA1s) in your main system in 3 years time.....either there will be a fault that's not worth fixing, or something else catches your eye, that you can't live without!

In the long term, I think you are in fact a prime candidate for a Valve or Hybred amp.

CnoEvil wrote:

I will make you a small bet.....you won't have both Quads (or possibly the SA1s) in your main system in 3 years time.....either there will be a fault that's not worth fixing, or something else catches your eye, that you can't live without! In the long term, I think you are in fact a prime candidate for a Valve or Hybred amp. >)

Hi CnE

He might have upgarded to a pair of Mission 782SE's

Btw, i think you're a prime candidate for a pair active speakers and a GEQ

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

Yup, and I'm also thinking of taking up Taxidermy and Trout tickling!

CnoEvil, you may be right!

The Quad 44 is DEFINITELY staying though!

It has all the inputs I need and made the biggest difference to my system with all the changes I've made. Also had it serviced recently so I know it will last ages.

The Quad 303 has many plus points over the Cyrus SmartPowers that it replaced but it does lack a little in the bass department. I'm thinking of getting this serviced too.

I've always have problems with bass though with every combination of speakers and amps that I have tried. It must be a room issue, likely something to do with being upstairs and the flooring. I will always have to compromise with bass anyway as even if I get it just right for my room it will be too loud/boomy downstairs so being a little bass light is better for me for now.

Valve power amps would be nice but the days of spending lots of money on Hi-Fi are now past for me, I will be looking at vintage kit that can be serviced if needed.

I haven't had a long enough listen to the 782's but so far they sound good. They have a good sound stage and more bass than the SA1's. They have realistic sounding instruments and vocals but they are missing something that the SA1's do. Can't quite work out what it is but there is something...

This I agree with, and why I liked them so much.....there is a "rightness" to the sound that's just infectious.

good call...

Not really sure what the difference in sound will be to the se's but if you had the mid cone changed chances are we have the same mid cone. And these speakers are good, clean sounding and able to pick up differences in cables & interconnects and can expose an amps short comings, also at the right distance apart with  bass drivers facing in sound solid and in my room sound bigger than they are. 

I work for a well known millionare installing tv, internet and phone services in peoples homes and have had the chance to hear others set up, even a pair of ATC active speakers (the ones that have scaffold for stands and an amp for each driver bolted to the back of them ) and none have ever made me question the quality (soundwise) of these speakers.  

Never heard the Spendors - not sure how a standmounter would compare, but please come back and let us know what you decide. 

 to add

I have mine on a some MDF (carpeted floor), with jenga blocks under the front spikes so they are leaning back (I hear PMC are using the same idea with their latest boxes - they must have read me somewhere...... )

discribe the spendor sound please.

The SA1's:

Detailed but not harsh. Spendor are generally regarded as warm sounding. SA1's have a bit more 'sparkle' than other Spendor speakers I have demoed such as A3 & A6 floor standers and S3/5R2 bookshelf but still have the Spendor sound.

Lack in overall bass depth but are tuneful with the bass they do generate.

They have seamless driver integration, likely due in part to the 4.8KHz crossover point.

The 4.8KHz crossover also makes vocals very clear and rich as the bass driver covers most of the voice range.

With the right amplification and source they reproduce lots of detail and nuances that other speakers I've heard cannot do.

Very clear sound even with complex music so the detail they produce it not muddled but everything is separated nicely.

On a quick listen they sound 'OK' but on longer sessions they draw you into the music and they do not become fatiguing. With the wrong amplification they can still sound good but will show up weaknesses of amps and sources so could be harsh sounding but that’s probably the case with all speaker/amp combo's to a certain extent.

I have played computer games through them and they produce sound in a way that makes games with good sound tracks that I've played many times before enjoyable again.

Due to the lack of bass they really need a sub for movies.

I think that covers most of the points of how they sound.

Worth demoing if someone needs small bookshelf speakers and has a large budget.

I would not recommend them for large rooms unless someone specifically wanted small speakers.

As they do cost a fair bit I would definitely recommend a demo before buying, preferably a home demo if the initial demo makes them a contender.