Spendor D1 review

For all the detail at the D1’s disposal, they’re simply found wanting in too many areas to justify their price Tested at £1795

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

For all the detail at the D1’s disposal, they’re simply found wanting in too many areas to justify their price

Pros

  • +

    Impressive detail, excellent definition of leading edges of notes

  • +

    Compact dimensions

Cons

  • -

    Limited dynamics

  • -

    Lack of weight and natural warmth

  • -

    Struggle to hold your interest

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Spendor’s D-Line of speakers currently boasts a perfect What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision record. The D7 is a five-star floorstander and was the sole model in the range - until the pint-sized D1 was announced.

Can these new Spendors extend the record? Lined up next to their rivals, the Spendors give the impression of a featherweight boxer who took a wrong turn and stumbled into a heavyweight bout.

The fit and finish of the D1s are superb, but the size difference is quite apparent. We wouldn’t be surprised if you could fit both Spendors inside one PMC Twenty 22.

Build and design

Consider the Spendors if space is tight and you’d prefer a small, compact speaker that doesn’t require loads of room

Consider the Spendors if space is tight and you’d prefer a small, compact speaker that doesn’t require loads of room

But size isn’t everything, and their compact dimensions will be a blessing for those where space is at a premium.

Being a sealed cabinet, they’re also less fussy about positioning than the Dali Rubicon 2s and B&W CM6 S2s - although we’d still stop short of pushing them right up against a rear wall.

Like other hi-fi speaker manufacturers, Spendor gives you the option to buy its own speaker stands.

£595 seems a little steep, but we couldn’t find a cheaper alternative that allowed the D1s to sound better.

The Spendors showcase an impressive level of detail - the leading edges of notes arrive with laser-like precision

The Spendors showcase an impressive level of detail - the leading edges of notes arrive with laser-like precision

Spendor claims the novel tweeter design (which positions a very thin micro-foil in front of the dome) actually evens out the tweeter output over a wide frequency range, and helps to aid dispersion.

And this is one of the areas where the D1s score highly. Highs sound open, crisp and immediate and, if definition and analysis are high on your list of priorities, you won’t be disappointed.

The leading edges and lines of notes are sharply drawn and cleanly etched.

Performance

Be careful partnering with harsh or lean-sounding electronics - the Spendors aren’t a great match for this kind of kit

Be careful partnering with harsh or lean-sounding electronics - the Spendors aren’t a great match for this kind of kit

Lows don’t sound especially weighty, nor do these D1s plummet as deep as some rivals.

The small cabinet does have a large say in what goes on further down the frequency range and bassheads aren’t going to be satisfied, but it isn’t all bad news.

Clear and clean bass is the order of the day here. Play Paul Simon’s You Can Call Me Al and there’s no sluggishness. Each pluck of the bass guitar sounds taut and precise.

You might find a cheaper alternative to Spendor's bespoke £595 stand, but we couldn't find one that made the D1s sound better

You might find a cheaper alternative to Spendor's bespoke £595 stand, but we couldn't find one that made the D1s sound better

But for all this precision, the Spendors don’t really capture the essence of the track. And we’re not talking about the fact the Spendors don’t go as loud as some rivals, nor is it purely down to a lack of bass weight.

It’s a deeper-rooted issue: it feels like you’re not quite getting the full picture in terms of dynamics.

There’s a lack of excitement and soul to the song, and before you know it, the track passes you by.

Switch to Earth, taken from the Gladiator OST and the sweeping mid and upper frequencies just don’t have the same impact as when heard on the likes of the PMC Twenty 22s.

The shift in dynamics as the tune sways back and forth is more apparent elsewhere in this test - the D1s just don’t capture these elements particularly well.

You can counter this to a certain degree by taking extra care over partnering electronics. In this instance, the extra solidity and weight of an amp like the Roksan Caspian M2 makes good sense.

Partner this with the D1s and you inject more body and weight. In turn, this leads to a slightly more balanced sound but it still isn’t perfect.

Verdict

The D1s are dainty and detailed speakers, but they’re hampered by a lack of dynamics and they struggle to hold your interest long-term.

Add to this their relatively high price and we can’t help but feel a little disappointed.

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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