Spendor is a British loudspeaker manufacturing company founded in 1969 by audio engineer Spencer Hughes (1924–1983) and his wife Dorothy.[1][2] It is located in East Sussex.[1][3][4] The name was derived from the first names of both.[4]
Research in the 1960s
Spencer Hughes worked in an investigation team of the BBC research department in the 1960s. One object of the research was a membrane made from a polystyrene ("Bextrene") for mid-range speakers or woofers.[5]
History
Start
In the first days Dorothy assisted with coil winding expertise, later she took over the general management.[6]
The first product was the BC1, which Spencer designed while still working for the BBC.[6] Several other designs followed, the BC2, BC3, SA1, SP1 and other. Spendor also made the BBC LS3/5a under licence from the BBC.[7]
The BC1 is bigger than a LS3/5a and also uses a Bextrene-membrane[1][2] and was used in many radio stations, too. As a consequence many UK speaker designs are influenced by this improvement of sound quality through reduced colouration and greater consistency[5] as well as the stereo imaging.[8] The BC1 was built with smaller modifications until 1994.[9]
The present Head of Engineering, Terry Miles, started as Spencer Hughes’ assistant in 1975.[2]
Derek Hughes' time at Spendor
Derek Hughes, son of Spencer and his wife Dorothy, worked at Spendor (in his letter from 1980 Spencer mentioned him as assist with research and development and general running of the factory).[6] After the untimely death of Spencer in 1983 he worked with his mother in the capacity of Technical Director, producing the original versions of what is now the Classic Series, most notably the SP1/2, SP2 and the S100 and he did amongst others the redesign of the 3/5 1998[11] and is still working at loudspeakers as freelance consultant designer.[12][13]
Since 2000
Since the year 2000 the company is owned by Philip Swift, a speaker designer and co-founder of Audiolab, who personally knew Spencer Hughes.[3] Spendor develops and manufactures all components in UK.[2][4][14]
Round about these days Spendor enlarged their product range by floorstanding loudspeakers, first with models of a S line,[15] currently be found as loudspeakers of A line and higher end D line.[2]
Products 2020
- A line: compact and floorstanding speakers[2][16]
- Classic: until 2018 without floorstanding speakers[17][16]
- D line: compact and floorstanding speakers[2][16]
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