At present my uncle has 25+ year old Spendor BC-1 speakers. We are
considering a few possible upgrades:

1. (Used) Spendor 1/2E. This is the final result of Spendor's own
upgrading of BC-1's.

2. (Used) Spendor BC-3. Was the bigger/better model when BC-1 was
current. He says he couldn't afford nor lift it then, at least we can
afford a used model now.

3. (Uesd) Harbeth. Maybe SHL-5, but possibly other models too,
depending on availability. Same extended BBC family, newer driver
material

4. (Used) Dynaudio Contour models

5. (New) Green Mountain Castillo: Clearly something very different, but
has received raves which he says remind him of the talk about BC-1 when
they came out.

There is no way we can arrange to compare them side by side. If you
know 2 or more of these speakers, we would appreciate hearing your
thoughts.

"aktching" wrote in message
...
At present my uncle has 25+ year old Spendor BC-1 speakers. We are
considering a few possible upgrades:

1. (Used) Spendor 1/2E. This is the final result of Spendor's own
upgrading of BC-1's.

2. (Used) Spendor BC-3. Was the bigger/better model when BC-1 was
current. He says he couldn't afford nor lift it then, at least we
can
afford a used model now.

3. (Uesd) Harbeth. Maybe SHL-5, but possibly other models too,
depending on availability. Same extended BBC family, newer driver
material

4. (Used) Dynaudio Contour models

5. (New) Green Mountain Castillo: Clearly something very different,
but
has received raves which he says remind him of the talk about BC-1
when
they came out.

There is no way we can arrange to compare them side by side. If you
know 2 or more of these speakers, we would appreciate hearing your
thoughts.


If they are still working and he likes them why change the BC1's -
unless he's into rock or heavy metal? I have a pair and I wouldn't
dream of parting with them.

There is a Spendor update to fit a larger port aperture with a plastic
sleeve - which I did to mine years ago - but otherwise I would suggest
saving your money.


--
Woody

harrogate2 at ntlworld dot com

"harrogate2" wrote in message
...

"aktching" wrote in message
...
At present my uncle has 25+ year old Spendor BC-1 speakers. We are
considering a few possible upgrades:

1. (Used) Spendor 1/2E. This is the final result of Spendor's own
upgrading of BC-1's.

2. (Used) Spendor BC-3. Was the bigger/better model when BC-1 was
current. He says he couldn't afford nor lift it then, at least we
can
afford a used model now.

3. (Uesd) Harbeth. Maybe SHL-5, but possibly other models too,
depending on availability. Same extended BBC family, newer driver
material

4. (Used) Dynaudio Contour models

5. (New) Green Mountain Castillo: Clearly something very different,
but
has received raves which he says remind him of the talk about BC-1
when
they came out.

There is no way we can arrange to compare them side by side. If you
know 2 or more of these speakers, we would appreciate hearing your
thoughts.


If they are still working and he likes them why change the BC1's -
unless he's into rock or heavy metal? I have a pair and I wouldn't
dream of parting with them.

There is a Spendor update to fit a larger port aperture with a plastic
sleeve - which I did to mine years ago - but otherwise I would suggest
saving your money.


--
Woody

harrogate2 at ntlworld dot com



Here's a link to a site that may prove of interest if you think the drivers
are a bit tired;
http://www.coulouris.net/av/BC1-resc...tructions.html

Jem

In article , harrogate2
writes

"aktching" wrote in message
...
At present my uncle has 25+ year old Spendor BC-1 speakers. We are
considering a few possible upgrades:

1. (Used) Spendor 1/2E. This is the final result of Spendor's own
upgrading of BC-1's.

2. (Used) Spendor BC-3. Was the bigger/better model when BC-1 was
current. He says he couldn't afford nor lift it then, at least we
can
afford a used model now.

3. (Uesd) Harbeth. Maybe SHL-5, but possibly other models too,
depending on availability. Same extended BBC family, newer driver
material

4. (Used) Dynaudio Contour models

5. (New) Green Mountain Castillo: Clearly something very different,
but
has received raves which he says remind him of the talk about BC-1
when
they came out.

There is no way we can arrange to compare them side by side. If you
know 2 or more of these speakers, we would appreciate hearing your
thoughts.


If they are still working and he likes them why change the BC1's -
unless he's into rock or heavy metal? I have a pair and I wouldn't
dream of parting with them.

Same here

They do what they do, and they do it very well

--
Tony Sayer

harrogate2 wrote:

: If they are still working and he likes them why change the BC1's -

They need serious repair by now. Getting them repaired is certainly an
option, but not a straightforward one as our local dealers as well as
Spendor don't want to do it. We don't have the skill to attempt it
ourselves. In any event, it is at least an opportunity to consider
other options.

In article ,
aktching wrote:
: If they are still working and he likes them why change the BC1's -

They need serious repair by now. Getting them repaired is certainly an
option, but not a straightforward one as our local dealers as well as
Spendor don't want to do it.

You'd have to explain this, as 'repair' simply involves fitting
replacement drivers if they are faulty. Possibly exchange units if
available. The bass units should still be available, but the HF1300 mid
range probably not. But I'm surprised Spendor can't update them with
modern replacements. Have you actually asked them - or are you relying on
what your dealer says?

--
*I brake for no apparent reason.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Sun, 28 Aug 2005 22:50:24 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

In article ,
aktching wrote:
: If they are still working and he likes them why change the BC1's -

They need serious repair by now. Getting them repaired is certainly an
option, but not a straightforward one as our local dealers as well as
Spendor don't want to do it.

You'd have to explain this, as 'repair' simply involves fitting
replacement drivers if they are faulty. Possibly exchange units if
available. The bass units should still be available, but the HF1300 mid
range probably not. But I'm surprised Spendor can't update them with
modern replacements. Have you actually asked them - or are you relying on
what your dealer says?

The HF1300 would indeed be the problem, as there simply *is* no modern
equivalent. Inded, sourcing a truly equivalent bass/mid driver would
also be difficult, as simple polypropylene cones are no longer used.
Basically, given that the BC1 was always known for loose bass and a
certain thickening in the midrange, I'd be inclined to give it best,
say a fond farewell, and buy a pair of modern Spendors or similar.

--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering

Stewart Pinkerton wrote:

: "Dave Plowman (News)" wrote:
: You'd have to explain this, as 'repair' simply involves fitting
: replacement drivers if they are faulty. Possibly exchange units if
: available. The bass units should still be available, but the HF1300 mid
: range probably not. But I'm surprised Spendor can't update them with
: modern replacements. Have you actually asked them - or are you relying on
: what your dealer says?
:
: The HF1300 would indeed be the problem, as there simply *is* no modern
: equivalent. Inded, sourcing a truly equivalent bass/mid driver would
: also be difficult, as simple polypropylene cones are no longer used.

Non-availability of the original tweeter is the basic problem. Even if
we find a "close" replacement, the speaker may not have the same
balance and the pair will certainly be mismatched. So we'd be talking
about redesigning the pair. As one tech said, why reinvent the wheel
Spendor already went through the same exercise and SP1/2E is their
answer to our question: what to do with BC-1 when original tweeter is
unavailable? (Made sense to us, and my contribution was to suggest we
also look at other options.)

To Dave: We are in the US. Spendor's American distributor is unlikely
to have the same facilities that may be available back in the UK.

: Basically, given that the BC1 was always known for loose bass and a
: certain thickening in the midrange, I'd be inclined to give it best,
: say a fond farewell, and buy a pair of modern Spendors or similar.

Thanks Stewart. Do you have any opinions about the models I listed?
These just happen to be available used right now: SP1/2E, BC-3, a
couple of Harbeths and Dynaudios. Someone suggested ATC. Please feel
free to suggest others.

As you can tell, my uncle keeps his components a long time, so we would
want the proverbial best (upto $2000-2500, used is ok,
classical/jazz/vocals, 50 wpc solid state amp)!

A US company called Green Mountain Audio is getting good audiophile
press here, my uncle said it reminded him of the way BC-1 was talked
about 30 years ago, but I don't know if you have heard it. I posted to
this ng because most of our other options are British.

In message , Stewart
Pinkerton writes
On Sun, 28 Aug 2005 22:50:24 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

In article ,
aktching wrote:
: If they are still working and he likes them why change the BC1's -

They need serious repair by now. Getting them repaired is certainly an
option, but not a straightforward one as our local dealers as well as
Spendor don't want to do it.

You'd have to explain this, as 'repair' simply involves fitting
replacement drivers if they are faulty. Possibly exchange units if
available. The bass units should still be available, but the HF1300 mid
range probably not. But I'm surprised Spendor can't update them with
modern replacements. Have you actually asked them - or are you relying on
what your dealer says?

The HF1300 would indeed be the problem, as there simply *is* no modern
equivalent. Inded, sourcing a truly equivalent bass/mid driver would
also be difficult, as simple polypropylene cones are no longer used.
Basically, given that the BC1 was always known for loose bass and a
certain thickening in the midrange, I'd be inclined to give it best,
say a fond farewell, and buy a pair of modern Spendors or similar.


Simple polypropylene cones are used all over the place. I think you'll
find that the bass unit in the BC1 used a coated Bextrene cone, which
certainly aren't available (*)

(*) I know this as I was speaking to the Richard Allan 'Recone Lab' only
last week about putting a new voice coil on one of my old and much loved
HP8B bass units. Fortunately the cone is perfect, it's just the voice
coil former that has developed blisters, so it's worth having the unit
rebuilt.


--
Chris Morriss

In article ,
Stewart Pinkerton wrote:
The HF1300 would indeed be the problem, as there simply *is* no modern
equivalent.

I'm surprised no-one has produced replacement voice coil/diaphragms, as
they're easy to replace. And there must be millions out there.

--
*My designated driver drove me to drink

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.