Thank you for your enquiry.
Differences between S3e & S3/5
The S3e is an all new design based around a deeper, taller enclosure
incorporating a compact linear flow port for greatly improved LF response
over the S3/5, whilst maintaining the slim forward profile of that model.
The sensitivity is now significantly increased allowing much more
flexibility when choosing power amplifiers to complement this new model. The
tweeter has a damped rear chamber to absorb reflections from the rear of the
dome. The drive unit features the new EP38 cone material and a phase
correction pole for ultra low colouration and smooth integration. The new
crossover is mounted on a rigid stainless steel panel.
New 27mm soft dome tweeter with fluid cooling and venting to rear chamber
giving cleaner and less coloured high frequencies
14cm bass/midrange driver with new EP38 polymer cone and phase correction
pole giving improved mid range clarity and smooth phase integration
Compact Linear Flow reflex port configuration giving extended bass response
and allowing dramatically improved sensitivity
High grade rigid stainless steel back panel for mounting the gold terminals
and crossover network
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Differences between S3 & S3e
The S3 was based on the popular S3/5 model, but with a modified frequency
response, higher level of internal damping and upgraded internal cables,
giving a more forward, open sound.
The S3e however, is an all new design based around a deeper, taller
enclosure incorporating a compact linear flow port for greatly improved LF
response over the S3, whilst maintaining the slim forward profile of the
previous model. The sensitivity is now significantly increased allowing much
more flexibility when choosing power amplifiers to complement this new
model. The tweeter has a damped rear chamber to absorb reflections from the
rear of the dome. The drive unit features the new EP38 cone material and a
phase correction pole for ultra low colouration and smooth integration. The
new crossover is mounted on a rigid stainless steel panel.
New 27mm soft dome tweeter with fluid cooling and venting to rear chamber
giving cleaner and less coloured high frequencies
14cm bass/midrange driver with new EP38 polymer cone and phase correction
pole giving improved mid range clarity and smooth phase integration
Compact Linear Flow reflex port configuration giving extended bass response
and allowing dramatically improved sensitivity
High grade rigid stainless steel back panel for mounting the gold terminals
and crossover network
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Differences between the S3 & S3/5
On paper there are few technical differences between the S3 and S3/5.
The S3 is 1dB higher efficiency and nominally handles a bit more power.
The S3 grille has a different profile (more elegant/less traditional).
The real differences are inside; the S3 has a ground-up new crossover design
to achieve a different (flatter) response/balance. High purity mono-crystal
copper wiring, low-loss polypropylene capacitors and high linearity
inductors ensure superb transparency and openness. The S3 mid-band phase
integration is technically improved. The S3 bass goes cleaner and deeper,
and despite being slightly flatter (not tilted down) in response, the S3
often sounds smoother and sweeter and more refined - less 'Hi-Fi' than the
S3/5.
The S3 takes a lot more power than the S3/5, but then neither loudspeaker is
designed to play dangerously loud. We make no claims that one is better
than the other; they are different designs for slightly but specifically
different applications/rooms/tastes.
The S3/5 takes its rightful place in the Spendor Classic series as the true
modern successor to the LS3/5A. The S3/5 is a fabulous speaker with a
slightly enriched bass and a slightly (but beautifully) enhanced mid-band.
Both models present easy 8ohms loads and give great results even with modest
amps. The S3 is also designed to function as a direct radiating surround
loudspeaker with the new 'S' series, it can be used on an open shelf or wall
bracket - possible, but more challenging with the S3/5.
The 'S' series all have carefully optimised phase and dispersion
characteristics for stereo and multi-channel replay - and Spendor has
extensive experience in the design of low colouration studio monitor
loudspeakers - some of this is applied in the new 'S' series.
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Differences between S3/5 & S3/5se
The basic cabinet and bass/mid driver are the same as the standard S3/5. The
S3/5se has a new high performance 19mm soft dome tweeter (same tweeter as
used in the top-line SP100) and a completely new crossover design. To create
the S3/5se we have applied some of the design and engineering techniques
developed for our new SR5.
The S3/5se retains all of the positive qualities of the standard S3/5 but it
delivers a significantly more open, more seamless, more natural sound. It
has better focus, better detail (the se is NOT brighter!) and subjectively
much deeper and cleaner bass (the measured LF performance and spec is
unaltered). The se will also play significantly louder without the
'compression', which limits the dynamic range of the S3/5. When you compare
the loudspeakers you will be amazed at how good the se sounds.
regards
