Spendor A4.2 Floorstanding Loudspeaker at Vinyl Sound Toronto Canada

The A4.2 is a 2-way floorstanding loudspeaker from Spendor (Sheffield, United Kingdom), available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada. A refined evolution of the original A4, one of the most commercially successful models in Spendor's history, the A4.2 is the mid-range model in the redesigned A-Line series launched at the Bristol Hi-Fi Show in February 2025. Key upgrades over its predecessor include a new 27mm wide surround rear-chambered polyamide soft dome tweeter, a fully redesigned crossover operating at a 2kHz handover frequency, and a revised reflex port for improved bass articulation. The A4.2 retains the 18cm EP77 polymer cone mid/bass driver and the slim, room-friendly cabinet profile that made the original A4 a longstanding favourite, with a typical in-room response from 36Hz to 27kHz. Available at Vinyl Sound Toronto, it is finished in black oak, walnut, oak, or satin white, and has already earned the HighFidelity.pl Red Fingerprint Award and the Diapason d'Or from Diapason Magazine in 2025.

New 27mm Tweeter and Redesigned Crossover

The most substantive engineering change in the A4.2 is the introduction of a new 27mm wide surround rear-chambered polyamide soft dome tweeter in place of the 22mm unit used in the original A4. The larger dome diameter and rear-chambered loading extend the tweeter's usable bandwidth while reducing distortion at the crossover transition point. The crossover frequency has been moved down from the original A4's 3.7kHz to 2kHz, a region where the 18cm EP77 polymer mid/bass driver operates with greater stability and control. According to Spendor's design brief for the A4.2, the development focus was placed on improving off-axis frequency response and lowering the noise floor, producing a more open and accurate stereo image that remains consistent across a wider range of listening positions. The crossover network was rebuilt entirely from the ground up with components selected for low phase error and smooth impedance behaviour, contributing to the A4.2's reputation for seamless driver integration.

EP77 Polymer Cone Driver and Cabinet Engineering

The A4.2's 18cm mid/bass driver uses Spendor's proprietary EP77 polymer cone, a material developed and manufactured in-house at Spendor's Sheffield facility using custom thermo-moulding equipment. The EP77 compound delivers low coloration and high internal damping, producing a midrange that retrieves fine musical detail without the hardness of metal cone materials or the softness of standard paper alternatives. The driver is mounted in a rigid, asymmetric braced cabinet with Spendor's Dynamic Damping technology, which uses strategically placed viscoelastic pads to control cabinet wall vibrations without heavy global damping. The reflex port has been redesigned for the A4.2 to shorten the internal airflow path and reduce internal resonances, producing bass that Spendor describes as deeper, more controlled, and more accurately timed than the port geometry used in the original A4. At 165mm wide and 861mm tall, the A4.2's linear-form cabinet is among the slimmest floorstanding designs available at its performance level, and music remains tuneful and articulate even when the speaker is positioned close to a wall or in a smaller room.

Key Features

• New 27mm Wide Surround Rear-Chambered Tweeter: A polyamide soft dome with a wider surround and rear-chambered loading that extends high-frequency capability, reduces distortion, and enables a lower crossover handover point for better driver integration.
• 2kHz Crossover Frequency: The redesigned crossover hands over from the EP77 mid/bass driver to the tweeter at 2kHz, compared to 3.7kHz in the original A4, producing improved phase coherence and seamless integration.
• 18cm EP77 Polymer Cone Mid/Bass Driver: Spendor's proprietary polymer cone material, manufactured in-house, delivers low coloration and high midrange resolution across a wide dynamic range.
• Redesigned Reflex Port: A revised port geometry with a shortened airflow path reduces internal resonances and produces tighter, more articulate bass reproduction, particularly in smaller rooms and close-to-wall placements.
• Dynamic Damping Cabinet: The rigid, asymmetric braced enclosure uses strategically placed viscoelastic damping pads rather than heavy global damping, controlling stored energy while preserving musical speed and timing.
• Improved Off-Axis Frequency Response: The redesigned crossover and tweeter combination were specifically optimised for off-axis performance, producing a consistent stereo image from a wide range of listening positions.
• Slim 165mm Wide Cabinet: One of the narrowest floorstanding loudspeakers in its performance class, designed to fit unobtrusively into any living space without requiring significant room depth or width.
• 25-150 Watt Amplifier Compatibility: The A4.2 is designed for broad amplifier compatibility, performing effectively with integrated amplifiers from entry-level to high-end designs.
• Magnetic Grille and Spike Feet Included: Tool-free magnetic grille provides driver protection, and height-adjustable spike feet allow stable coupling to a variety of floor surfaces.
• Four Contemporary Finishes: Available in black oak, walnut, oak, and satin white on a satin black plinth, suiting a wide range of room aesthetics from traditional to contemporary.
• Designed and Built in the United Kingdom: The A4.2 is engineered and manufactured at Spendor's Sheffield facility, with cabinets produced by Spendor's own in-house cabinetmaking operation.

Technical Specifications

Awards and Critical Recognition

• Red Fingerprint Award - HighFidelity.pl, 2025
• Diapason d'Or - Diapason Magazine (France), 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Spendor A4.2?

The Spendor A4.2 is a 2-way floorstanding loudspeaker handbuilt in Sheffield, United Kingdom, and is the mid-range model in Spendor's redesigned A-Line series. It features a 27mm wide surround rear-chambered polyamide soft dome tweeter, an 18cm EP77 polymer cone mid/bass driver, and a reflex port, with a crossover frequency of 2kHz. Key specifications include an 85dB sensitivity, a 6.75-ohm nominal impedance, and a typical in-room frequency response from 36Hz to 27kHz. Available at Vinyl Sound in Toronto, Canada, the A4.2 is sold individually and is offered in four finishes: black oak, walnut, oak, and satin white. It has been awarded the HighFidelity.pl Red Fingerprint Award and the Diapason d'Or from Diapason Magazine in 2025.

How is the Spendor A4.2 different from the original Spendor A4?

The Spendor A4.2 introduces several meaningful engineering upgrades over the original A4. The tweeter has been enlarged from 22mm to 27mm with a wider surround and a rear-chambered enclosure, and the crossover frequency has been reduced from 3.7kHz to 2kHz for improved phase coherence and driver integration. The crossover network has been fully rebuilt from the ground up with a specific focus on off-axis frequency response, producing a more consistent stereo image across a wider listening window. The reflex port has also been redesigned with a shortened airflow path to reduce internal resonances and deliver tighter, more controlled bass. The cabinet dimensions and external profile remain virtually unchanged from the original A4.

How does the Spendor A4.2 compare to the Q Acoustics 5040 and the Wharfedale Evo 4.4?

The Spendor A4.2, the Q Acoustics 5040, and the Wharfedale Evo 4.4 are all compact floorstanding loudspeakers that prioritise room friendliness, but they reflect notably different design approaches. The A4.2 uses Spendor's proprietary EP77 polymer cone driver manufactured in-house, paired with a new 27mm rear-chambered tweeter and a crossover optimised specifically for off-axis performance, in a cabinet built at Spendor's own Sheffield cabinetmaking facility. The Q Acoustics 5040 uses a Helmholtz Pressure Equaliser and a 2.5-way configuration with separate bass and mid/bass drivers for a different approach to bandwidth management. The Wharfedale Evo 4.4 is a 2.5-way design with a woven glass fibre bass driver and a fabric dome tweeter, offering a warmer tonal balance than the more neutral Spendor. Listeners seeking the combination of BBC-heritage engineering, a proven proprietary cone material, and UK craftsmanship will find the A4.2 a compelling option at its price point.

What is the EP77 polymer cone in the Spendor A4.2?

EP77 is Spendor's proprietary cone material, developed and manufactured entirely in-house using custom thermo-moulding equipment. The compound is engineered to combine low internal coloration with high structural damping, producing a mid/bass driver that retrieves fine detail without the resonant hardness of metal cones or the softness of standard paper. EP77 is used across both Spendor's A-Line and D-Line speaker families, where it forms the acoustic foundation of the brand's characteristic clarity and natural tonal balance. In the A4.2, the 18cm EP77 driver handles all bass and midrange reproduction below the 2kHz crossover point, making it the primary driver for the majority of the musical frequency range.

Can the Spendor A4.2 be placed close to a wall?

Yes, the Spendor A4.2 is specifically designed to perform well in close-to-wall placements. Spendor's redesigned reflex port on the A4.2 uses a shortened airflow path to reduce the bass bloat that commonly affects rear-ported speakers when placed near a boundary. Music remains tuneful and articulate even when the A4.2 is positioned close to a wall or in a small room, making it one of the more placement-flexible floorstanding designs in its class. This characteristic also makes the A4.2 suitable for furniture-limited living rooms where a speaker requiring significant free space behind it would be impractical.

What amplifier does the Spendor A4.2 work best with?

The Spendor A4.2 is compatible with amplifiers from 25 to 150 watts and is designed for broad amplifier compatibility. At 85dB sensitivity and a nominal impedance of 6.75 ohms with a minimum of 5.4 ohms, the A4.2 requires a quality amplifier with a stable output into moderate-impedance loads. Integrated amplifiers from NAD, Audiolab, Cambridge Audio, Rega, and Arcam in the 50 to 100 watt range are natural pairings at the A4.2's performance level. Lower-powered amplifiers of 25 watts are sufficient for nearfield listening and smaller rooms, while outputs up to 150 watts allow the speaker to handle demanding programme material without compression.

Where can I buy the Spendor A4.2 in Toronto or Canada?

The Spendor A4.2 is available at Vinyl Sound, an authorised Spendor dealer located in Toronto, Canada. Vinyl Sound carries the A4.2 across all four available finishes and can arrange in-store demonstrations with compatible amplification and source components. Purchasing from an authorised Canadian Spendor dealer ensures full manufacturer warranty coverage and access to factory-backed service support.