Floorstanding loudspeakers — Spendor A2.2

The A2.2 is the smallest floorstanding model in the A-Line Mark 2 series from Spendor, the UK loudspeaker maker founded by Spencer and Dorothy Hughes in the late 1960s. It is the floorstanding counterpart to the A1.2 standmount and replaces the original A2. The revised range was first shown to the public in Bristol on 21 February 2025, with pre-orders taken from that date and shipping from April 2025. The four A-Line models are built near Sheffield in South Yorkshire. The UK price is GBP 1,995 per pair, while American buyers pay USD 3,198.

Key specs that matter

Two drivers do the work - a 15 cm mid/bass driver with an EP77 polymer cone and a 22 mm polyamide dome tweeter, divided at 4.2 kHz. Spendor gives an in-room response of 46 Hz to 26 kHz, a sensitivity of 83 dB and an impedance of 8 ohm nominal with a 6.4 ohm minimum. Power handling is 100 W of unclipped programme. The cabinet stands 786 mm tall on a footprint of 150 mm wide by 258 mm deep, and each speaker weighs 11.4 kg. Veneer choices are oak, walnut, black oak and satin white, the white version sitting on a satin black plinth.

Engineering and use context

Set against the first A2, which was 756 mm tall, 250 mm deep and 12 kg, the new version is a little taller and deeper yet lighter. The enclosure is asymmetric and vented through a rear port whose tuning was revised for the Mark 2 floorstanders to tighten bass timing. Inside, new bracing works together with a constrained damping layer of Sorbothane, a combination meant to cut cabinet interaction, reduce time smearing and lower the noise floor. The crossover network has also been redesigned, and as with other Spendor models the drive units and cabinets are produced in-house rather than bought in. Adjustable spike feet and magnetic grilles are supplied. With its narrow cabinet and modest height, the A2.2 is aimed at small spaces, and Spendor states that it can be placed near a wall even with its rear port.

Pairing

Spendor calls the A2.2 easy to drive, and because the impedance stays well clear of 4 ohm, amplifiers with limited current delivery handle it without strain. Its efficiency is modest, though, so a unit with decent voltage output is the better choice when the system is played loud. The slim footprint fits it to smaller living rooms where a wider tower would intrude.

Alternatives

The Spendor A4.2 sits one step higher among the Mark 2 floorstanders, using a new 27 mm rear-chambered soft dome tweeter and priced at GBP 2,995 per pair.