Floorstanding loudspeakers — Spendor А4.2

The A4.2 is a slim two-way floorstanding loudspeaker from Spendor Audio Systems, whose factory in Catcliffe, Rotherham, is where the speaker is designed and manufactured. It replaces the original A4 and belongs to the second-generation A-Line, which made its debut in Bristol at the February 2025 hi-fi show alongside the A1.2 standmount and the A2.2 and A7.2 floorstanders. Shipments started in April 2025, and the UK price is GBP 2,995 per pair, while in Europe it sells for about EUR 3,690 per pair.

Key specs that matter

A 27 mm polyamide soft dome tweeter with a wide surround and a rear chamber works with an 18 cm bass and midrange unit that uses Spendor's own EP77 polymer cone. The crossover point sits at 2 kHz. Typical in-room response runs from 36 Hz to 27 kHz, sensitivity is 85 dB for 1 watt at 1 metre, and nominal impedance is 6.75 ohms with a minimum of 5.4 ohms. Programme power handling is 125 watts unclipped. The cabinet stands 861 mm high, 165 mm wide and 284 mm deep, and one speaker weighs 14.5 kg. Buyers can order walnut, plain oak, black-stained oak or a satin white coat, and every version sits on a plinth finished in satin black.

Engineering and use context

In moving from the A4 to this model Spendor fitted a new tweeter, reworked the internal bracing of the asymmetric cabinet and added a constrained damping layer of Sorbothane to cut panel vibration. The crossover network was simplified and its crossover point lowered, and the mid and bass driver received a redesigned spider and revised suspension to limit ringing after transients. Port tuning of the reflex loading was also changed so that low frequencies stay tighter and better defined. Spendor says the A4.2 keeps its bass under control when it has to sit near a rear wall or in a small room, which suits living spaces where the speakers cannot stand far out. The box also holds spikes whose height can be adjusted plus a grille that attaches by magnets, and signal enters through one pair of recessed binding posts, which rules out bi-wiring on this model.

Pairing

Spendor recommends amplifiers of 25 to 150 watts and describes the A4.2 as easy to drive. Since the impedance minimum stays close to the nominal figure, a moderate valve or transistor integrated amplifier inside that power window is a sensible match, and each cabinet needs just one cable from the amplifier.

Alternatives

The Spendor A7.2 is the taller A-Line floorstander, with a 934 mm cabinet and a wider 25 to 200 watt amplifier range.