Andytee: I'm about to purchase a Cyrus 8XPDQX with the CDXTSE transport with Spendor A5s. I notice however that Sevenoaks are knocking out the outgoing S8 model for about the same price as the "current" A5 model and wondered whether anyone had experienced both of these speakers with Cyrus kit?
My experience of Spendor has differed a little from others here.
The whole Spendor range use the same HF unit, but the lower the model, the smoother they sound. Spendor state they've not manufactured them that way, it's just the way they happen to sound after implementing different mid/bass drivers. So basically, the S5e/A5 models are the smoothest of the lot, and the S8e/A6 sounds a little more lively and sweeter with a deeper, bigger bass and fuller midrange, then the S9e is another jump with similar benefits again.
Another benefit of the S8e/A6 is that they're a little more efficient, so won't quite need to be pushed so hard to get a similar volume to the entry level floorstander.
Either will be fine with the Cyrus, but if the room is a through lounge or quite big, I'd go with the S8e/A6.