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Spencer Hughes (1924–1983)[1][2] was an English audio engineer who worked at the BBC research department in the 1960s. He founded Spendor to manufacture loudspeakers incorporating results of his research.
Spencer Hughes | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1924 |
| Died | 1983 (aged 58–59) |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Audio engineer |
| Known for | Spendor speakers |
One object of the research was a membrane made from a polystyrene ("Bextrene") for mid-range speakers or woofers.[3] In his letter he describes the work as follows: ″Bins full of malformed cones were produced before any measure of success was achieved ...″ And in the team worked Dudley Harwood, who founded in 1977 Harbeth Acoustics, too.[4][5][3]
In 1969 he and his wife founded Spendor, the name of which is derived from the first names of both,[6] to produce loudspeakers.[7][8][4]
The first product was the BC1, which Spencer designed while still working for the BBC.[4] Several other designs followed, for example BC3,[7] SA1. Spendor also made the BBC LS3/5a under licence from the BBC.[9]
The BC1 is bigger, and was used in many radio stations, too.[6][7] In consequence the sound quality influenced many UK speaker designs.[3]
Hughes and his wife Dorothy had a son Derek; he worked at Spendor (in his letter from 1980 Spencer mentioned him as assist with research and development and general running of the factory).[4] After the untimely death of Spencer in 1983 he worked with his mother in the capacity of Technical Director, producing the original versions of what is now the Classic Series[10] and is still working at loudspeakers as freelance consultant designer.[11][12]
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