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I just bought a Spectrum +3 in 2026
I just bought a Spectrum +3 in 2026
At the most recent LAG event (#95, April 4th, 2026) there was a LAG member selling a Spectrum +3 with PSU, manual and internal gotek, and here's my write up about the machine.
I've heard of the +, the 128, the +2 ...... but what's a +3 then?
I've heard of the +, the 128, the +2 ...... but what's a +3 then?
So basically, the +3 is the same as the black +2 models (+2A and +2B) but with an internal 3" floppy disk drive instead of the tape deck.
This was the last official model of ZX Spectrum ever made and considered by many as "the best" version of the machine, but, let's take a closer look at it, as it's not without it's issues
That internal 3" floppy disc drive
That internal 3" floppy disc drive
Yeah, in the world of Amstrad (who owned the rights to the Spectrum at this point) it's disc with a C, not a K - but that's not the important bit
So, these 3" discs were double sided, but the drive was singe sided/single head, and the discs could be taken out and flipped over, storing roughly 180kb per side in a format very much compatible with the Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW and many other CP/M machines.
Whilst they feel quite solid, I find in the modern day, these are not reliable, even less reliable than 5.25" disks and 3.5" disks, which some do agree with and some don't.
The drives are all belt-driven and the most common failure is the belt deteriorating and breaking.
The internal Gotek drive
The internal Gotek drive
So, mine has been upgraded with a gotek drive, the same one as pictured here (there are other more capable models with a rotary encoder, but I'm happy with the buttons)
For those not in the know, a gotek drive is basically a "floppy disk drive emulator" - you download a load of disk images, stick 'em on your USB stick and plug it in, then use the buttons to virtually flip through the disk images, it's simple, and a lot more reliable.
What games have I been playing?
What games have I been playing?
Well, I downloaded quite a lot of games and compilations, but I've been playing Arkanoid, Batman, Head Over Heels, Space Harrier II, Shinobi, Shadow Dancer, WEC Le Mans, Power Drift and I even downloaded the Wheels Of Fire compilation and the Best Of Elite Vol 1 compilation.
Some of the games I wanted to play were not released in disk format, so, I used some emulator tools to load a cassette tape in to an emulator, snapshot it as a .Z80 file and use a tool to convert the snapshot file in to a .DSK file (complete with loader for it) which has been brilliant for getting a lot more of the Spectrum games library working on the machine.
You mention above that the +3 is not without it's issues, what issues are these?
You mention above that the +3 is not without it's issues, what issues are these?
Two come go mind:
Compatibility with some older games (also a problem for the +2A/B machines)
The "distorted sound" issue that many +3s had, even straight out of the factory
So let's take a look at these.
Compatibility
Compatibility
This is probably the bigger issue - a lot of 16k and 48k games don't work, or crash, on the +3. Even trying to load the tape image from 48 BASIC doesn't always fix these issues, however, I have found in some cases, there's fixed versions online, or, sometimes, loading the game into an emulator in 48k mode, taking a snapshot and then converting it to a disk image has worked for me, I've got quite a high success rate (but not 100%)
Distorted Sound
Distorted Sound
Basically, the sound output is too high (I think this at the pre-amp stage) and it causes distortion. A lot of +3 machines have this issue and it was present from new (out of the factory) - this can be fixed by replacing some resistors, but that's beyond my level of expertise - I'm not too bothered about this and might get someone to fix it for me at a later date.
So what made you go for a +3 when you have a 48k and a +2A?
So what made you go for a +3 when you have a 48k and a +2A?
Well, the 48k cannot play 128k games and doesn't have an AY chip, so that's an easy one to answer
The +2A? well, mine isn't too good, it's suddenly lost the ability to load from tape, I even swapped the tape deck mechanism, and it's still not working, so I suspect there's something on-board that's causing the problem. I've still got the +2A and will get it repaired at some point (either I'll work it out myself or I'll hand it someone who will be able to sort it)
Also, the whole "loading disk based games" and running software that's not games (more productivity/utility like software) is also interesting to me, as is running the Spectrum version of CP/M, which only the +3 has the capability of doing.
So, does the +3 live up to the reputation of being "the best" model?
So, does the +3 live up to the reputation of being "the best" model?
Yes, in my opinion, it does. It's got everything - 128k, AY chip, disks, external tape deck capabilities ...... it's the "Super Spectrum" in my opinion, despite some compatibility issues (which generally can be sorted one way or another)
I advise that anyone into Spectrums, especially the latter end of the Spectrum's life, should get a +3.
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