Devore 0/96's

Sometimes it takes a while to find out what you love long term. I usually bought first and decided later. Not smart. Reviews, forums and word of mouth only go so far. In my situation, living with components really reveal their true character and how they interact with your other gear.

Part of this obsession makes us want to find the perfect sound - it doesn’t exist. But, it’s easy to arrive at a place where you can be extremely happy. Room, electric, amp and speaker interaction all play into your decisions. This should all really be a fun process not something to agonize over.

My car radio or even my cheap desktop computer speakers at work can emotionally move me with the right music or song. Start with a sound that makes you happy.
 
joeinid said:
Sometimes it takes a while to find out what you love long term. I usually bought first and decided later. Not smart. Reviews, forums and word of mouth only go so far. In my situation, living with components really reveal their true character and how they interact with your other gear.

Part of this obsession makes us want to find the perfect sound - it doesn’t exist. But, it’s easy to arrive at a place where you can be extremely happy. Room, electric, amp and speaker interaction all play into your decisions. This should all really be a fun process not something to agonize over.

My car radio or even my cheap desktop computer speakers at work can emotionally move me with the right music or song. Start with a sound that makes you happy.
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I agree! There is no substitute to auditioning for yourself.


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bluegrassphile said:
OK, I read the entire thread. Holy mackerel, my head's spinning!!! I'm so glad I have a year to research and learn before picking out the components for my new high end audio system. The choices are literally dizzying! As I've mentioned in other posts, I have a budget range of $12,000 to $20,000 give or take a couple thousand. So, I might be able to swing speakers such as the 096. But I have a lot of comparing to do. Not only that, but I also have some obstacles to overcome such as room limitations (my listening room at 27' x 11' is small), space limitations, long distances to audio stores (except for one) which limits auditioning, among other limitations. I still have a lot to learn. But threads like this one are very helpful and educational. I'm just starting to become more familiar with some of the ultra high end audio names (i.e. Sindho), although it can be confusing at times. I look forward to similar threads in the future.
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You might search out Devore, Wilson, and Magico auditions for cones (all very different). That will give you a spectrum of sound and see which way you lean. Finding your "sound" is the biggest thing in audio - prevents you from being on the merry go round.

I would also pick the three most important parts of sound to your ears - for example, dynamics, soundstage, and tone are mine. Then focus your auditions to speakers that excel in those directions.

There is no perfect speaker - read my 2018/19 journey on WBF about $50k speakers for a possible Devore upgrade. Even at that lofty level there are compromises!
 
I appreciate so much my 96s since last november, but I'm considering to change my Pathos TT Aniversary int amp for a new all tubes integrated. Maybe my Primaluna Int HP would be perfect... If I compare their sound to my Focal Scalla Utopias, bass is way deeper, but I need more control, especially in high mids area. A tad shrill with electric guitars like telecasters and with particular female voices. I think I need darker amps or interconnects. Any ideas?​
 
vinci92 said:
I appreciate so much my 96s since last november, but I'm considering to change my Pathos TT Aniversary int amp for a new all tubes integrated. Maybe my Primaluna Int HP would be perfect... If I compare their sound to my Focal Scalla Utopias, bass is way deeper, but I need more control, especially in high mids area. A tad shrill with electric guitars like telecasters and with particular female voices. I think I need darker amps or interconnects. Any ideas?​
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Setup can be a bit tricky with the Os - i'd play around with placement and toe-in first. They do like space from the walls typically. I haven't heard any shrillness on that speaker.
 
One thing I didn't mention is, due to the small size of my room, uncompromising location of furniture and available spots for speaker placement, there is one and only one place available to stage my speakers. I have a few inches either direction to experiment with speaker location. That is pretty much it. I'm guessing that will, to a certain degree, influence my speaker choices. Especially since some speakers require more "air" and a larger area.

And some here have mentioned that the 096 requires more space. I hope that's not the case. I'd like to try the 096 in my listening area. Another very important point...the room is 27' x 11', my listening area is about 11' x 11'. That changes things just a bit. About 1/2 of the room is music/recording studio. The other 1/2 is audio listening and TV watching and there is a small wood burning stove in the corner.

But then pops up one of those obstacles I was talking about above.....geography. I'm not aware of any DeVore dealers near my home (southeast Iowa). Any or all of these factors could figure in as much as sonic personality/character when it comes to speaker choice.
 
Im no expert BUT you might want to try speakers that are designed to go into the corners of the room against the wall...like Audio Note Speakers. I don't believe you will be able to use O'96 with your 11 feet factor. I have a 13x15 room and I own O/96's and they will never work in that room....but my Audio Note AN-E SPX Al Nico's will do just fine. Just a thought.
 
Billion$Baby said:
Im no expert BUT you might want to try speakers that are designed to go into the corners of the room against the wall...like Audio Note Speakers. I don't believe you will be able to use O'96 with your 11 feet factor. I have a 13x15 room and I own O/96's and they will never work in that room....but my Audio Note AN-E SPX Al Nico's will do just fine. Just a thought.
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Thank you for your recommendation. One limitation I have with the listening area is the wood burning stove is in one of the corners. The speaker in that corner will have to go a couple feet in front of and to the side of the stove. I have a heat shield surrounding the stove.
 
If you can show us a diagram of the room with the "obstacles" and the placement options then we might be better able to point you in the direction of speakers that have the best chance to work in that environment. From what it sounds like dealer listening sessions while good for giving you a feel for the general sound profile of a speaker or speaker line are not likely to help you much in actually choosing a speaker to fit what seems like a difficult room. Any many of the ones that may work you are not likely going to be able to audition without a long drive or plane ticket. Bob Neill the former equipment reviewer and now just music reviewer for Positive Feedback is a dealer for Audio Note and Reynaud speakers (Amherst Audio) which should both work in you situation. I would suggest you call him and have a conversation. The Reynaud Abscissa Jubilee is a slim floorstander about 48" tall with a front ported transmission line that will work relatively well close to the rear wall. They recommend a minimum of 16" from the rear and side walls and 2 meters apart center to center. My pair is farther from the walls in both directions because I had the room and 7 feet center to center. Mine only have about 350 hours on them so I will give them a bit more before measuring bass extension in the room but I expect it to be close to 30 hz and maybe a little lower. They are fine with the subs off but since they are here they are turned on crossed at 35 hz.
 
Jack said:
If you can show us a diagram of the room with the "obstacles" and the placement options then we might be better able to point you in the direction of speakers that have the best chance to work in that environment. From what it sounds like dealer listening sessions while good for giving you a feel for the general sound profile of a speaker or speaker line are not likely to help you much in actually choosing a speaker to fit what seems like a difficult room. Any many of the ones that may work you are not likely going to be able to audition without a long drive or plane ticket. Bob Neill the former equipment reviewer and now just music reviewer for Positive Feedback is a dealer for Audio Note and Reynaud speakers (Amherst Audio) which should both work in you situation. I would suggest you call him and have a conversation. The Reynaud Abscissa Jubilee is a slim floorstander about 48" tall with a front ported transmission line that will work relatively well close to the rear wall. They recommend a minimum of 16" from the rear and side walls and 2 meters apart center to center. My pair is farther from the walls in both directions because I had the room and 7 feet center to center. Mine only have about 350 hours on them so I will give them a bit more before measuring bass extension in the room but I expect it to be close to 30 hz and maybe a little lower. They are fine with the subs off but since they are here they are turned on crossed at 35 hz.
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I'll try and post some pics. I'm not very tech-y when it comes to doing this but I'll try. I have some pics on my phone. I just need to get them to my computer and on the Audioshark General forum.
 
Bluegrassphile,

I believe it has been suggested many times by members here in most of the threads where you have questions... that of visiting an audio show or two to at least get an idea of the flavors you like. Are you not physically able to attend such events?
 
Yes, Mike. I cannot. I've mentioned it in some posts. I have a few reasons for not being able to attend such gatherings...geography, time, expense, not to mention with the exception of one store, I live in a location barren of such activity for hundreds of miles. I encounter this sometimes not just with high end audio but on guitar and music forums. Just take my word for it and assume I cannot do it...currently. The next closest high end audio store from me is at least a 4 hr drive. That would likely call for an over night stay, meals, gas, perhaps taking time from my p/t job. Sometimes it's hard for people who have multiple choices for nearby audio stores to understand why I can't just jump in the car and visit 2 or more audio stores within an hour's time. Or, to get in the car and go to an audio convention that's 4 to 5 hours away. With some planning I might be able to in the future, just not right now. So, I'm currently relegated to getting most of my information from forums such as this one. I appreciate your understanding of this.
 
bluegrassphile said:
Yes, Mike. I cannot. I've mentioned it in some posts. I have a few reasons for not being able to attend such gatherings...geography, time, expense, not to mention with the exception of one store, I live in a location barren of such activity for hundreds of miles. I encounter this sometimes not just with high end audio but on guitar and music forums. Just take my word for it and assume I cannot do it...currently. The next closest high end audio store from me is at least a 4 hr drive. That would likely call for an over night stay, meals, gas, perhaps taking time from my p/t job. Sometimes it's hard for people who have multiple choices for nearby audio stores to understand why I can't just jump in the car and visit 2 or more audio stores within an hour's time. Or, to get in the car and go to an audio convention that's 4 to 5 hours away. With some planning I might be able to in the future, just not right now. So, I'm currently relegated to getting most of my information from forums such as this one. I appreciate your understanding of this.
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You are not alone. I live an hour outside of Philly and there is only a small handful of B&M locations. Even then, most don't carry what we mostly talk about here. And as a whole, all of them together might represent 1% of the options. It's overwhelming.

I have wanted to hear a Pass Int for a few years now. Nobody in my area has one, and nobody from forums has one to let me hear. Hard to buy one on reviews because of exactly what your Psyc Post is about. One man's Gold is another man's Garbage.
 
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Aha!! OK. Now, starting with the second pic from the top is the view looking at the south wall, where the instruments are hanging. That is my "music/recording studio" area. It's NOT my listening area. The opposite (north) wall is my listening area.

Once I purchase my audio system the long couch will be history. There's simply not enough room for it and an audio system. The pic at the top is showing the north wall. You'll notice the left corner has a "jog" that hides the water turn off. There's a door on the front that opens up to it. The corner at the right has the wood burning stove. The recliner and TV tray rack can all be moved further back away from the stove which will also make room for a speaker. The heat shield around the stove does a really good job of keeping things around the stove cool. A speaker in that vicinity would be about 3' to 4' away from the stove and outside the heat shield. The TV would have to stay where it is. Removing the couch will give me needed flexibility, especially with speaker placement on that side. The coat rack will go also. Sitting in my listening seat (the love seat) I would be about 7' to 8' from each speaker.

The bottom pic is looking from the north part of the room to the southeast toward the room entrance and stairway. We have sheets up to hold in heat from the stove. We spend most of our time in this room in the winter and some in the summer when it gets hot outside.

OK, I'm open to comments, questions, and suggestions. Thank you all in advance.
 

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BTW, my sincere apologies to the OP for somewhat hijacking the thread. That was not my intention. The thread kind of drifted away from the original topic, someone asked me some questions, and I felt like I should answer them.

I'm still very much interested in the DeVore 096 and would really like to hear a pair. But I'm just not sure my room, at 27' x 11' can do them justice. Thus my post above with pics. I hope to try them in my home sometime before my purchase. Once again, my apologies to the OP.
 
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