Sound opinions: Devore O/96 compared to Zu Druid V/Submission

Bongo

Bongo

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I'm new to this forum, but it seems like a good one!

I've read enough to know that there are a few O/96 owners here. I'm not sure if anyone here owns the Zu Druid V / Submission combo. I'd like to hear comparisons from anyone who heard both and can compare their attributes and limitations. Considering that there may be only a few individuals in this group, O/96 and Druid V owners should feel free to chime in. Perhaps we could limit posts to individuals that have actually heard each to shield the thread from pure speculation, which seems to fuel polemics.

I ask because the foam surrounds on my place-keeper Altec Model 14 speakers just disintegrated. I could send to Great Plains Audio for a fix, but its finally time to get something newer, better, and more fun. I have a Shindo Preamp and Amp and prefer a high ohm speaker for that reason.

Since this is a thread intro, I'll keep it brief, but I've heard the O/96's at 2012 RMAF and Arizona HiFi driven by Line Magnetic amps.

Thanks! :dancered:
 
I think if you have Shindo, Devore O/96's are a natural choice. Seems to be a popular pairing.


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I like the idea of the O/96's, but as much as I want to like them, I don't think I've ever heard an optimal setup. Likewise with Zu.

For Shindo amps, the ideal is 16 ohm speakers, although many use speakers with lower impedances with some success, including the smaller Devore speakers. The Shindo distributor highly recommends higher ohm speakers with my gear, so I'm looking at these speakers - Devore at 10 ohm and Druid V at 16 ohm. The distributor and the dealer also suggest Shindo and the new line of Audtitorium 23 speakers. They are much more expensive, and I'm intrigued and am also considering them, but that topic is for another thread!
 
First, what Shindo amp/preamp do you have?

Second, have you ever given any thought to Tannoy? Seems to be a popular pairing here.


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Bongo said:
I like the idea of the O/96's, but as much as I want to like them, I don't think I've ever heard an optimal setup. Likewise with Zu.

For Shindo amps, the ideal is 16 ohm speakers, although many use speakers with lower impedances with some success, including the smaller Devore speakers. The Shindo distributor highly recommends higher ohm speakers with my gear, so I'm looking at these speakers - Devore at 10 ohm and Druid V at 16 ohm. The distributor and the dealer also suggest Shindo and the new line of Audtitorium 23 speakers. They are much more expensive, and I'm intrigued and am also considering them, but that topic is for another thread!
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With lists of your gear .....Nothing to think about ....O/96 ! . I've been told Mr John DeVore voiced his O/96 with your amp.

Your amp is rated as 20W in class A（8Ω output）.

BTW Welcome to AS
 
Ive heard both Speakers in many configurations and can tell you the answer is no brainer

The Devore's easily outperform the Zu's and mate exceedingly well with the Shindo gear.

Go for it!:P

Bruce
 
Mike said:
First, what Shindo amp/preamp do you have?

Second, have you ever given any thought to Tannoy? Seems to be a popular pairing here.


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I did think about Tannoy for a long time - it seemed to make sense. Several individuals have commented on various forums, including the Shindo distributor, that, except possibly for the Westminster, Tannoys like a bit more juice than my Haut Brion provides. The Haut is designed for 16 ohm speakers. I know Paul has the Westminsters and would probably disagree! I don't have room for them in my listening room, but I'd love to hear how they sound.
 
Paul and Bruce, thanks for the comments. I think of the O/96 as being more refined and it also has a broader response range than the Druid V. I must admit that I left the Zu room pretty quickly in 2012. I think that they were playing some pretty compressed music or maybe a bad quality recording. I only stayed for part of a song, but it was not good.

I spent much more time in the Devore room and heard the 96's and 93's. Both were nice, but there were other rooms I liked the sound of more, as I recall, including ones that showcased Teresonic, Vaughn, Living Voice OBX, and DC10 Audio. Don't get me started about the Cessaro's in the un-obtainium, I mean, High Water Sound room. I just recall all of those rooms had a more open, detailed, and vibrant sound.

I had a short audition of the O/96's at Arizona HiFi with Line Magnetic amps, and they were much better. Compared to my Altecs, they came across as rather polite. I mentioned this to Glen, the dealer, who assured me that they could bite too. I trust his judgement, so mine remains suspended. My first Shindo dealer auditioned for me his Monbrison, Cortese, Devore Silverback kit, and it had a very refined high end and midrange enveloped in authoritative and tight bass and an enveloping soundstage - fantastic. I imagine the O/96 is similar in many ways.

I had all but dismissed the idea of Zu's, but after reading Srajan's review of the Druid V / Submission combo on 6 Moons, it turned my attention to them as an even higher impedance alternative to the O/96's. He described them as smoother and with a more refined midrange and upper range than previous Druids. I think he owned Devore 8's and gave them a great review, but I can't infer a comparison between the Devore and Zu sound. He went gaga over the Submission and now uses it with some German Physiks speakers. I also read a favorable review of the Druid V on Positive Feedback. I'm still intrigued to know more about them. Zu does have a 60 day return policy, but I'm hoping to get more information from other individuals before I pull that trigger. :bonkers:
 
Bongo said:
I did think about Tannoy for a long time - it seemed to make sense. Several individuals have commented on various forums, including the Shindo distributor, that, except possibly for the Westminster, Tannoys like a bit more juice than my Haut Brion provides. The Haut is designed for 16 ohm speakers. I know Paul has the Westminsters and would probably disagree! I don't have room for them in my listening room, but I'd love to hear how they sound.
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Bongo. One simple question. Ask them if they ever heard them together ( Westminster GR with Shindo 20 watts amp ) ?

I do have both speakers ( DeVore O/96 and Westies ) You can tell which sitting in my main room is...:) It's not matter of if I agree or not :)
 
I hear you! I bet the combo is great. The only thing that counts them out for me is their size. My listening room isn't small, but its configuration won't accommodate them. Even if it did, my wife who approves of a new speaker purchase, has expressed some disapproval of the aesthetic of the Westminsters!

I love the look and the wood - its like a big antique wardrobe. Its unexpected, and given its performance, such a sleeper, as speakers go. A speaker as "Ferrari" is impressive, but isn't really my thing.

Someday, I hope to hear them.
 
Bongo, I'd go with the 0/96 if you are only considering these two. I have a friend running the Giscours and GM 70's. He moved from Zu to the 0/96 and is in heaven. I'm sorry I don't know which Zu model he had if it's important, but I can find out.

You've got a great system!
 
Thanks Bill! Actually, I have considered other speakers, but there aren't many sub $20k speakers with high enough impedance to get the most out of my amplifiers.

I've know the specs and reviews for Teresonics, Vaughns, Tannoy Canterbury, DC 10, Bastanis, Living Voice, WLM, and Horning. I've heard the O/96s, Teresonics, Vaughns, Hornings, and Living Voice at RMAF, and liked them all a lot. However, only Devore, Vaughn, and Teresonic have high impedance speakers. Of those, Devore and Vaughn are probably best for my musical tastes, which includes rock (many variants), jazz, acoustic, Americana, bluegrass, and some classical. Vaughns are difficult to audition though.

There is another consideration. My listening room is adobe- plaster over solid Mud bricks - with cement floors and wood viga (beam) ceilings. The north side has large sliding glass doors and windows along which is the passage between two large openings to the two neighboring rooms. The west, south, and east walls are adobe - kind of U shaped. The "U" has amazing reinforcement of lower frequencies. In fact, with speakers placed against any of the adobe walls, there are always a few nasty base nodes that are difficult to resolve, no matter how far away from the front wall.

I've spoke with Glen at Arizona HiFi about this and he agreed that the O/96's could be challenging to tame. That was disappointing. He suggested that I take my rear ported bedroom speakers and amp, and test different positioning, namely using the glass as the front wall with the speakers about 5 feet out. It worked! It suggested that I'll be able to control the O/96 bass - they were still in the running!

We also discussed the Shindo 604 and Petite Latour. The down ported designs would probably work, not to mention a front ported version, which can be ordered on the PL's. He also got Jonathan Halpern's input, who wanted me to consider the new Auditorium 23 Cinema Hommage or 22a. These were priced in the range of Petite Latour / 604 FC and Latour FC, respectively. However, I've set a budget limit that maxes out at the AlNiCo versions of the Shindo speakers.

I see you have Petite Latours! Are they FC or AlNiCo? I'd love to hear your impressions. Have you used other speakers with your Shindo rig? If so, I'd be interested in your comparisons. If you want, feel free to PM. I don't want to steer the topic off course any more than I have already. :P

I've asked another PL owner from Santa Fe (one hour north) who owns a full Shindo setup if he'd be open to sharing a listening session with me. Hopefully, he will be, since other auditioning alternatives involve more travel.

But back to the topic at hand, it sounds like the O/96 is the consensus choice thus far.
 
I have the Haut Brion amp, as well.
i use Altec Valencias with Jabo Labs crossovers and alternate them with the Line Magnetic 755i's.
you owe it to yourself to audition the Line Magnetics.
They are unreal how good they are. I have had them for a couple of years and they have stood the test of time.
 
Thanks for the suggestion Jay! I've only read good things about them. I'm definitely keeping the Line Magnetic and Auditorium 23 speakers in mind. Of course, all of the Auditorium 23 speakers use LM drivers now, but the price point is on another level. I haven't ruled out any options yet, and there is no reason to leapfrog the O/96 price point yet. Many of these speakers involve significant travel to audition and, finances permitting, I tend to let my ears be my guide. It may take a while to make a decision!

Jay, I had Altec 14's with upgraded Auricap capacitors. They sounded wonderful, if not somewhat rolled off on the high frequencies. Augmented with a sub, the horns were immediate and open. On the other hand, I like cone speakers. My Regas sound great with my Almarro amp. I'd describe them as more intimate, but very detailed.

How would you contrast the sound of your Altecs (16ohm, right?) with your LM speakers?
 
Let me first say, I love the Valencias. Especially with the Jabo Labs autoformer crossovers took them to a whole different level than the stock crossover. Much more coherent. No more shrillness. More balanced sounding. Really unbelievable with Shindo gear.
That being said, whenever I swap the Line Magnetic 755i's back in the system, they simply make the Valencias sound broken. Especially with the Haut Brions. Sonically, they are more transparent, more coherent (no surprise), faster, with better treble and a ridiculous midrange. The bass was the biggest surprise. Truly great. In this regard, I think the Haut Brion with its slightly bumped up mid-bass is truly synergistic with the Line Magnetics. And they can play anything, not just solo guitar or vocal music. The only thing the Valencias do better is convey the weight of the music.
The Line Magnetics are magical at times, making you believe there is nothing in hetween you and the music. They make all music sound correct and make sense. The Altecs are loud, clear and awesome and the best budget match for Shindo gear in my opinion, but they are not magic.
 
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