Devore O/96 with high powered amplifiers

It is no surprise that I'm interested in exploring SET tube amplifiers.  It will be difficult to justify keeping all these amplifiers around.

I have a pair of O96s and originally paired them with Pass labs XA 60.8 mono blocks but sold those and got an Audio Note OTO Silver signature. I will say the sound was much better with the tube amp. The pass lab amps seemed a little constrained, not as deep or full in the bass and the sound stage wasn’t as big. Others might be able to give more insight into this, but I think some of it could be damping factor? Maybe it’s just the way tubes sound with these Speakers as opposed to transistor amps. However, I recently replaced the OTO with the Leben CS 300xs and for my system, it definitely sounds better than the OTO despite the almost 3x price difference.  The Leben will be here for a long time. 

I appreciate the detailed description and experience with various amps.  I'm surprised to hear that Pass XA60.8 didn't impress.  Leben seems an interesting choice too.  

The Devore O/96 arrived and are now set up exactly where the previous speakers were.  First impressions indicate there is work to do with placement.  I was expecting strong bass, especially with the high powered amps; however, this is not the case.  I appreciate the detail, midrange, and liveliness, but improvements are needed.  

I was expecting strong bass, especially with the high powered amps; however, this is not the case. 

Looking at your virtual system it is curious that you went from Wilsons to the Orangutan 96 if strong bass was your priority. There are always trade-offs regardless of price. With that in mind you went to a smaller, simpler loudspeaker that does not push as much air as the Wilsons. The O/96's are not bass monsters. They are mostly about touch and tone, with a very distinct sense of refinement and propulsive-ness. This can go two ways imho. You may be the wrong customer for the O/96's or you may with time grow to love them for their good qualities. That single 10" SEAS driver can go fairly low with moderately taut bass but it will not thump you in the chest no matter how many watts your throw at it. 

Sorry to keep droning on but look at it this way-compared to a pair of Falcon Gold Badges the O/96's have extended bass and good low-end grunt but compared to refrigerator sized Wilsons they do not. 

I mentioned touch and tone. I believe that a good 30 watt tubed amp like the Leben is pretty much the sweet spot for drawing out the best qualities of the O/96 that MAY, if you are the matching type of customer/owner, get drawn in over time. 

And last, for reasons unknown Auditorium 23 speaker cables are a magical match for the Orangutans.