I auditioned the Devore O96s a few months ago and was very impressed. Very musical and wouldn’t hesitate to purchase them except for the WAF. While I like the way they look, they are just too big for my wife’s taste. She doesn’t want our living room focused on the stereo. Have never heard a pair of Audio Note speakers. |
FWIW...I included my impression of my audio note speaker audition in my big "contemplating Devore speakers" thread. In a nutshell I find both have a similar "organic" tone and texture. The way the bow and a string is texturally present and you get the tone of the wooden body. So I think they are in the same family of sound in that sense. The O-series Devore are a bit more richly voiced, a bit more overt body and warmth. Ultimately I preferred what I heard from the Devores. One reason is that, to get comparable bass to the Devores you have to use the AudioNote method of placing them near the corners, as they were for my audition. This works in terms of increasing the sense of scale and bass reach of the Audionote speakers, but frankly I couldn’t help "hearing the trick." That is hearing the room lift in the bass to help things. With the Devores, so long as they could be pulled well out from the back wall, the bass felt a bit more integrated and naturally produced. Also, placing the Audionote speakers near the corners will tend to induce more interaction with the room, including sidewall reflections. While this can help with a lively, spacious tonal character, I prefer to keep room interaction to a minimum as I find it can obscure some of the subtle timbre in the actual recordings. The Devore speakers have a semi-wave guide for the tweeter which narrows dispersion somewhat. So, pulled out away from the back wall, and with the slight wave-guide, speakers angled toward me, I got less room interaction more recorded timbre on the Devores. Those were my takeaways. I’m not an expert on Audio Note speakers or anything... (Caveat: I find the Devore O/96 and 93 need 8 feet listening distance at least to cohere. In my room that would mean a bit more room interaction/reflection than my current Joseph speakers, which I can pull closer without losing coherence).
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@prof thanks very much for the info! I was especially curious about the tone of the mid driver.. but im also sensitive to coherency and thats a good point about the corners with AN.
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Does anybody around here think Devore speakers are somewhat overpriced? Cabinets made next door to his shop (plywood?), couple of bespoke drivers...the Baby costs $7,000 or so...093 $8400...a handmade guitar in that price range has more craft than any speaker I can think of so I have to wonder. Maybe hype and cost relative to market perception, still... |
Regarding prices, you picked a rather low bar to complain about. We have DACs costing $30K plus, amps double that and more, and no shortage of speakers easily breaking the $100K mark. All are good examples of a free market economy. The maker is free to charge what they wish, and we are free to buy -- or not. There is also the issue of overhead and fixed costs for small, niche manufacturers. They don't have the volume of larger or mass market manufacturers over which to spread these expenses. I've heard the Devore O96s and they are an excellent, musical speaker. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a pair if I were in the market for new speakers and had the spot for them. As with anything audio, YMMV, but as noted, you have lots of options if you're shopping for speakers, or anything else.
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@wolf_garcia There are incredible options at fractions of the cost if you DIY. But then, you'll have to put in the time. And thats when you realize people charge a lot because ... they put in the time.
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Isn’t most everything we want? Seriously, people tend to buy what they want. People tend to try to build what will sell. Straightforward so far. BUT…the preowned market determines real value and its a rare manufacturer whose products resale/preowned value maintains such a high percentage of their originaal retail price.
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@wolf_garcia Agreed. Compare a $50k speaker with a new SUV. It's just silly. |
Yeah...A D’Agostino "Relentless" amp or 2 McLarens...The things I own weren’t overpriced, they are simply great sounding and fairly priced great designs...Indeed, manufacturers can charge whatever they want but if I sense overpricing (relatively) I won’t participate in it even though I can afford it. I’ve heard DeVores and meh...nothing special in my book although they’re well regarded or perhaps over hyped. A few years ago I paid 1500 bucks for a pair of new "open box" (actually non consecutive serial number speakers that were never opened, just missing their partners likely smashed in a shipping incident) Heresy III Capitol Records edition speakers that seem to sound much better than DeVores. Also made in USA, with a list price of 3 grand..sort of my point. Generally a $6,000 Collings acoustic guitar sounds much better than a $1,500 anything else, but in audio it often just gets weird unless maybe you’re Schiit, of whom I'm a fan...Schiit hits the fan? Sorry...too easy... |
Another example of differences in taste. I've heard lots of Klipsch speakers over the years (one of my best friends has had a set of K-horns from the 1970s) and I've never been impressed. He likes them, though, and that's all that counts. Getting a better price on something that doesn't impress me is not a way to save money. That's what the YMMV comment is all about. However, I do agree with you on Schiit products -- great sound for a great price. |
I've heard Heresy III and IV, as well as Devore O/96. First of all, the Devore looks gorgeous and classy. And sounds significantly better and refined. I'm sorry I won't put the Heresy's even two levels below the Devore. Having said that, I'm probably one of the few who didn't like the O/96 much when I auditioned it a couple of years ago. But at any rate, they are better than anything Klipsch I've listened to. Of course, this is only my opinion and very subjective as such :) |
I didn't like the Heresy IVs at all...they redesigned the mid horns and blew it seemingly. I might warm up to DeVores (but likely won't unless somebody gives me a pair of 'em) in my system but I like the idea of well executed horns like those in the Heresy IIIs, which when matched with good gear ahead of them are coherent and clear as a bell in my system anyway...the do need a couple of subs (I use 2 RELs) to make proper noises...also well regarded among the reviewer literati. DeVores look to me like plywood boxes with a shiny front veneer, which is what they are...classy! |
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The Devore's are better than the Heresy's without a doubt. No comparison at all, and I have compared them. I've owned the O/93 and the Cornwall 4. That's a little tougher to compare. The Cornwalls have an effortlessness to them that is hard to match but aren't as refined. The Devore's have clarity and tone. I found the O/93 fatiguing at times but in all fairness, I think they were too much for my room or tastes. I prefer the Nines with the side mount in my space. Different animals. I have an Audionote amp but with a pair of Fyne's. I've found happiness with this set but still miss the Devore's and Cornwalls at times. Only listen to 40% of what's said on this site. The other 60% the majority is your own experience.
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