Devore or Audio Note or other sensitive speakers: wanting to listen in Denver

I've had the good fortune to hear audio systems set up by Jeff Catalano (High Water Sound) probably 5 or 6 times at various audio shows. In each instance the sound quality was consistent in its excellence and very natural presentation (Natural being the key signature). Usually the speakers were Cessaro horns or Horning speakers. Electronics either Tron audio or New Audio Frontiers.  Which ever combination of the brands chosen to demostrate,  same result of beautiful natural music reproduction. Jeff has an excellent ear.

Charles 

@bjesien 

mud also recommend learning a little about impedance curves. These curves are much more important than a sensitivity rating if a speaker. Also realize that is no real standard in which the speaker industry measures

Good point's! There's so much focus on speaker  sensitivity levels (With little clarity on how they are derived) . It's really the impedance load and curve pattern that determines how hard the amplifier must work. Sensitivity  will influence how loud a speaker can go for a given amount of applied wattage. 

Both parameters are useful to know but it seems speaker impedance and its impact is under appreciated. 

From JA/Stereophile

Although the Fyne F301's specified sensitivity is a high 89dB/2.83V/m, my estimated sensitivity was slightly lower, at 86.2dB(B)/2.83V/m. The Fyne F301's nominal impedance is specified as 8 ohms. While the impedance magnitude (fig.1, solid trace) remains above 8 ohms from the upper midrange through to 30kHz, it does drop below 8 ohms in the lower midrange, with a minimum value of 4.77 ohms at 200Hz. While the electrical phase angle (dashed trace) is high at some frequencies, the impedance magnitude is also high at those frequencies. The Fyne F301 will thus be a relatively easy load for the partnering amplifier.

So overall is considered an easy speaker to drive. 

Charles 

@hilde45 ,

Re-sale — I'm really learning how many very good speaker companies there are out there that one would never hear of without a forum. That's a great thing to learn, but if this is not an endgame speaker, how hard or at what cost would re-sale be? A Devore would sell easily; Coherent audio or NSMT? Might take a hit. (Then again, one might not pay as much up front...)

No doubt that recognized established and  larger brands  have an advantage when reselling into the used audio product marketplace. People will buy what they are familiar with and feel more secure with the purchase  as a result.  Tradeoff is generally you pay for this acknowledged higher profile/ prestige  upfront when purchasing new.

On the other hand if the highest priority is maximizing sound quality and value then the lesser know (But high quality) manufacturers become more viable and competitive.  So there is the always present inevitable balancing act.  I tend to take my time when shopping and researching buying options and I keep components for quite a long time.  Thus ultimate sonic performance and value are more pertinent for me than concern over ease of resale and used market value. 

Obviously this is strictly an individual case by case decision and a person has to know themselves and what matters most. But no doubt that there are many very good choices available. 

Charles 

@hilde45

I believe that you’ve chosen a good path to explore and don’t think you can go wrong with Devore, Audio Note or Fyne  Audio speakers. Another option that fits this  category is a Canadian speaker from Coherent Audio. Straightforward two way design with about 94-95 db sensitivity and easy to drive 8 ohm impedance load.

Another high quality option is Tonian Labs speakers located in California. They have 95-97 db sensitivity and very easy to drive 16 ohm impedance load with some of their models. There are many very good choices available to suit your objectives.

Charles

 From JA, Stereophile on the Wharfedale Diamond 225 speaker,

I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the Wharfedale Diamond 225's frequency response in the farfield, and an Earthworks QTC-40 for the nearfield responses. Wharfedale specifies the Diamond 225's voltage sensitivity as 87dB/2.83V/m; my estimate was lower than that, at 85dB/2.83V/m. The speaker's impedance is specified as being "8 ohm compatible," with a minimum value of 4.2 ohms. My measurement is shown in fig.1—an 8 ohm rating would be fair, particularly given the generally moderate phase angle, but the minimum magnitude was 3.87 ohms between 190 and 200Hz.

I'd like to see an impedance graph for those speakers, or some other data, to know why they perform as Reichert says they do. There is a very big difference in abject power requirements for an 87db vs 93db speaker, so knowing what else is going on would be valuable. At least one thing would be the capability of a solid state First Watt to deliver current vs. my tube amp.

@keithr @vinylvalet I have heard some Fyne in Denver, but not the better models. As a result, I came away unimpressed with Fyne, but I'd be curious to hear better versions.

@keithr  Can you say a bit about the qualities that initially attracted you to Zu, then Devore and eventually to Fyne? I have a brother in law on this journey, too, and we'd really like to know how/why things progressed this way for you.

I've not heard the Fyne (F1 or F700 models) but given their design, pedigree and word of mouth reputation,  my gut feeling is that they are high quality and very good sounding. Easy to drive 8 ohm impedance and 95 db sensitivity is a very desirable combination. 

Charles 

@whart 

But, I'm down with high efficiency speakers and low powered tube amps as a good way to reproduce music.

+1

Charles