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Does anyone have experience with Devore O/96, Tannoy Legacy Cheviot and JBL 4429?

Hi Music Lovers

Your assistance would be appreciated in my speaker quest.

I'm looking for a large woofer easy to drive Speaker.
So far i've narrowed my options to:
A. Devore O/96
B. Tannoy Legacy Cheviot
C. JBL 4429

My amp is Line Magnetic 805, 48 w class a.

I mainly listen to instrumental Jazz (piano, woodwinds, horns), 70's rock and Classical music.

I have heard the Devore which have some pluses compared to the others, such as higher sensitivity and deaper base. I found the Devores remarkable and even Jaw dropping on most recordings, but a little unforgiving and harsh on old Jazz recordings.

Unfortunately the JBLs and Tannoys are unnavaillable for audition in my country.
The JBLs and Tannoys are fairly sensitive but i havent found any information about their impedance curve, which is why i'm not certain if they would be a good choice for low power tube amps. On the other hand they are half the price of the Devore which is a big plus !!

I'm looking for the following attributes by order of importance:
A. Relaxed, non fatiguing big sound, with natural full bodied immages and timbre of instruments and voices (hard to get that with woodwinds, horns and piano), the sound should fill up the room without any harshness.
B. Shurefooted, solid rhithmically.
C. Detailed (detail should not be on the expense of naturalness of the music, which is why it's not on my highest priority).

I would appreciate any comment on each speakers independently or prefferably a comparison between them.

Thanks for your assistance in my quest.

adam_cr
johnlcnm
45 posts
 
As an owner of the 4429s'. I think that they are excellent speakers. I have not heard either one of the others. Tannoy used to be owned by Harman also. So probably some cross pollination there between JBL and Tannoy. As far as The Gibbon Circuit is concerned, other people have done similar things like isolating the capacitors and inductors in a sand wax mixture. That would be JBL in the 70s'. They don't do that anymore. They use open circuit boards like most manufacturers today. I can understand that designing crossover/speaker systems that don't look reactive to the amplifier is a good thing, although not practical in a lot of cases. High end amps are usually designed to drive highly reactive loads. That requires a low resistance high current power supply, which usually means, it is an expensive amp. The majority of the cost in building an audio amp is in the power supply. Cheap amps do not have high current capable supplies.

Another thought: The D2girls had a pair of JBL 4367s' that they raved about. But, I would ask the question, have they listened to the speakers that you are referring to here. Bottom line: You have to listen to all three of your choices to make an intelligent decision. Our recommendations may not fit your needs or desires for what you think is the kind of sound you are looking for.

Regards,

John 
prof
3,473 posts
 

Adam,
I love the Devore 0/96 and considered purchasing a pair.
A little bit of information that might, or might not be relevant for you:The design of the Devore speakers entails that they need at least 8 feet o beyond listening distance to really cohere and sound their best.  Also, due to the design (including the slight wave-guide for the tweeter I think) the horizontal dispersion narrower (in terms of maintaining an even tonal balance). In other words, they are something of a narrower sweet spot listening speaker than possibly the other models you are considering.
All that shifts somewhat depending on listener distance of course.  But just thought that might be relevant.
adam_cr OP
3 posts
 
My listening room is 4.5 by 3.5 meters, similar to the Dealers room in which auditioned them, so I believe that I could find a good placement for the O/96.

Since starting this discussion I added 2 new speakers to my list:
  • Audionote AN-E/SPe HE, they seam to have the sound signature that i'm after, based on what i read they are a bit more relaxed than the O/96, may be better with old crappy Jazz recordings, but there's that solid wall corner placement requirement that can't be met in my room and they are unfortunately not availlable for Demo in my country.
  • Trenner and Friedl Pharoa, I will set an audition for those and will bring my amp with me.
I'll post back with my impresions on the Pharoa.
ag3__
47 posts
 
If you are in the O/96 price range I would be looking at the Kensington's.

I own some Eaton's and prefer them with solid state. I tend to prioritize transients, speed, tight bass, PRaT etc. Imaging is obviously first rate as well which is big for me as it adds to chasing the "realness factor". 

I've ran them with LTA and PrimaLuna and while tonally they've been wonderful, did not have the foundation that I was looking for. The newer models are a tougher load than the Tannoy's of old. So far Pass/FW products have been a wonderful match. 

I've only heard the JBLs once at a dealer (with SS amps) and found the low end a little too boomy for my liking. I found my Eaton's do low end a lot more naturally, more articulate.

I've never heard these myself - but Coherent Audio of Canada might be worth checking into for you. Similar Tannoy concentric design but much higher efficiency and designed to be used with 2-3W SETs thanks to their Radian Drivers. Very simila finish to the Devore as well. I'd love to try them one day. 
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