For engagement with instruments, particularly small groups or soloists, true horns like Avant Garde will present a fantastic illusion of three dimensional listening. The design of the physical horn will determine the perception of placement of sound. If you want more of that effect, then it will be hard argue against Avant-garde or a used Cain and Cain design. Classic older horn speakers like Altec, Klipsch and JBL become a playground of tinkering with crossovers and tweaks. Some dismiss them, but I find them to be very engaging. I had a pair of Heathkit Legatos from Goodwill during college, and they remain a true love. If you love vintage speakers, but want them loaded with upgrades in a perfectly made box, Robertson at Volti is the guy. Devore and Audionote are sophisticated compromises between those who like horns and lovers of a wood box. John Devore really took a risk in a world of nerds with gadgets to measure, and made a speaker tuned to passion over graphs. They are great speakers, and handle so many types of music well. Audionote is fantastic for the same reasons. For small band jazz, they are strong contenders. While Zu, Triangle and others have their (very valid) takes on efficiency, and imaging, I’ve never felt a room come alive in their presence. I’ve never been as excited by anything as I was by a pair of field coils in a large space, but I’ve never been able to emulate that with modern tamed versions. By definition, a lover of low wattage and horns is going to be a finicky irrational bird. No one will be able tell you what to buy, only what to try. The fact that the Audionote piqued your interest tells me you owe it to yourself to dig deeper there first, then perhaps explore Devore. I would not dismiss the 93 as less than the 96. It’s worth trying too. I’m way out on the fringe and can’t be happy unless I’ve modified an old box to the end of its limits, or found a pair of Terry Cain’s speakers online. The exploration and discovery is as much fun as the marriage if you find the right pair. If nothing else, your arms are about to get stronger.
