DAEDALUS AUDIO ATHENAS VS DEVORE FIDELITY O/96

I've been a Daedalus owner since 1998 moving from the original DA-1's to fully updated DA-1.1s (AP crossovers and, recently, V2 upgrades). I have not heard the DeVore O96's but have heard both the Gibbon's and the Silverback's (with Shindo electronics) at two different dealer showrooms. For me, the Daedalus are clearly superior in every way. While the DeVore's are a nice speaker, I find them unexceptional--not at all offensive and certainly pleasant to listen to but unexceptional. The Daedalus (I have also heard the Ulysses in a top flight system in addition to my own DA-1.1s) are among the best speakers I have ever heard regardless of price or total system cost. The V2 upgrades push these speakers into territory that is rarely visited--they are speakers for a lifetime that you will never get tired of listening to or looking at in your living room. Since speakers are such a personal choice and you are unable to audition you may be interested to know that Lou does have a trial policy that would let you return the Athena's if you were unhappy--it will cost you but at least you can hear them in your home. Do make sure they are FULLY broken in before reaching any conclusions about their sound--that will take at least 300 hours or so. I doubt it will matter, though--I cannot imagine you will be dissatisfied.

Thanks a lot to everyone for taking your time to respond.

For I can read, Daedalus are on a league on their own. Even not expensive, for the price/performance ratio.

I also read about the Tonian Labs, highly regarded , 16 Ohms and +96 sensitivity. Did any one of you have heard these ?

Regards

FWIW, my friend with the Athenas auditioned a number of HE speakers when he wanted to upgrade. He flew down to California to audition the big Tonians. He liked them, with reservations and bought the Athenas instead. He has had no regrets, and will get the V2 upgrades soon.