Fleetwood Sound Company

The story behind a product -- what’s the design idea, who built it and where, etc. -- is part of why many people buy a product. Along with the aesthetics. Fleetwood certainly has a compelling story behind it. It certainly has an aesthetic that some people like.

I’ve heard the speakers on a few occasions, with electronics both familiar and unfamiliar. I’ll just emphasize that these are definitely speakers to listen to, very carefully, before buying. My impressions did not line up at all with what the reviews say.

@metaldetektor very good advice about listening. Dont buy based on hype and carefully understand what your dealer is presenting or where ever you’re auditioning the devilles, or any speaker for that matter. As I mentioned in my impressions in the thread, these speakers give you throw. That said, its so easy to turn up the volume and notice how well and clean they play at high volume at the dealer showroom - surely that’ll bring you a smile but go beyond that and kick the tires more than usual. They are polarizing speakers for every element of our hobby.

@riaa_award_collectors_on_facebook wow, i almost decided on blue too…oh i i just re-read, you got it on the Nenuphar. Thats gotta be neat too…!

That Nenuphar in that wood finish is making me drool.

@m-db i think the speakers that were in the apartment were the OMA Minis, not devilles - which to me, is more of an eye-catcher between the two.

low325, now that I think of it yes. Glad to hear someone else here saw that episode.

Channel surfing when I saw the system and made it half way through the second episode, meh.

these might be really nice; i dunno, i’ve never heard them. but, it’s hard to imagine there’s not a *lot* of speakers that will sound at least as good for a lot less money, if not quite a bit better, especially at the asking price. but, if you’re into style, and like the style of these, and think they sound good enough, go for it.

the way i look it it, style is nice, but i want performance foremost. so, unless i find something truly appalling appearance-wise, i will choose something that i think sounds best, for the money spent.

while it’s true that most of what i’ve purchased over the years is used or closeout, all the gear not in the left corner of the below pic, cost about 2/3rds of the retail cost of the base devilles. and that includes the pair of ec aw75dmb amps not in use; and the piega p5 mkii ltd’s, which were recently taken out of the system to set up the horns. (the vmps subs and the marchand x-over were purchased new, a long time ago; i could find nothing used that was a better value.)

i’m really enjoying this set-up, but the piega’s are also great as well, even in my large room. the piega’s lean towards accuracy with a bit more of a pinpoint imaging soundstage, while the horn set-up leans toward dynamics, but they both excel at each, imo.

ymmv,

doug s.

@pdreher 

I meant the Deville. Looks like a botched school project

I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but the above statement is surely well beyond the subjective and at best a tad mean spirited.