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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
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islandmandan
1,260 posts
 
My vote is for Tannoy. My speakers are from original Cheviots, and are easy to drive, as stated. They perform well using SET 300B, SET 845, and Class D Audio.

I do not know how the drive characteristics have changed from the old to the new, but it's Tannoy for me, and always will be.

Best of luck,
Dan
displayname
81 posts
 
Is there any reason why you’re considering the O/96 vs two other speakers that are basically than half the price of the O/96?

I’m not sure what country you’re in, but if you can I would look into the Rosso Fiorentino Volterra. They are not as efficient as the other options you listed, but I have heard this speaker several times running off a 30w Mastersound tube amp, and it doesn’t have any issue powering those speakers, so your amp shouldn’t have any issues pairing with them. I think they fit your description very well. If you can find somewhere to audition them, they really are excellent and at a very similar price point to the O/96.
d2girls's avatar
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d2girls
1,029 posts
 
the devore 096 is better then the jbl 4429 or tannoy and this is coming from a big time jbl fan
supermerio
78 posts
 
Dovore 096 is much better than the tannoy eaton legacy which i stil
own. Your line magnetic (which i also owned before) is a great match
to the 096 having been the speakers used by the line magnetic
dealer to demo the amp. 
Both devore and tannoy legacy are very good but the devore
is the more refined speakers overall given the price difference.
adam_cr OP
3 posts
 
Thanks all for your comments and recommendations.

When you say that the Devores are much Better than the Tannoys or JBLs, could you describe in what way ? what are the strengths and weaknesses of each ?.

Supermerio, Being an Eaton owner, would you say that you are content with them or thinking of upgrading ?, how would you describe the difference between Eaton and Cheviot ?.

I'm looking for my last pair of speaker (as if there can be such a thing in this hobby), it doesn't have to be perfect but it has to be enjoyable, fun and convey the emotions of the music, I don't want to analize how my setup sounds, just listen and enjoy the Music.





 
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