2. speakers
  3. 152054-91205

Devore Nines and amp match


I’m putting together a second system using a Primaluna Dialogue integrated (about 35 watts). I’m considering a used pair of Devore Nines (nominal impedance 8 ohms (5.6 ohms minimum), 91dB sensitivity).  I can’t find impedance / phase info on this speaker, but my goal is an easy load and to use the 8 ohm taps. 

Anyone have experience with this speaker with tube gear? I’ve read user comments in a few forums that these older Devore’s need a lot of current to really shine, and low power amps aren’t the best fit (contrary to their reputation). I figure 5.6 min is close to the edge anyway, and without phase angle info I’m leaning against them at the moment. 

Anyone have experience or opinion on this matching? Finding efficient tube friendly speakers is one difficult task. Gibbon X would be great...except they’re $16K so that’s not going to happen!


glow_worm
glow_worm OP
84 posts
 
Thanks everyone for the replies, all v helpful!

bjesien - When comparing the SS to the tubes...did you notice any signs of the Nines needing more power? MY PL does a surprising job of powering difficult speakers (4 ohm, 3.5 min), and I’ve compared them using 100 W ss. With the tubes the bass had less impact...slower and not as well defined, and a pretty drastic reduction in sound stage (dynamic range was still good though). 
Did you notice any of these type of problems using tubes?
bjesien
1,352 posts
 
The 15 watts or so of the Leben 300 lacked some bass definition but if your trying to raise the roof with trance music and EL 84’s you’ve got other issues :)
IME if I can use an amp rated at 10-20 watts in triode most of the time and switch to 20-40 ultra linear occasionally I’m all set. Hope this helps.
bartolo
11 posts
 
I totally disagree about Nines "needing a lot of current."

I owned Nines for many years and used them with a Naim Nait XS2 integrated amp.  Definitely not a producer of "a lot of current" and I loved the pairing.
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 
FWIW, I’ve heard Nines paired with a First Watt J2 and F7, both extensively. I personally found the J2 more to my liking since I generally prefer the tube electronics but without too much “tubiness” and the J2 was just that. Great detail, bass, and lush. The F7 sounded more in charge of the speakers, faster, and more balanced, less tubelike. Just some other option(s) if you decide to go the SS route.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,993 posts
 
MY PL does a surprising job of powering difficult speakers (4 ohm, 3.5 min), and I’ve compared them using 100 W ss. With the tubes the bass had less impact...slower and not as well defined, and a pretty drastic reduction in sound stage (dynamic range was still good though).
Did you notice any of these type of problems using tubes?
Just because the Devores work well with amps of high output impedance, don't think that this somehow also means they can't be revealing. I would not blame the issue described above as anything about tubes vs solid state so much as the speaker simply reveals. There are tube amps that have more bass impact, are fast and very well defined, with plenty of soundstage.
More to discover