Totem Forest, Devore super8 or Spendor A6

I had a pair of DeVore Gibbon 8 speakers in my system for about 8 months. IMHO, you will definitely need a good subwoofer because the bass is quite thin even when put close to the rear wall.. I had one of the higher end Paradigm subs which I painstakeingly adjusted for about 2 months before I got it right. If you listen to jazz and small ensamble music, the Devores will be just the ticket. They do not put out a big sound and the word that comes to my mind is they are polite sounding.

I had it paired with a tube preamp and 175wpc power amp, about 6K worth of amp and preamp. As my taste runs more towards rock music, I found them unacceptable and sold them on the Gon for what I paid for them. You really need to listen to them first before buying. I did not which ended in disappointment for me.

Bob

Mlsstl
I have a wide range of music preferences but as you mention "modern" it describes the majority of my listening preferences, your input was so helpful to me,
thank you very much
Roger

Stereo5,
Overall I listen more often to big sound than accoustic as well,
sounds like the devores and spendors have something in common although I'm sure that they are excellent speakers.
Thanks alot this is very good to know.
Roger

I would also add the Vandersteen 2CE Sig II to your list
At the same price or better made in USA with 4 serious Scan speak drivers, separate tricked out tuned Time correct crossover & multiple enclosures you will be ill if you miss these and care about your music.
Cheers Johnnyr

I have used the Devore Super 8 in two different places -

1) In the first place the bass on Devores was flat down to 35Hz. With a slight emphasis in the 50-100Hz region the bass was great and dynamic in that room (13 x 18 ft with 9ft ceiling).

2) The second place has a large glass wall and low bass leaks below 70Hz. The Devore just like any other speaker sounds very thin in that room, unless you fill in the bass. With two JL Audio subs the sound is huge in that room.

I measured both rooms very carefully - Devores' bass is not overwhelming and flat in a good room, but could tend to the thinner side in a not so good room. Also note that user Stereo5 had the Gibbon 8 NOT the Super 8. The front port looses more bass whereas the rear firing bass will give you more boundary reinforcement.

I have not owned the two other speakers but have listened to both fairly often and on different systems (and owned a Spendor S3/5se). IMO neither comes close to the resolution of the Super 8. I combined the Super 8 with amplification way above 10K and the Devores rewarded every little improvement.

Also, the biggest advantage is that the Devore are quite a bit easier to drive than the Spendor or Totem and can work well with a tube amp in the 20-40W range. For a good small system I would pair them with a Nait 5, for much more resolution a First Watt F5 works very well too.

That said the Spendors may be more forgiving of lower end electronics and front end.