Devore or Audio Note or other sensitive speakers: wanting to listen in Denver


I'm on the hunt for a sensitive speakers to play really nicely with my Quicksilver Mono 60 amps. I've heard some nice Spatial X3's here in Denver thanks to a local audiophile. I was especially taken by their AMT tweeters.

If you're in the Denver area and have Devore, Audio Note, Zu, Tekton, or any other speaker which has really worked well for your tube amps, please DM me. I would be deeply grateful for even  an hour of listening time. Thank you!

128x128hilde45

+3 Fyne. I'm currently driving F703 speakers with Manley Mahi monos in triode mode (20W) in a fairly large room.

@audioguy85  It's good to know that the Wharfs can do that at 87db. My Salks don't do that at 87 db and I've tried numerous other speakers at around those sensitivities that are also not so nimble as what Reichert says he heard.

I'd like to see an impedance graph for those speakers, or some other data, to know why they perform as Reichert says they do. There is a very big difference in abject power requirements for an 87db vs 93db speaker, so knowing what else is going on would be valuable. At least one thing would be the capability of a solid state First Watt to deliver current vs. my tube amp.

@keithr @vinylvalet I have heard some Fyne in Denver, but not the better models. As a result, I came away unimpressed with Fyne, but I'd be curious to hear better versions.

@keithr  Can you say a bit about the qualities that initially attracted you to Zu, then Devore and eventually to Fyne? I have a brother in law on this journey, too, and we'd really like to know how/why things progressed this way for you.

I'd like to see an impedance graph for those speakers, or some other data, to know why they perform as Reichert says they do. There is a very big difference in abject power requirements for an 87db vs 93db speaker, so knowing what else is going on would be valuable. At least one thing would be the capability of a solid state First Watt to deliver current vs. my tube amp.

@keithr @vinylvalet I have heard some Fyne in Denver, but not the better models. As a result, I came away unimpressed with Fyne, but I'd be curious to hear better versions.

@keithr  Can you say a bit about the qualities that initially attracted you to Zu, then Devore and eventually to Fyne? I have a brother in law on this journey, too, and we'd really like to know how/why things progressed this way for you.

I've not heard the Fyne (F1 or F700 models) but given their design, pedigree and word of mouth reputation,  my gut feeling is that they are high quality and very good sounding. Easy to drive 8 ohm impedance and 95 db sensitivity is a very desirable combination. 

Charles 

 From JA, Stereophile on the Wharfedale Diamond 225 speaker,

I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the Wharfedale Diamond 225's frequency response in the farfield, and an Earthworks QTC-40 for the nearfield responses. Wharfedale specifies the Diamond 225's voltage sensitivity as 87dB/2.83V/m; my estimate was lower than that, at 85dB/2.83V/m. The speaker's impedance is specified as being "8 ohm compatible," with a minimum value of 4.2 ohms. My measurement is shown in fig.1—an 8 ohm rating would be fair, particularly given the generally moderate phase angle, but the minimum magnitude was 3.87 ohms between 190 and 200Hz.

@charles1dad Thanks for the additional information about Wharfedale. Given JA's report about those low impedance values, I'd pass on Wharfedale. This was something which steered me away from the Focal 936, and Tvad pointed it out to me. I could *hear* the suck out. Such impedance dips are not good for my amps really -- easily -- driving those speakers. I am determined to avoid them, and there are a variety of speakers which can satisfy that requirement.

Those following this thread closely might look here, an interesting brochure on Apertura speakers.
Note the comparison chart at the bottom. I heard the Edena (89db) and it was driven by a powerful solid state (Goldmund integrated -- Telos 7) and sounded magical. Not sure how they’d sound with tubes.

Take a look at the Adamante and Enigma MKII speakers. 93 and 95db sensitivity, MTM configuration with ribbon tweeter. https://apertura-audio.com/wordpresssetup/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Apertura_Brochure_A4L-12pp_FINAL-WEB.pdf