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Looking for advice on these speakers

I'm going to trade my 180 watts tube amps for yet unknown SET amps, and will need a new pair of speakers to go with them. I'm considering speakers from DeVore Fidelity, Coincident, and Deadalus Audio. My budget is up to about $15,000. Unfortunately, I'm not able to audition any of them so I was hoping that I could get some meaningful advice from my fellow Audiogoners. Here are my potential choices:

1. DeVore Orangutan 0/96; Coincident Super Victory II; Daedalus Athena

2. DeVore Silverback Reference; Coincident Total Victory V; Daedalus Argos or Ulysses

The analog front is a VPI Classic with a Lyra Delos (soon Kleos or possibly Etna). My musical preferences are roughly 50% classic jazz and 50% classic rock.

Thank you for any advice or input.
actusreus
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Actusreus,
I don't listen to very much rock or electric blues music ( I'm probably 90%
acoustic small and large scale varieties). When I do play rock it is
"very" good at moderate and loud volumes there's much
palpable energy, flow and presence. Drums are noticeably dynamic and
deliver much impact and the overall sense of timing is exceptional IMO.

The Stereo Mojo review that Metralla cited earlier is accurate and James
Darby captured the essence of the Coincident pairing well. He said he could
listen at 100db average SPLs without sensing any strain or running out of
gas( and he has a very spacious listening room). I don't know what your
volume levels are but I'm much lower, average
for me is 75-85 db range. Most often I'm using fractions of 1 watt of power.
Again withyour speaker list I don't believe that you'll go wrong given you
room size. I think the SV might be the better fit vs the larger Total Victory(
which has two 12"" woofers per speaker).


Based on my experience I believe you would be satisfied with either a good
quality 300b or 845 SET.845s will generally cost more and offer more power
( which you may or may not need). I'd focus more on the amplifier's built
quality and execution.

with its two 12" woofers per speaker.
Charles,
almarg's avatar
almarg
9,670 posts
 
A slight clarification to the otherwise excellent comments Charles provided. As I read it the mention of briefly listening to 100 db average SPLs in the Darby review was not with the SV/Franks pairing, it was with a pair of 2000 wpc Spectron monoblocks.

Best of luck, Marek.

-- Al
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Al, I should have been more specific. Darby also reviewed the Frankenstein
in its own separate report and he mentioned the Frank-Super Victory
combo listening at this 100db SPL level(written below the Jessica Alba
analogy). So yes it was not in the SV speaker review.
actusreus OP
733 posts
 
Thank you, gentlemen, for all your input. I have to say, I'm a little bit surprised reading opinions about Daedalus speakers as they are appreciatively more efficient than Coincident speakers. Seems they should be a better match for low-power amps than either Coincident or the Silverback Reference. Even if the impedance is hovering between 7 and 8 Ohms above 100 Hz (according to Lou), at 96-97 dB and a flat curve they should be top contenders for SET amps, based on their specs at least. .
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
The Daedalus does have specifications that would seem to make them excellently suited for low powered SET amplifiers. They very well may be, the one difference may have to do with crossover design. It appears the Devore and Coincident may employ simpler ( minimalist) crossover networks which "could" be easier on a SET(just speculation). Daedalus uses 3 or 4 crossover boards and a number of poly caps. Does this matter? I don't know. Auditioning these various speakers of interest with the SET of choice is the only way to get a definitive answer.Measurements and specifications are obviously useful but no substitute for direct listening.
Charles,
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