Anyone Heard the DeVore Silverbacks?


Hi folks. I'm really intrigued by this speaker. Some interesting design principles here--not just the same old narrow tower with side firing woofers. The recent review in 6 Moons is glowing but really lofty--"it makes great music" blah, blah, blah. Anyone heard this speaker? I'm considering a trip into the city for a demo but am wondering if it is worth the trip. Also, not sure if my electronics match up since speaker seems intended for use with low power SET's. I've got a largish room (14 X 26 X 9) and Audio Research gear (100.2 and SP16). Anyone out there with some real experience with these?
128x128dodgealum
I've heard them on 3 occasions. A brief listen at sound by singer driven by BAT tubes(I think). Not that impressed the first time around, but these may have been prototypes that were later revised. 2nd time round was at the Stereophile show was much more promising. This time around driven by Sim audio gear, which wouldn't be my first choice as John Devore tends to voice more with tubes in mind. 3rd time was at In Living Stereo driven by Shindo Electronics, Reimyo CD player. Very, very, very good, and with Vinyl, exquisite, so the devores definitely show you what's up front and like all speakers the amp/speaker interface is key. I would recommend INLS for a demo things tend to sound better in their demos to my ears than at Singer.

I wouldn't be afraid to match your gear with the Devores as I run Gibbon 8's(so I'm obviously a fan) with a Lavardin intergrated (SS) and get superb results. I think that low power SETs of 8-16 watts are marginal for these speakers in your size room. I have an almost identical room and recently moved away from my 8 watt SETS on the gibbons.

Very much worth a listen, but as you know lots of great speakers in that price range.

IPeter
Prfont. Thanks for the thoughtful comments. I have set up a demo at Living Stereo and am looking forward to hearing the Silverbacks. I'd like to probe one of your comments a little more deeply--that there are a number of "great" speakers in that price range. Actually, I have found quite the opposite. I've been on a quest for over a year to find an attractive, floorstanding speaker that actually sounds good to no avail. What do you like out there in the sub $15 K range that I might not have heard? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I had the opportunity to hear them at In Living Stereo when I was visiting in NYC. They had just changed the placement over the weekend when I went in on a Friday. It was the same equipment set up that was mentioned by Prfont. Jonathan was great to deal with and as I waiting to pick something up a gentleman went by and went into the same room. I went back in with Jonathan to do some more listening. Turns out it was Dr. Jules Coleman. Had a great talk with them and the speakers were wonderful sounding. The only thing I had to get used to was the rumble when the subway went by.