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Devore Fidelity Silverback Reference.

I'm now in the final iteration for my system - and thank the pundits in this forum to help me out - i run a 30wpc Class A SS amp which doubles as a 140 Watt per channel class a/b amp - i found this amp after a long and tiring search going through the likes of Naim,Pass Labs,Ayre,Rogue Audio etc.

I am not in the vicinity to try out the devores, and it has to be pretty much a blind buy.

I am very worried, as online reviews can be very misleading - some say, these speakers are tremendously revealing (i listen to a lot of not so cleverly mastered music) plus a lot of modern stuff, and my source is almost always a Mac mini played through Antelope Zodiac DAC, with occasional vinyl here and there, other say that it's 'an open window' to music - since i have no way of going back? can you guys advice or share with me your opinion if you are a silverback owner? my amp has a single tube manifest with geranium and bipolar transistor (more of a solid state amp).

My Current speakers were a pair of Monitor Audio Platinum (which i got rid of last week) i found them bright, a bit unrefined and a bit musically showy, with a lot of listening fatigue, on of the worst speaker i have owned, i also owned Harbeth SLH5 (which was ok, but not great)

I loved my amp with Kharma DB9 (which it drove fantastically well) unfortunately i can't afford this or the DB7 though now i hear Magico's will be releasing their S3, which is more in by budget, but prefer to have the Silverbacks and pocket the extra cash.

The thing is i do not know what kind of technology devore employs, compared to more larger, technologically superior manufacturers, though
the design might stand the test of time, i do not want the trouble of reselling the devotes, and going through the hassle of buying something else.

Please Help! I play everything form Dizzy Gillespie to Michael Jackson to Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
thegoodarcher
thegoodarcher OP
70 posts
 
Hi guys, thanks the amp is is an out of production Atec from france, it is heavily modified, you can compare the sound as if Pass Labs on "tube" steroids (but this is solid state) - but has a lovely midrange, a friend of friend sold it to me, as it was still new in box, it is one of the best amps i have heard.

I am not much of a tube-guy (i was) the entire tube-rolling fad, and the terrible hisses you get whilst playing music is not my thing - but the fact that this amp has one single complement tube just for the warmth is all i need, i need feedback form those who had ran this with solid state..amps..your insights are very much appreciated.
4musica44107
520 posts
 
My Accuphase and Bedini amps are both solid state. The Bedini is class A. I have read posts in this forum and elsewhere from SB owners who are pleased with their speakers when driven by SS amps. The new owner of my SBs normally used Shindo monoblocks to drive them, but he also told me that he was surprised how good they sound with his (also my former) Mark Levinson 334 amp.
thegoodarcher OP
70 posts
 
Thanks a lot 4musica55017 - i guess its a gamble nevertheless , i am taking your point into considerations!
watercourse
23 posts
 
I would not rule out any tube-friendly DeVore speakers from pairing with SS. I've had great success with many amps: tube, SET, Class A, Class AB, Class D. I love my Nines with my XA30.5.

Michael Lavorgna also pairs his Nines with a Pass INT30A: http://www.audiostream.com/content/listening-room-0
oldgrey
31 posts
 
I own the speakers 4musica mentioned he sold. Yes, the Silverbacks are "tremendously revealing" and they are "an open window" to music. The result is poorly recorded (compressed dynamic range, etc.) music becomes unlistenable and well recorded music is stunningly beautiful. For the artists you mentioned, I think you'd be quite pleased.

As for solid state vs. tube. The Silverbacks are terrific in that they can either sip power (they sound wonderful with an 8W Shindo Cortese) or can sound great with a 100W SS amp (like my ML334 4Musica used to own). I must admit though, for my musical tastes, tubes rule and the ML just sits in a closet. 4Musica -any interest in buying it back?

Best of luck to you!
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