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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
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!
truemaineiac's avatar
truemaineiac
249 posts
 
I have had Devore SBR speakers for a few years. At audition, I heard them with a Boulder SS which sounded amazing. I have run them with a VAC 80W integrated, a Shindo 15W integrated, an LM218iA 25W integrated, and now a 25W shindo montrachet. These are just fantastic speakers on so many levels. I find them very open and detailed with tubes, and even though revealing, not so overly harsh on the crappy compressed recordings. I will deviate from what Oldgrey said above in that although they will sound good, I believe you need at least 25W to really make them sing. When I used the 15W apetite, I definitely felt it was a bit underpowered.

Although they will sound very good with SS, it really is a shame to not run these speakers with some good tubes.
shakeydeal
979 posts
 
"Although they will sound very good with SS, it really is a shame to not run these speakers with some good tubes."

As it should be with all speakers. If they can't shine with tubes, I'm not interested.

Shakey
thegoodarcher OP
70 posts
 
Guys thanks a lot, yes indeed i listen to some poorly recorded/mastered albums - mostly digital via the dac and you know the entire dac thing is quite limited now, it sound only second to a very good/expensive cd player, but i am not keen on a cd player,if its too revealing and makes music unlistenable..then i guess i would have a big "big" problem..with the speakers..although an open window is indeed a big word..
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