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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
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Truemaineac,
Amplifier power ratings can be misleading. Oldgrey's 8 watt Shindo Cortese llikely has better transformers and stiffer power supply than the 15 watt Shindo Apetite and thus more grunt and drive for speaker loads.
For example my 8 watt SET out drives a 30 watt el34 push pull amp on the same speakers I own. The 8 watt SET is heavier with bigger transformers.
Charles,
pojuojuo
92 posts
 
Without any kind of doubt Silverbacks are the best speakers John Devore has manufactured.

Rich, powerful, dynamic and BIG/small (chamaleonic) sound. The bad new is this is an old model and probably will be replaced in few time.

You can buy them without doubts.
fjn04
1,561 posts
 
Without any kind of doubt Silverbacks are the best speakers John Devore has manufactured.

You have obviously heard a well set up pair of Orangutan's to make such a decisive statement. Thanks for sharing what the universal opinion should be.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
I've heard/ read fine comments about both the Silverback and Orangutan models and a direct comparison would be much fun. Choice could be determined by the particular amplifier match.
Charles,
thegoodarcher OP
70 posts
 
Charles1Dad,
Frankly i am not looking for an amp - to me i've already found my perfect amp - i was merely commenting on posts of others who seem to lean on tubes compared to SS as a match to silverback, this is quite evident when you google about silverbacks and their partnering equipment - for now i am very happy with my 30W Class A (with heavily built dual mono power supply 140W Class AB) it also has a double tube on the input channel, so i do get a little bit of tube warmth, i am just quite concerned about the word "revealing" that has been thrown around, mind you in a Vinyl based setup good sound is somewhat easily attainable as compared to a digital based system, mine is a digital based system this how i listen to my music - some of the transfers from the 80's are not so good (regardless of the dac) and i've had very bad experience with Paradigm Speakers/Monitor Audio Platinum/Harbeth (the least trouble, also the most dry, Paradigm being the most bright) - the amp partnered well with Kharmas,Magico S1 (Even the S5),Totem etc - but somewhat i need something that sits well between those mentioned secondy, yet one that retains the old world charm - my sound is quite modern, but timeless, i have YG Carmel partnering my Hegel Integrated Amp (H300) in the living room and this a super combination, this system i also use for movies with the addition of subwoofer,media player etc - it never fails to amaze me..now i want to achieve something more upscale in the main listening room which is my study/writing room (I'm a writer!)..i am just fearful of the silverback's brightness..(if revealing/open-window concept is synonym to the speakers being bright)..
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