KeithR's "Dream Speaker" Search

[KeithR]

has anyone heard the Viva Audio Allegro (and price point?)

Brad, have no fear - you get more in-person cone reviews soon

 

[Folsom]

Doesn't look too bad, probably has a little break up before the crossover point. The horn probably sounds nice.

 

[Pallen]

Keith, I've heard the Ubiq Model 1. I can't imagine it appealing to you.

 

[Folsom]

Keith, I've heard the Ubiq Model 1. I can't imagine it appealing to you.

Care to elaborate?

 

[morricab]

has anyone heard the Viva Audio Allegro (and price point?)

Brad, have no fear - you get more in-person cone reviews soon

I have heard it. It was better sounding actually than their big monster horn system (at least at the show I heard them). I think it was around 25K euro.

 

[KeithR]

Care to elaborate?

Pallen and I own the same speakers.

 

[Folsom]

Pallen and I own the same speakers.

Ah. Cool. The speakers you linked to just a minute ago are more similar to the Ubiq Model 1 in setup than your current ones. That doesn't mean they sound the same though.

 

[KeithR]

The Devore Gibbon X (my current speaker) made the cover of Stereophile and is being reviewed by Jim Austin (who has owned several Devore speakers over the years). Measurements will be interesting.

 

[DSkip]

Hey Keith, will you be attending AXPONA this year? Your requirements sound like the house sound of Rosso Fiorentino. I won't have the Siena - their $25,000 offering that fits all the bills - but I will have the $7,000 Stand-mount Fiesole that will offer you a solid insight to their sound. Right now the next step up would be the Florencia at $100,00 but there might be a new model hitting the market between those price points sooner than later.

I have the Siena currently on demo in my house.


There are a lot of great options out there and I'm sure you will find one to satisfy. Good luck on the search!

 

[KeithR]

Hey Keith, will you be attending AXPONA this year? Your requirements sound like the house sound of Rosso Fiorentino. I won't have the Siena - their $25,000 offering that fits all the bills - but I will have the $7,000 Stand-mount Fiesole that will offer you a solid insight to their sound. Right now the next step up would be the Florencia at $100,00 but there might be a new model hitting the market between those price points sooner than later.

Thanks - I will be at RMAF, not Axpona this year.

 

[KeithR]

The Devore Gibbon X (my current speaker) made the cover of Stereophile and is being reviewed by Jim Austin (who has owned several Devore speakers over the years). Measurements will be interesting.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/devore-fidelity-gibbon-x-loudspeaker

Well the review summarized why I love these speakers - dynamics with exceptional "realism" and huge soundstage. They disappear and image very well compared with former Devores. Curiously, Jim didn't use a tube amp which I feel these speakers are designed for - he swapped out his Pass monos which were too lean for PS Audio hybrid amps. He did summarize the differences between the Os and Gibbons nicely - i prefer the more modern, neutral Gibbon X to the O 96, but others will prefer the O with a more shelved top end and warmer bass. It was interesting he said the Xs get rid of a slightly hooded issue with vocals. I also agree with Jim that ultimate bass resolution doesn't exist on a Devore loudspeaker vs a sealed one.

The measurements with a Devore speaker are always interesting because of the tuned bass cabinet, although resonance is improved vs. the old Silverback. JA still doesn't like the second order crossover from midrange to bass creating a recessed lower midrange (that was much improved from the former speaker). However I think with tubes this is somewhat ameliorated and that life isn't all about FR as phase is very important in this region. John Devore says in the comments that in all Silverback installs he's heard, this curve sounded best compared with the alternative (he had a "HT" switch before so users could hear both). So its a computer vs real room issue. I will be curious for @Folsom opinion on this.

I do think the over ripe bass in my room might be an instance of the recessed lower midrange + room suckout in that region (which I've measured before with other speakers) - the combination making bass seem enhanced. So my bass issue could be more of a room caused one and would change in a larger room - and why @Pallen doesn't have any bass issues. In fact, Jim Austin noted the Devores bass was much leaner than the Orangutans (a good thing imo).

 

[jeff1225]

Seems like you already have a Class A speaker. Time to invest somewhere else.

 

[spiritofmusic]

My sentiments as well.
Is this just change for change's sake?
Keith, your thinking of swapping a spkr that has tone, soul, an easy load on amps, amp agnostic, for...
For what?
Or should I say "why"?

 

[bonzo75]

Seems like you already have a Class A speaker. Time to invest somewhere else.

An audiophile needs to periodically spend.

 

[KeithR]

My sentiments as well.
Is this just change for change's sake?
Keith, your thinking of swapping a spkr that has tone, soul, an easy load on amps, amp agnostic, for...
For what?
Or should I say "why"?

Good question, one that i tried to answer head-on in my OP:

"I'm looking at to see what 2-3x the cost of my Devores (<50k) can provide - and am curious if the various high end cabinets are advantageous to my Devore's solid bamboo"

I also noted the non-optimal bass quality that is also mentioned in the Stereophile review.

So far, after several auditions the bar has been raised vs what I have at home. I noted in several audition notes on this thread that I prefer my speakers or didn't feel like the higher priced speaker was a substantial upgrade.

Keith

 

[jeff1225]

An audiophile needs to periodically spend.

Only you spend your money on plane tickets.....

 

[asiufy]

I've always mentioned to Keith that it's going to be hard to reproduce the huge performance jump from Zus to his current Devores, specially since they cost almost the same.

But a meaningful upgrade is possible, that I've no doubt. At a cost, of course.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Oh well, going to Devore made sense since the gap from Zu was huge.
Natch'.

 

[bonzo75]

Only you spend your money on plane tickets.....

And gear. I ship it to somebody else's place, try it, then sell it's

And LPs

 

[Al M.]

Good question, one that i tried to answer head-on in my OP:

"I'm looking at to see what 2-3x the cost of my Devores (<50k) can provide - and am curious if the various high end cabinets are advantageous to my Devore's solid bamboo"

Keith, you said in your OP:
"I don't crave "ultimate transparency" or detail."

If that is the case, a more inert cabinet will not be as important.

I also noted the non-optimal bass quality that is also mentioned in the Stereophile review.

You said above:
"So my bass issue could be more of a room caused one and would change in a larger room - and why @Pallen doesn't have any bass issues."

I would look into serious room treatment, like ASC Tube Traps and ASC IsoThermal Tube Traps (for low bass). Or offerings from other acoustics companies. With the money saved you can upgrade your electronics instead.

Even if later you decided you wanted other speakers, taking care of your room acoustics will benefit those speakers as well.