DeVore’s Friendly Orangutan

John DeVore, loved as much for his eagerly anticipated Monkeyhaus musical gatherings, where music new and old wins over hearts and minds, as for his speakers, had a surprise in store for me. After playing an LP of Indian drums, whose depth and resonance were captured wonderfully by the forthcoming high-sensitivity DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/93 loudspeakers ($7900/pair estimated cost), pictured on the outside of the soundstage, he pulled out a rare Vanguard LP of soprano Netania Devrath singing Yiddish songs. If that name sounds familiar, she’s the very same Israeli soprano who made the extraordinary, dialect-correct recording of Canteloube’s Songs of the Auvergne that has become an audiophile favorite. In Yiddish, she sounds positively adorable.

Next up was the Count Basie orchestra, delivered with gorgeous tonality. Although I didn’t have the opportunity to audition the larger DeVore Fideltiy Orangutan O/96 loudspeakers ($12,000/pair, reviewed by Art Dudley in the forthcoming December issue of Stereophile), I did enjoy the Van den Hul Colibri XCM HO with matched crystal copper coils and metal body ($6450), Well Tempered Versalex ($4400), LM Audio 219 IA 24 watt SE amplifier ($7500). Everything was connected by Auditorium 23 RCA interconnects ($795/1m pair) and speaker cable ($980/2.5m pair) and supported by Box Furniture Company’s HD 3A double wide heavy duty rack in Anigre ($4600) and A1A amp stand in Anigre ($900). Which I suppose is a town in Kansas. John must have a recording about Anigre.

COMMENTS
DetroitVinylRob's picture

Wow, wish my ears had caught the music happening here. I truly look forward to Art's review in December. Beautiful speakers John.

Happy Listening! ;^)>

Hook's picture

Great setup -- could have stayed here for hours!  Perfect tonal balance.  Sparkling highs, natural voices, and punchy, articulate bass.  Incredibly deep soundstage!

It appears that John puts a lot of effort into component matching and system setup. Too many other rooms seemed hastily thrown together, with predicable results.  Kudos also on his choices of music (rock, folk and R&B).  Too many other rooms played oddball selections (in attempts to avoid highlighting weaknesses...like swampy bass).

The O/96's were one of only two speakers at RMAF that I could live happily ever after with in my main setup (the other being the T&F Pharoahs).  Add some LS50's for my home office, and I'd be set!

G_goodwin's picture

Hi,

I'm very interested in your thoughts on these two speakers. I'm actually thinking of purchasing either the Pharoahs or the O/93's. It's hard for me to audition both here in Australia, so any help or info on sound preference would be amazing.

I will be running either of them through a Trafomatic Experience 2 300b.

I'm looking for natural and musical, but I'm looking for Bonham's drums to come alive!

Cheers,

Glen.

X