Floor Loudspeaker Reviews

DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/93 loudspeaker Specifications

Sidebar: Specifications

Description: Two-way, floorstanding loudspeaker. Drive-units: 1" soft-dome tweeter, 10" paper-cone woofer. Frequency range: 30Hz–31kHz. Impedance: 10 ohms. Sensitivity: 93dB/W/m.
Dimensions: 35.5" (902mm) H by 15" (381mm) W by 10" (254mm) D.
Finish: Veneered front baffle; high-gloss, piano-black lacquer, sides, back, and top.
Price: $8400/pair.
Manufacturer: DeVore Fidelity, Brooklyn Navy Yard, 63 Flushing Avenue, Unit 259, Brooklyn, NY 11205. Tel: (718) 855-9999. Fax: (718) 855-9998. Web: www.devorefidelity.com.

COMPANY INFO
DeVore Fidelity
Brooklyn Navy Yard, 63 Flushing Avenue, Unit 259
Brooklyn, NY 11205
(718) 855-9999
www.devorefidelity.com
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
Bruceov's picture
Submitted by Bruceov on April 4, 2017 - 5:19pm

Why is this just a B rated speaker?

John Atkinson's picture
Submitted by John Atkinson on April 5, 2017 - 4:25am
Bruceov wrote:
Why is this just a B rated speaker?

Our ratings are the results of a poll of the magazine's reviewers and editors. With some products, there is a greater consensus than with others.

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

a.wayne's picture
Submitted by a.wayne on April 10, 2017 - 6:00am

Any measured data planned John ..... ?

grantray's picture
Submitted by grantray on April 5, 2017 - 12:59pm

It's gotten runner-up for speaker of the year a few times, but I've noticed the way speakers are classified in the Recommended list hasn't been consistent, either. I have a pair of O/93s, and they're amazing. I don't think what a magazine classifies them as is a final judgement on quality by any means. Much like good booze, or fine wine, I treat these kinds of classifications more like guidelines, with a heavy dose of salt. I personally like the Devores better than Magicos, not because the O/93 is inherently better, it's just a very different kind of sound. And one that's well suited to my taste.

Bruceov's picture
Submitted by Bruceov on April 4, 2017 - 5:38pm

Why is the KEF LS 50 speaker an A rated component. I know which one I would rather have.

Staxguy's picture
Submitted by Staxguy on April 4, 2017 - 9:47pm

There's something about the ports of the Devore O/93 Loudspeaker that can't help but get me thinking about the Flamenco Box...

http://www.lpmusic.com/products/cajons/lp/americana-ambrosia-maple-wire-cajon

Not that the box is the same, but take a look at the Graham Audio LS5/9 Loudspeaker.

They talk about BBC Engineering, but don't tell me that those BBC Engineers didn't just take a slighly smaller than 18 1⁄2"H × 11 1⁄4"W × 11 1⁄4"D cajon (talk about cajons) and add drivers to make it a 11" x 18" x 10.75" speaker. :)

Speaking of which, I'd really like to know how these loudspeakers handle some Gypsy Jazz? :)

Cabinet wise, of course the reminiscence of the O/93 is Audio Note UK AN/E, which is a Snell design? :)

Of the Devores, I think the Gibbon X is really charming!

Nice to see the O/93 used with tube amplification. An Audio Note Japan Ongaku would likely make a wonderful compliment.

Herb Reichert's picture
Submitted by Herb Reichert on April 5, 2017 - 5:32am

is their speciality

volvic's picture
Submitted by volvic on April 5, 2017 - 6:31am

Have only heard their smaller monitors...years ago at shows and rather liked them. I think the cabinetry is awesome, and always nice to see local guy doing well.

grantray's picture
Submitted by grantray on April 5, 2017 - 12:46pm

Is this just an online update on the reviews concerning the O/93 from older articles that were ran in 2014 and 2015? Or is there supposed to be something new that I'm not catching?

John Atkinson's picture
Submitted by John Atkinson on April 7, 2017 - 7:19am
grantray wrote:
Is this just an online update on the reviews concerning the O/93 from older articles that were ran in 2014 and 2015?

Yes, this is Sam's original review, which had not previously been reprinted on our website, plus Herb Reichert's more recent comments so that all our coverage can be found in the same place.

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

RH's picture
Submitted by RH on February 12, 2019 - 9:41pm

John Atkinson,

I wonder if the sense of a suck out or discontinuity Herb mentions might come from sitting closer than ideal to the 0/93s?

I noticed in auditioning them (several times) that they really did alter their character when changing listening distance. They really "snapped in to focus" tonally and imaging-wise once I hit about 8 feet from the speaker, which I believe is the minimum distance recommended by Devore. If I sat closer, the balance started getting somewhat mellow, a bit more discontinuous. In moving closer - e.g. 7 feet or closer - even if the speakers were toed in more toward me to try to maintain the high frequency balance, the speakers still didn't have the focus, air and snap they did once I retreated back to 8 feet and beyond.

Having seen the video of Herb's space, it suggests he must sit fairly close to his speakers.

(BTW, like some of your reviewers, I love the sound of the Devore O series. They have a chunky, rich sound that gives more body to voices and instruments than many other slender designs, IMO).

Anon2's picture
Submitted by Anon2 on April 5, 2017 - 4:34pm

I am glad that our reviewers have discovered free streaming. It's not the highest of hi-rez. But there are no monthly fees, logins, and all the rest.

To boot, there are almost 9 years of archived programs to be had here. I only wish that BBC Radio 3 would not require PC users to turn the volume almost up to the max to hear the "Lunchtime Concert."

http://www.rtve.es/radio/radioclasica/

After trying the BSO and BBC Radio 3, try Radio Clasica, Radio Nacional de Espana. There's more on offer each day than a person could listen to in a 24-hour day. The "Grandes Ciclos" program, hosted by Eva Sandoval, is already into its second week of a survey over the life and works of Satie.

pbarach's picture
Submitted by pbarach on April 5, 2017 - 4:32pm

http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2016/05/boyd-irven-devore-dies-at-79/

When I taught fifth grade social studies long ago, DeVore's work was the basis of a unit on baboon society. The kids and I learned to imitate the various baboon calls. Never try them in a crowded theater!

Marcelo Gustavo's picture
Submitted by Marcelo Gustavo on April 5, 2017 - 5:21pm

The tweeter used in the O/93 appears to be a Morel soft dome and not a SEAS unit.

anomaly7's picture
Submitted by anomaly7 on April 6, 2017 - 10:22am

Damn, that Fiddelback Mahogany is gooood looking.

johnnythunder's picture
Submitted by johnnythunder on April 9, 2017 - 11:33am

eagerly anticipated revelations. I look forward to them like I used to look forward to Manny Farber's film reviews in The New Republic (and other publications) back in the day. I don't think people really appreciate his artistry of turning the sounds of reproduced music and his feelings about the impact of those sounds into expressive evocations as sublime as the music itself.

rschryer's picture
Submitted by rschryer on April 9, 2017 - 1:36pm

Stop beating around the bush, man! Do you or don't you like Herb's reviews?? :-)

RH's picture
Submitted by RH on February 11, 2019 - 6:56pm

THANK YOU John Atkinson for publishing these measurements!

I've been in interested in the Devore O speakers, especially the 0/93s, and it's helpful to be able to correlate measurements somewhat with my own impressions.

gpdavis2's picture
Submitted by gpdavis2 on October 16, 2020 - 7:13pm

JA - did you ever get over to Herb's to listen to confirm the suck-out? Inquiring minds and all that.

X