SSI 2011

Orange Men and Green Amps on Boxes

Art Dudley  |  Apr 7, 2011

Let’s get right to it: The Coup de Foudre system comprising DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/96 loudspeakers ($12,000/pair), Leben CS300XS integrated amplifier ($3795) and RS30EQ phono preamp ($2795), Hommage T2 phono transformer ($4995), EMT TSD-15 phono cartridge ($1800), Brinkmann Bardo I turntable with Origin Live Encounter arm ($7990 and $2000, respectively), and Box Furniture 3S3 stand ($2300) was nothing less than wonderful: easily in the show’s Top Five, and quite possibly the best of the bunch. The star was the latest pre-production iteration of the O/96, a 96dB sensitive (geddit?) loudspeaker that uses a 10" paper-cone woofer and a 1" silk-dome tweeter in a wide-faced (geddit?) box with a birch-ply baffle and MDF everything else. Their presentation was solid, substantial, rich, and colorful, with great touch, timing, and, above all, dynamics. Flesh and blood? The system was like a day at the butcher shop—but everyone was smiling, and there were no straw boaters.

COMMENTS
tmsorosk's picture
Submitted by tmsorosk on April 7, 2011 - 3:13pm

Were else would we find Art , listening to a traditional looking set of two ways .
Is there a dealer in my area .

Metalhead's picture
Submitted by Metalhead on April 7, 2011 - 5:38pm

Beautiful looking system.

Although I still retain my crush on classic JBL's I would love to hear that system as I think it is right up the alley I love to play in.

I am a tube guy and that Leben gear has me really interested in hearing it on my next trip to New York.

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