Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: DeVore Fidelity Gibbon Super 8 Speakers by davehg

Model:	Gibbon Super 8
Category:	Speakers
Suggested Retail Price:	$4000
Description:	2-way floorstander, 36Hz-40kHz, 8 ohms, 90dB/W/M
Manufacturer URL:	DeVore Fidelity
Model Picture:	View

Review by davehg on June 05, 2007 at 17:19:41
IP Address: 205.142.246.48 Add Your Review
for the Gibbon Super 8

This is a follow up to my initial January review, which while overall
positive, was a bit of faint praise. Now having lived another 6 months
with this speaker, I have a better sense of its strengths. More
importantly, I discovered an error on my part which had earlier had a substantial
negative impact on the sound of the speaker.

The Devore continues to be a relatively easy speaker to power, and finicky
to set up. I've moved it a few inches off the wall and toed in more, and
the sonics became more focused than before. I've also played with the
settings on my REL Strata III sub to better blend the low end with the
Devore. Frankly, the Devore can do pretty well on its own, but adding the
REL gives the Devore a sense of authority and ease.

The biggest complaint I had about the Devore was that the mids seemed a
tad lightweight, and the top end lacked the ultra fine detail and that
last bit of "you are in the room" air, particularly around cymbals. Pushed
too loud, the Devore's seem to be slightly glassy on top.

Or so I assumed.

About a month ago, I was going through my old Stereophile collections (I
try to keep a copy of the reviews of gear I own) and reread the technical
section of the VAC Avatar review. In his measurements of the VAC, John
Atknson noted that the 8ohm tap of the Avatar should be used with speakers
with a min. 8ohm impedance, and suggested than anything dipping below 8
ohms really deserved the 4 ohm tap. His measurements of the differences of
using the 8 ohm tap indicated the distinction would be easily audible.

Hmmm. I switched the taps from 8 ohm to 4 ohm and sat back to listen.
Quite a difference! The weight in the mid range was now more present. The
cymbals and tambourines now had more shimmer and air, and less flat and
glassy than before. Sure, when pushed really loud, things began to get a
bit glassy and harsh, but this now occured at very high volume levels.

I wish I had my Merlin TSM's to compare, but several years of living with
those speakers really committed their sound to memory for me. The Devores
now seemed much closer, and really the key difference was now much closer:
the Merlins still had a teensy bit more microdetail.

Tonight I tried placing the VAC in triode mode. Previously, triode just
didn't click with the Devores, which I found odd given their SET friendly
reputation. I assumed the Devores just really wanted more power. I had
borrowed a pair of VAC PA90's, and was very disappointed. Despite being
more than 2x the power, the sound was less musical than the Avatar. Ok, I
didn't use a preamp, feeding the Squeezebox directly to the amps, but the
difference was not insubstantial.

Well, tonight in triode, the magic came back via the 4 ohm taps. Sure, it
lacked the sweep and sheer dynamics, but the vocals had a SET-like
presence missing via the 8 ohm taps in triode. Martin Sexton's new "Seeds"
cd, with the awesome gospel like "Wild Angels" sounded magnificent. Even a
dog recording like Live's "Lightning Crashes" sounded listenable, with
the growl of the guitars very much evident, and the initial echo of the
opening refrain evident. Dylan's "Tambourine Man" had loads of great
detail, particularly the bite of the harmonica.

The remastered version of Led Zep's "Going to California" and the acoustic
gem opening bit of "Bring it on Home" sounded so listenable, it got me
going nuts looking for any recording with the hint of a Hammond B3. Tons
of Amos Lee, Jimmy Smith Trio's excellent "I got my mojo workin", and the
classic "Dear Mr. Fantasy" tribute to Stevie Winwood, courtesy of CSNY,
and like an hour later I couldn't take any more Hammond organ if I tried.

So I need to revisit my earlier tepid review of the Devore. This speaker,
when placed in the perfect spot (of which only one exists for every room)
and when mated to mid-level powered tube gear (I can't imagine less than
than 20 wpc), is very very special. I am re-energized again, hell, I am
like a freakin Parkinson's patient trying to listen critically, with my
arms and legs wiggling every which way cause I can't stop groovin to the
music this speaker is producing.

And that's what its all about, right?

Enthusiastically recommended. I am in NYC next week and will go way out
of my way to try to hear the Shindo gear playing on the Super 8's. As
much as I love my VAC Avatar, the Shindo-Devore combo seems to get all
the raves. Will report back on my experiences....

Product Weakness:	Same as before, only now detail is not a problem
Product Strengths:	Same as before

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Avatar SE
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): None
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Bolder modified SB3 into Trivista 21 DAC
Speakers: Devore
Cables/Interconnects: AZ silver reference and Hologram II
Music Used (Genre/Selections): vocals
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	Avatar SE
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	None
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Bolder modified SB3 into Trivista 21 DAC
Speakers:	Devore
Cables/Interconnects:	AZ silver reference and Hologram II
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	vocals
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner