Devor - KEF - Vienna Acoustic – Wilson?



Hello all!


KEF Blade IIe, Devor Gibbon X, VA Listz, WAS Sabrina.


These are not the top items on the short list, but they sure do make a lot of sense and keep occupying my ‘spend thrift’ thoughts for speaker system solutions, among a couple others. I listed them in alphabetical order, not necessarily in order of personal preference.


These loudspeakers seem as diverse as they are similar in cost to performance ratios given the subjective press they have recieved.

With the exception of the Sabrina and Gibbon X, Numbers are fairly even across the board with their sensitivity, and impedance. in terms of size and weights, respectively they appear close there too. Except for the Blade II, pricing is close as well.

Designs differ and esthetics are all seemingly very nice to outstanding.


I’m asking here for any experiences someone might have with any of these speaker’s individual voices, house sounds, and esthetics, if or where applicable.


I’m simply trying to cut down the list for which ones really deserve going out of the way to audition. Or wait for in terms of build, or possibly buying used.

Although I could definitely go either way powerwise, tubes or SS, tubes are ordinarily a preference. It does depend on the speaker’s ‘voice’ and voltage needs/demands, however.


If anyone would be so kind as to add their thoughts on any of these choices unique characteristics that would be amazing.


Examples:
Demands great up stream components. Difficult to place? Needs loads of breathing room? Limited in the bottom octave (s) ?

Neutrality? Hot up top? Warm? Dark? Loose bottom end? Transparency? Imaging? Limited depth? Etc.

Hard to drive?   Not normally tube friendly? Stay away from SS?


Tremendous gratitude for any insights. Thanks much.
blindjim
Blade or Wilson gets my vote. Sound wise - do you like British or American? Wilson have big bold warm bass hump or resonance whereas Blade will be tight precise and flat in the bass. Both have good mid range which is the first thing I would consider in any speaker.

I can only comment on the Liszt and Sabrina.  The Devore X wasn't available at the time but the X and the O/96 would now be on my list. The Kef was not available near me.  The Audio Physics is another one that I wish I could have listened to.  

There are a couple of reviews in Absolute sound and Soundstage Ultra which pretty much sum up the Liszt accurately.  It is a very neutral, images well and is well balanced.  I listened to a couple of the Wilson offerings including the Sabrina.  A lot of people like them but to me the top end is fatiguing and there is a disconnect with the bass and the balance with the rest of speaker.  That's just my opinion.    After listening to about 15 different speakers I bought the Liszt.  I am using a tube pre amp and Herron solid state mono block amps.   

Quad 2912 for ultimate clarity or Harbeth M40.2 for more dynamics. But at this price there are many options, and nobody can hear them all, let alone compare them directly and in your own home.