Devore Gibbon X and Line Magnetic amplification...anyone hear this combo? Thoughts?
 

Hello folks. I am intrigued by John Devore's new Gibbon X speaker (see commentary from TAB and Stereophile commentary from last year's CES here: The Audio Beat - CES & THE Show 2012 - Best of Show - Devore Fidelity and John DeVore & the Gibbon X | Stereophile.com). Here's a pic of the Gibbon X speakers with ARC amplification from the CES show:

http://www.theaudiobeat.com/ces2012/...evore_room.jpg

I also know that he has shown his speakers often with an affordable line of tube gear called Line Magnetic at recent audio shows. I am particularly interested in this bad boy:

http://www.toneimports.com/lmaudio/images/218ia.jpg

This is the Line Magnetic 218IA integrated amp, which is a 22 watt per channel 845 SET-based integrated amp. Driver tubes can be switched to adjust flavor. The options are 6V6, 6L6, 6550, EL34, KT88, 5881 etc. Remote control, adjustable bias using built in meter. 4, 8 and 16 ohm output taps. All point to point wiring used throughout. Comes with a tube cage.

Anyone have a chance to hear this pairing or either separately? Or the Gibbon X with other Line Magnetic amplification?

I know Matt at Pitch Perfect carries both lines so Matt if you see this, please weigh in if you get a chance. Thx

I have the Gibbon 88s and have heard that LM amp with them. Both are fantastic products in their own right, and together they are excellent. The big 845 amp has real drive and control, and I consider it to be an absolute bargain.

Cyril, I own the LM218 integrated amp. I love the built in bias adjustment feature. No messing with a separate meter in one hand while adjusting the bias with the other. It also has a 30 second start-up to allow the tubes to get warmed up briefly before hitting them with all the voltage. This helps to extend the life of the tubes. It a nice looking unit and is quite heavy and substantial. The volume and selector knobs have a good feel to them. As for the sound, it's a typical SET tube amp with that luscious midrange but is very linear across the board. It doesn't have that iron fist grip on the bass or the speed of a SS amp but what it does give you is a a lovely, rich, realness that makes you involved in the music.

Neil/Doug...thx very much for the feedback. Very interesting. My local dealer has the Gibbon X coming in this month so I will give them a listen and report back on this thread. I must say the LM 218 is a great looking amp. Not sure if there is a dealer locally for me to audition. What's list price on that bad boy? Thx :thumbsup:

Cyril, the list price on the LM218 is $3500.00. Contact Jonathan at toneimports.com. He is the importer for LM and should be able to direct you to the nearest dealer. It's like Shindo though, not many dealers throughout the U.S.

With many things, the amp looks better in person too.

Thx Doug...I was just curious.

Cyril... Westford Audio (Mass) is a Line Magnetic dealer. He is the same dealer when we were both interested in Shindo equipment.

Jeff...thx for the heads up :thumbsup:

Any idea when the Gibbon X's might be let out of the cage? I haven't heard of any dealers with them on the floor just yet...

Gibbon X delays
 

Hi Old Grey,

The problem is that our measurement system went down early last summer and we haven't been able to get it up and running again. Or replaced. The system is excellent and extremely capable, but it's based on old PC hardware. The ISA (I told you it was old hardware!) card itself was checked out and declared just fine my the manufacturer and I've had old-school WinTel experts here fiddling and squinting and telling me everything's fine with the PC.

In the mean time the manufacturer has announced a replacement measurement system that the industry is lining up for (I've got my deposit in for one of the first units) but it has been delayed a number of times. I hope to have it here in the next couple of months--fingers crossed.

Ugh. You've gotta be beside yourself, I'm sure your gig is challenging enough without issues like this one. Thanks for sharing a peek behind the curtain and I'm sure we'll all look forward to future updates.

Best of luck!

JD...thanks for your response/explanation. Just curious where the Xs will be notionally priced ($11Kish is what I remember seeing last in one of the audio show reports)? Also do you mind sharing with us what the high-level preliminary specs (I know these will be subject to change given that you are waiting on new measuring equipment but ballpark figures are fine) for the speakers: sensitivity, nominal impedance, freq response, etc...?

I had the 218IA paired with Devore Silverbacks. This played well above its power rating and is a very good option especially at the price point. It is different than Shindo and is not a substitute if thats the sound you are really after.

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Hi Cyril,
Basic preliminary specs are 91dB/W/M, 8 Ohms (7.25 min) and 23Hz-38kHz.

Thanks for the info John. Appreciate it :thumbsup:

Pricing is quite close to the Silverback.

Very close
 

Yes TommyC, the price is quite close to the Silverback's.

John, if the price is close to Silverback where does this fit in the lineup, what are the principle differences? The specs look similar but it seems like SB might be able to dig deeper?

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Hi All--Strange, but my last reply originally explained why the price of the gibbon Xs is close to the price of the Silverbacks. I look now and all but that one sentence was deleted by "jdandy" because I'm not a sponsor. This is a very troubling pay-to-play scenario. My explanation was not a promotion of any kind, I simply laid out why the Silverbacks haven't had a price increase in 7 years. Now because of the editing it seems like I'm being smug. It seems strange that in the forum dedicated to my own brand I can't answer direct questions without being forced to pay even more money.

Looking back I see that many of my answers to questions on this forum have been edited, reducing and in some cases eliminating the answers all together (for example a simple answer to a direct question about the price of a product is apparently "promoting my product" and was deleted by a moderator). Even my explanation of what's going on with production and our measurement system was edited, even though there was no mention of the sound or price or anything that could possibly be considered promotion.

Those who know me know I'm not a promoter. I never sell directly to customers and I always try to answer questions about my products objectively and thoroughly. I'm not interested in using any forum to promote my brand with boastful statements or denigration of other products, I thought the DeVore Fidelity forum would be a good place to address direct questions with direct answers. I hope I'll be allowed to do this moving forward.

Oh man john. That sucks. I was so pleased to see you posting here. I am very disappointed that happened.

Now that I think more about this one of your dealers is a sponsor. That make it really stupid that your posts would be deleted or edited.

I agree, I think some clarification is warranted by the mods as to why these posts were deleted. I definitely enjoy seeing your posts...i did not read the previous replies as a promotion of any kind.

My question was purely informational, very interested to learn the details from the man himself! Dealt with him for a long time and he is quite straightforward, honest, and genuine in his help and support of his customers.

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I read your original, thorough, reply to the pricing question. I agree that the editing makes the current reply seem a bit rude. That is certainly a valid concern to someone in your position as your are posting as the public face of your company.

Out of deference to John DeVore, I wanted to jump in here..

Surely the actual manufacturer (in this case DeVore Fidelity) eloquently responding directly to questions is allowable?

John DeVore's posts were not a promotion; They were direct and informative responses to questions posed to him.

The editing of posts by a moderator is a bit heavy handed. From my experience, over time, this causes a lack of incentive on the part of the manufacturer to be involved.

Gentlemen.......Audio Aficionado is a privately owned and operated website. It is controlled under the owner's direct supervision and direction. How administration moderates the forum is not open for public discussion. We can either refocus this thread on the original topic or it will be closed.