Devore Fidelity O/96

DeVore Fidelity O/96 Speakers

The DeVore Fidelity O/96 is a 2-way stand-mounted loudspeaker and the model around which the Orangutan series was built. Designed by John DeVore specifically for low-powered tube amplifiers, it combines a 10-inch paper cone woofer with a motor derived from the Silverback Reference and a double-magnet, gently horn-loaded 1-inch silk dome tweeter, in a wide-baffle reflex-ported cabinet on dedicated stands. At 96dB sensitivity and 10 ohms nominal impedance, it ranks among the most amplifier-friendly high-performance loudspeakers available. Handbuilt in Brooklyn, New York, and available in Lace Walnut or custom finishes, with stands included.

The Orangutan Series

The O/96 was the first model in the Orangutan series, introduced in 2012, and it established the design principles that all subsequent Orangutan models have followed: high sensitivity, wide baffle, natural cone and dome materials, minimal crossover, and stand-mounted or stand-integrated construction tuned for compatibility with low-power amplification. The series now extends from the micr/O through the O/baby, O/93, O/96, O/Bronze, and the O/Reference flagship. The O/93 was introduced approximately a year and a half after the O/96, using a simplified version of the O/96's woofer and sharing its tweeter, with the goal of offering the essential Orangutan character at a lower price point.

Woofer

The O/96's 10-inch woofer uses an untreated paper cone made by a small European manufacturer to DeVore's specifications, with the remaining driver assembly -- including the motor -- manufactured by SEAS. John DeVore derived the woofer's motor system from the drivers used in the Silverback Reference, his previous flagship loudspeaker. The woofer uses a compliant surround which DeVore states behaves linearly, like a foam surround, but with the durability of rubber. A phase plug is fitted at the center of the cone. Two mildly flared reflex ports on the rear panel, each 3 inches in diameter and 5.5 inches deep, load as a single tuned system according to DeVore, with a tuning frequency in the mid-30Hz range.

Tweeter

The 1-inch silk dome tweeter is made by SEAS and features a double-magnet motor system. The tweeter plate incorporates a short flare that provides gentle horn-loading, contributing to high-frequency dispersion control and to the speaker's exceptional sensitivity. The same tweeter, with the same shallow horn loading, is used in the O/93. DeVore states that the drivers are closely matched in electrical sensitivity, requiring only minimal passive correction in the crossover to balance the two.

Crossover and Cabinet

The O/96's crossover is based on DeVore's proprietary Gibbon circuit, described in Art Dudley's Stereophile review as designed to waste as little power as possible. The wide-baffle cabinet -- 18 inches across -- is a deliberate design choice that supports the drivers' directivity and efficiency characteristics in a way that narrower modern enclosures do not. The cabinet uses a veneer-covered plywood front baffle with a gloss-black lacquered enclosure. Dedicated stands are included with the O/96 and are integral to its height and listening axis specification. Without stands the speaker measures 28.25 inches tall; with stands, 35.5 inches.

High Sensitivity and Amplifier Compatibility

At 96dB sensitivity, the O/96 can reach realistic listening levels from a single watt, making it compatible with the most flea-powered single-ended tube amplifiers. The 10-ohm nominal impedance, confirmed by Stereophile's measurements as no lower than 8.75 ohms across the audio band, is one of the highest nominal impedances of any commercial loudspeaker and is well matched to the output characteristics of most tube amplifiers, particularly those using output transformers optimized for higher impedance loads. DeVore states the speaker was designed especially for low-powered tube amplification, though reviewers have used it successfully with a wide range of amplifier types and power levels.

The DeVore Fidelity O/96 is a Stereophile Recommended Component and has been used as a long-term reference by multiple leading audio publications. It is handbuilt at DeVore Fidelity's Brooklyn Navy Yard facility and ships with dedicated stands.