Article: Review | Fleetwood DeVille Loudspeaker System

[Danny Kaey]

View full article

[The Computer Audiophile]

Such cool stuff @Danny Kaey. Thanks for introducing these to me!

[Danny Kaey]

That's some cool stuff right there........ plus you become part of the greater OMA family! Bonus. 🤣

[firedog]

Looked up the Fleetwood and OMA websites. Some cool looking stuff. I'd like to hear the speakers sometimes.

Also some nice audio furniture and racks.

 

[Danny Kaey]

6 minutes ago, firedog said:

Looked up the Fleetwood and OMA websites. Some cool looking stuff. I'd like to hear the speakers sometimes.

Also some nice audio furniture and racks.

 

100% legit stuff....... made to last generations!

[AudioDoctor]

Whoa... The WAF on these is HIGH!

[PeterG]

1 hour ago, AudioDoctor said:

Whoa... The WAF on these is HIGH!

Yes!  But I just visited their website and see only 7 dealers in all of the US 😳

 

On the upside--I love their salute to another great hifi company of the past, but with the wife! https://oswaldsmillaudio.com/

 

 

[AudioDoctor]

42 minutes ago, PeterG said:

Yes!  But I just visited their website and see only 7 dealers in all of the US 😳

 

On the upside--I love their salute to another great hifi company of the past, but with the wife! https://oswaldsmillaudio.com/

 

 

 

Yeah...  haha, that was a fast no!

[Djsherif]

I heard these and was left very unimpressed. These are not ~$10k speakers. To each their own I suppose but they were very shouty and unforgiving of anything not perfectly recorded. Too many better options at their price point. I have no doubt they will be the "IT" product of the season lol

[PeterG]

10 hours ago, Djsherif said:

I heard these and was left very unimpressed. These are not ~$10k speakers. To each their own I suppose but they were very shouty and unforgiving of anything not perfectly recorded. Too many better options at their price point. I have no doubt they will be the "IT" product of the season lol

Thanks.  You've got to think you're paying a premium for the craftsmanship and small volumes.  But it sounds like you're saying these don't sound like $5,000 speakers either.  That would be a bigger problem

[Djsherif]

2 hours ago, PeterG said:

Thanks.  You've got to think you're paying a premium for the craftsmanship and small volumes.  But it sounds like you're saying these don't sound like $5,000 speakers either.  That would be a bigger problem

I've heard lots of speakers all over the price spectrum, always paired with excellent amps and source gear. Let's just say, if these were $2k I'd think they were interesting but still wouldn't buy them. My unsophisticated ears think JBLs and Klipsch Horn speakers sound better. No emotional connection at all with these speakers. If people enjoy them and think they're worth $10k, so be it. To each their own.

[BurtinID]

“ Old school craftsmanship has become so rare: name one speaker company manufacturing cabinets from real wood, not MDF plus veneer.”

 

I completely agree about real wood cabinets, to name one speaker manufacturer look at Daedalus Speakers out of Washington State who has been doing this since their inception.  Not only does Daedalus use real hardwood they consult the customer on their preferred variety of wood and the unique characteristics found in that variety. 

[Danny Kaey]

1 hour ago, BurtinID said:

“ Old school craftsmanship has become so rare: name one speaker company manufacturing cabinets from real wood, not MDF plus veneer.”

 

I completely agree about real wood cabinets, to name one speaker manufacturer look at Daedalus Speakers out of Washington State who has been doing this since their inception.  Not only does Daedalus use real hardwood they consult the customer on their preferred variety of wood and the unique characteristics found in that variety. 

 

GREAT point... I knew there had to be at least a handful... it's an art from long lost....... There is also Pearl Acoustics out of the UK. 

[ASRMichael]

100% agree my Model T still running like a dream! 

[DuckToller]

2 hours ago, Danny Kaey said:

GREAT point... I knew there had to be at least a handful... it's an art from long lost....... There is also Pearl Acoustics out of the UK. 

There is more about to come from JGC (Joachim Gerhard Collection) next year, Woodwork courtesy of Rose Handwerk, all "Made in Sauerland" / Germany. I expect an update about the PuRiFi project called Surveyor from them in January.
However, PuRiFi woofer's WAF could be mission critical 😇 Joachom Gerhard had been the brains between Audio Physics.

[Kal Rubinson]

2 hours ago, ASRMichael said:

100% agree my Model T still running like a dream! 

Perhaps you can install a pair of these in it.  

[bobbmd]

How do these compare to legacy audio studio hd and calibre  speakers which seem similar and much less expensive 1700$ and 5000$ I have the studio hd they are ‘bespoke’ also so to speak.

[skatbelt]

18 hours ago, Danny Kaey said:

 

GREAT point... I knew there had to be at least a handful... it's an art from long lost....... There is also Pearl Acoustics out of the UK. 

 

Don't forget Boenicke Audio (Switzerland)..

 

[Allan F]

Sorry but, IMO, another advertisement presented in the guise of a "Review".

[The Computer Audiophile]

22 minutes ago, Allan F said:

Sorry but, IMO, another advertisement presented in the guise of a "Review".

I like Danny’s style of reviews. It’s different from mine and the other AS writers. It’s definitely not formulaic and adds some personality and color. 

[Allan F]

26 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

I like Danny’s style of reviews. It’s different from mine and the other AS writers. It’s definitely not formulaic and adds some personality and color. 

Te each his own. IMO, that colour is "rose". I have no problem with someone writing an opinion piece in the form of a column or blog with nothing but effusive praise for a manufacturer, his history, and his product. Just don't call it a "Review".

[wwc]

21 hours ago, Allan F said:

Te each his own. IMO, that colour is "rose". I have no problem with someone writing an opinion piece in the form of a column or blog with nothing but effusive praise for a manufacturer, his history, and his product. Just don't call it a "Review".

This really comes off to me mostly an Advertorial with not a lot of substance.  Danny makes it sound like Oswald Mills is the only speaker maker keeping the flame alive for craftsmanship with wood.  Not true, as the comments above illustrate.  And, should we be impressed that some "Hollywood peeps" are into to OMA?  

 

I think OMA's designs are really interesting and are deserving of more than a hyperbolic pr piece.