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DeVore Fidelity O/baby Speakers
The Orangutan O/baby is essentially a miniaturized O/96, complete with optional solid oak stand. Using a horn-loaded .75″ textile dome tweeter and a new 7″ woofer using the same uncoated German paper as the legendary O/96 and O/Reference.
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The O/baby delivers an uncanny soundstage and emotionally charged midrange, pairing holographic imaging with tight, punchy lows. Reviewers from Ken Kessler, Ed Selley and Ian White praise its immediacy and refined treble, making these compact standmounts a rare blend of timbral realism and musical excitement.
Pros
- Holographic, spacious imaging and a wide soundstage that belies the cabinet size.
- Exceptionally engaging, natural midrange with vocal presence and tonal weight.
- Tight, controlled mid-bass that extends usefully to around 40Hz for a compact two-way.
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Cons
- Optional dedicated stands are expensive and add significantly to the package cost.
- Requires careful placement and tweeter-height alignment (and more power than bigger Orangutans) to achieve its best imaging and extension.
Sound Quality
92/100
Bass
92/100
For its size (178mm woofer, ~7") reviewers consistently note extension to ~40Hz, tight control and mid-bass punch. Hi‑Fi+ and HiFi News describe a usefully flat response down to ~40Hz and full extension when positioned correctly; Ecoustics praises mid-bass punch and organic feel. Minor caveats about overall slam vs larger models keep it from floorstander-level marks.
Mid
93/100
Multiple reviews highlight exceptional presence, texture and tonal weight in the midband, with horns and vocals forward yet detailed (Ecoustics, HiFi News). Hi‑Fi+ and Kessler emphasize a full-bodied, emotionally engaging midrange that keeps listeners hooked. Tunefulness and natural timbre are recurring themes.
Treble
90/100
Treble is described as refined and detailed without being bright; Hi‑Fi+ calls it 'hugely refined' though soft at the extremes for a metal dome. Reviewers report clarity and air without sibilance or harshness, supporting a relaxed but revealing high end.
Soundstage Imaging
92/100
Reviewers repeatedly praise holographic, roomy staging — placing grand piano and layers beyond the cabinet (HiFi News, Hi‑Fi+). Ecoustics and Hi‑Fi+ note wide dispersion from the small horn and lifelike depth, though several mention placement and tweeter height are important for maximum effect.
Dynamics
89/100
Speakers are fast and immediate with excellent transient start/stop (Hi‑Fi+, HiFi News), delivering emotional punch when paired with the right amplification (Ecoustics). Headroom and maximum SPL are understandably limited compared with larger Orangutan models, so dynamics are excellent for size but not unlimited.
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Build Quality
91/100
Construction is of high quality: 20mm textile dome tweeter in a 20mm six-layer marine-ply baffle and a German paper woofer (HiFi News). Reviews call the speakers fastidiously made and thoughtfully engineered; some cost-saving choices vs larger models are noted but do not undermine overall craftsmanship.
Features Connectivity
80/100
Passive single‑post bookshelf baseline applied. Reviews confirm benign impedance, high sensitivity (90dB) and a minimalist crossover/near offset bass port but no bi‑wire terminals or DSP — baseline 80 retained.
Value for Money
86/100
At ~$6,695 the O/baby is expensive but multiple reviewers call it a compelling, high‑engagement speaker that can front much more costly systems. HiFi News and Ecoustics suggest few rivals for the performance 'for size', but the high asking price tempers a top-tier value rating.
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