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Fleetwood Sound Company DeVille
The DeVille loudspeaker is an extremely high quality, compact, two way design made from sustainably harvested, solid Pennsylvania ash hardwood that has been torrefied (thermally treated for tone and stability.) It is the most powerful and efficient design possible for its size, using real professional drivers capable of much lower distortion and higher power handling.
SQ
The DeVille SQ (Superior Quality) is the ultimate DeVille. The entire enclosure is made out of solid Pennsylvania ash, either natural (light color) or torrefied (roasted) in either light, medium or dark. The phase plug is cast from a 3D printed sand mold in solid bronze, then patinated, polished and lacquered. Internal wiring is solid silver, and the crossover components are the finest quality.
The Standard and SQ differences explained
Torrefaction
Torrefaction is a relatively new process that roasts wood in an oxygen free environment (so it does not catch fire.) Torrefaction removes water and changes organic chemicals inside the wood’s cell structure, resulting in an aged, darkened wood that is more stable and tonally improved. This process is now used by most of the world’s finest guitar makers (Martin, Gibson, Bourgeois for example). Fleetwood Sound uses torrefied ash to produce speakers with superior sound quality that are also more stable in a variety of environments.
Grilles
Grilles for the Fleetwood DeVille loudspeaker attach magnetically in a few seconds and require no tools. We make them from the same phenolic material as the speaker’s rear panel, and they are incredibly strong, while being light weight and having no impact on the sound. You can change the look of your DeVille’s in an instant, and we’ll be introducing many more designs in the future. The DeVille is the Fashionista in a loudspeaker world of plain uniforms.
We designed a new, six inch thick, solid wood conical horn with a proprietary phase plug, which disperses the high frequencies and prevents internal reflections and cancellations of the sound waves. And like, the wooden horn and other components are treated by hand with an heirloom finish.
The DeVille is bottom ported and comes with a base for placement on a stable surface such as a cabinet, table or shelf. The rear panel of the speaker is fashioned from a solid sheet of phenolic, a composite material chosen for its anti resonant characteristics.
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Fleetwood Sound Company DeVille delivers breathtaking transient clarity and expansive soundstage transparency from its conical horn and 94dB high-efficiency woofer, revealing microdetail and authoritative dynamics while remaining easy to drive. Reviewers at The Absolute Sound and Audiophilepure also note its heirloom-quality torrefied-ash build and natural, full-bodied midrange that rewards careful setup.
Pros
- Breathtaking transient clarity and very wide, transparent soundstage driven by the conical horn and compression driver.
- High sensitivity (94dB) and a flat impedance curve make the DeVille easy to drive with low-power or high-power amplifiers.
- Hand‑finished, torrefied‑ash cabinets and artisanal finishes deliver exceptional build quality and long-term durability.
- Surprisingly deep, controlled bass for an 8" stand‑mount design (measured ~3 dB down at ~39 Hz) with solid midbass definition.
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Cons
- Tonal balance can be sensitive to listening height and toe‑in; a slight upper‑mid/upper‑octave recession may require careful placement to optimize clarity.
Sound Quality
92/100
Bass
92/100
An 8" woofer with downward dual ports delivers deep extension (measured 3 dB down at 39 Hz) and solid midbass definition. Reviewers repeatedly note 'deep bass extension' and full midbass without the slackness typical of many bass-reflex designs. For its size (8" woofer, ported), bass extension and control are exceptional for the form factor.
Mid
89/100
Midrange is described as full-bodied and felicitous on cello timbre, providing rich, convincing vocal and instrument body. A slight upper-mid dip (~3 dB) just below the horn axis and a mildly recessed upper-octave balance were reported, so while mids are very strong they are not perfectly neutral in every setup.
Treble
93/100
The horn-loaded 1" compression driver measures nearly flat to 20 kHz and offers uniform response within the horn's ±15° solid angle. Reviewers praise its extended, refined top end and the phase-plug/ horn design that reduces high-frequency cancellations—resulting in detailed, non-harsh treble.
Soundstage Imaging
94/100
Multiple reviewers characterize the DeVille as capable of breathtaking transient clarity, transparency and a very wide, well-focused soundstage. Its ability to resolve detail in complex mixes and present a stable, large soundfield is a recurring praise point.
Dynamics
92/100
The compression driver and high-efficiency woofer deliver impressive micro- and macro-dynamics; reviewers note exceptional transient punch and that the speaker can play very loud with clean headroom. The DeVille is described as comfortable with a wide range of amplifiers, from modest SETs to high-power solid-state, with reviewers noting virtually limitless headroom with big amps.
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Build Quality
93/100
Cabinets are real torrefied Pennsylvania ash with hand finishes (beeswax/linseed oil) and a phenolic rear panel; reviewers emphasize old‑school, long-lived craftsmanship. Comments like 'will play just as well in 2060' underline the high-quality materials and construction.
Features Connectivity
82/100
Passive single‑post design baseline applied (80). Score adjusted +1 for factory matching stands and +1 for included spacer plates/placement hardware to ensure proper port venting and flexible placement. No bi‑amp/bi‑wire present.
Value for Money
86/100
Reviewers give strong performance praise and some call it a near must‑buy for those seeking this character; TAS labels it a favorite in the two‑way stand‑mount category. Price listings vary (reviews cite $9,600; product data shows $15,600+), so value is excellent relative to performance but tempered by the higher price band.
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