Anyone left Naim for Devialet?

I did two years ago and have not looked back. It gives me all I need in musical satisfaction, in a neat package. 

I was a bit fed up over the cable-tidyness, equipementsupportnevrotics and if you only spend  £5000 on a new PSU, everthing will get much better. Here in one of the most expensive countries, that is a lot of money. 

I had a CDS2 with XPS, NAC52 with Supercap, Thrichord Dino with psu, Naca5 and SBLs on a Mana rack. I sold the kit 6 months after I got the Devialet.  And yes, the majority og the componets were recapped.

Now my system is a Rega RP6 with AT33PTG2 pu, Rega Jupiter into D200 with Harbeth M30.1 speakers. Equipement rack is USM Haller. 

nice! looks like you are enjoying the Devialet..

in terms of SQ, would you rank it above the CDS2/XPS+NAC52/SC?

Chalshus posted:

I was a bit fed up over the cable-tidyness, equipementsupportnevrotics and if you only spend  £5000 on a new PSU, everthing will get much better.

I heard Devialet amplification a couple of weeks ago and it certainly set a bug in my mind. As much for the sound as the apparent lack of Naim associated caveats quoted above by Chalshus (to which I'd add no transformer hum). Granted, the Devialet slim boxes were set on a very expensive isolation rack, but digital amplification plays consistently well for me in my car so why not at home?

Chalshus posted:

I did two years ago and have not looked back. It gives me all I need in musical satisfaction, in a neat package. 

I was a bit fed up over the cable-tidyness, equipementsupportnevrotics and if you only spend  £5000 on a new PSU, everthing will get much better. Here in one of the most expensive countries, that is a lot of money. 

I had a CDS2 with XPS, NAC52 with Supercap, Thrichord Dino with psu, Naca5 and SBLs on a Mana rack. I sold the kit 6 months after I got the Devialet.  And yes, the majority og the componets were recapped.

Now my system is a Rega RP6 with AT33PTG2 pu, Rega Jupiter into D200 with Harbeth M30.1 speakers. Equipement rack is USM Haller. 

 

 

I find your reply rather strange.

I mean this was posted 4 hours ago, and you replied in one hour. You say you don't own Naim anymore, yet here you are on the Naim forum and replied very quickly, saying Devialet is good.

If devialet were really that good, why aren't you on the devialet forum ... 

I think you will be back owning Naim soon.

Whoever leaves, eventually comes back to the Naim magic. 

What is the correct time period before replying to a post?

No correct time, but bit strange...

reminds me a bit of the ------ owners who come back here to say they sold their Naims, and the bla bla bla how much better their ----- is, and the next thing you know after a while, the Naim thread is posted somewhere on a website promoting --- amplifier

Time to respond depends on when you look at the forum...  If you happen to look just after something is posted you might respond within minutes. Otherwise could be hours or days, or simply not see something of interest. I'm not aware of a facility to notify of all posts on a particular key word (is there?), and if there is a facility for notifying every post itn the hope of spotting one topic in particular it would surely be overwhelming. Therefore I'm not sure that this response justifies as strange in the way suggested.

As for non Naim owners, there are numbers about, perhaps simply because they find some of the discussions stimulating. As for whether they'll some time again become Naim owners if they were once before, that no doubt will largely depend on whether Naim has something that betters what they have, whether in terms of sound, value or some other factor, but is scarcely inevitable!

Replaced a ND5XS + SN2 with a D200. To my ears the Devialet is clearly superior, and I did keep the Naims around for a few months to compare back to back. 

Not at all strange to me.

Now, I can understand why most posters on this forum enthuse about, and promote Naim equipment. However, It would be a pretty sterile forum if comparison with, or discussion about other brands were excluded completely from the forum.

Why shouldn't Chalchus continue to follow the Naim forum after he has moved on from Naim? It isn't as though he created a fresh post extolling the virtues of Devaliet over Naim. He simply responded in a reasonable manner, in my opinion, to a direct question from another forum member.

I still own a couple of bits of Naim kit, and even although Naim isn't represented in my main system I do enjoy following the Naim forums.  They are much better and more diverse than the 'Scottish one' - even if I do have a piece of their kit in my main system.

I would almost certainly continue to follow and post to the Naim forum even if I were to get rid of my Naim kit.

I borrowed a Devialet three years ago for a week. I was VERY attracted by the rationalisation of my system down to a few boxes, and I love the use of the technology.

The comparison was hardly even handed, the Devialet had to slot into a system that had been built around my EAR amps, but it was still an interesting week. The music that I tend to turn to when testing a system will always include female vocals, and in this case I particularly remember using Ella F.. In terms of punch and dynamics the Devialet was excellent. Unfortunately the handling of Ella was somewhat sharp in contrast to what I am used to.

Ultimately, in my system, I loved the form factor and it did a lot of positive things. However, I found that it tended towards the sharp on occasion and so I sadly declined.

I emphasis that this was pre-SAM, and in a system that was not built around it.

M

Contrary to what some seem to observe owning one brand of something is not a cult/religion/mandate it's a choice and thereby people move on.  Further, as good as Naim is it's healthy that other hi-fi companies thrive and I find it wholly refreshing that Naim permit debate with regard to other brands on here.  Don't see your point (on this occasion) Analogue?

Regards,

Lindsay

PS: For the record I've heard a 3rd party speaker demonstrated with both Devialet and Naim over the last few weeks and to these ears it was no contest - Devialet was as dull as dish water.

I listened to a 200 hooked up to some B&W 800 series. It sounded very clean and dynamic. I could have easily lived with that sound. As usual way out of my budget. Listened to the Phantoms and was impressed at how something so small and relatively affordable could belt out such a gut pounding sound. The downside is that they sounded very mechanical and not musical at all. Wasn't crazy about their futuristic design either.

analogmusic posted:

Whoever leaves, eventually comes back to the Naim magic. 

 

Well said!

I've compared D200 with my Naim setup maybe 1,5 years ago, can't remember the exact time. Anyway, SAM was out already and supported the speakers I used back then, PMC Twenty.23. Currently I use ATC SCM40v2, which is also supported by SAM.

I very much liked the Devialet sound and as Iconoclast said, could've easily lived with it. My electronics were pretty much the same back then, some changes are made to interconnects, power section and equipment rack but nothing major. My own setup had slightly better grip of things and slight edge on the PRaT section. Devialet sounded ever so slightly softer than my Naim setup. Devialet with SAM though, had deeper bass impact and dynamics were awesome. Also the soundstaging was better with D200 but it's not something I give very much value in my own listening. The effect of SAM on and off was easy to test on the fly, and the difference was clear. With SAM on the sound was more dynamic an lively and immediately when turned off, it got flatter in comparison. 

I've also heard the Phantom silver speakers at my local dealer. These were surprisingly good. Super dynamic and BIG sound from something so small. It easily filled the rather large audition room with powerful sound. Source was Tidal and Phantom's in stereo configuration. 

More to the point, has anyone come back?

I came back to Naim from a Devialet 120 after about 6 months of moving from a SU to D120. Loved the Devialet for it's customizable software and clean articulate presentation but after a few months of ownership, I was not satisfied and seemed to be lacking some of the emotional presentation and connection to music I had with Naim.  Another reason for moving away from Devialet was the buggy AIR software which forced me to purchase a network streamer rather than use a computer. That move actually turned out to be a good thing as I restored UPnP functionality.

After selling the D120, I took some time to try a few different makes and brands but in the end came back to Naim with a new 272/200 and a pre-loved XPS. Yes, much more money but never been happier.

Lovely feedback from you guys.. Am now using a sn2 and ndx but will go audition the d200 soon.. 

I know someone who went from Linn to Devialet (not sure model) for +/- 18 months & then back to Linn,  he was attracted to Linn's Space Optimisation.  During these changes first Devialet was the best since sliced bread, now Linn & S.O. walks on water.   Not sure what thats telling you - personally I liked the Devialet & I also like his latest Linn, nice sounds, relaxed presentations but maybe a bit too gentle for me so I'm not inclined to ponder a change.  

How much is the top Devialet compared to 500 series which is £ 40 000 for a pre power ?

In the US I  believe the top double box Devialet 800 is $25,000 and includes preamp, phono,dac, and amp. A Naim 552/500 about $70,000 for preamp/amp.

Edit. Reading these numbers has just hit home for me how far out of the top one percent I am and how much things have changed from the late 60's when I could be found reading High Fidelity at the local library.

I love the Deviate form factor, aesthetics, and remote. Sounds good when I've heard it at a dealer, but have never done a head to head with a good Naim separates setup.

I could never go with Devialet though, because the idea of digitizing an analogue signal from my turntable would just bother me... no matter how good it sounded I could never get past that aspect. 

So for me Devialet would be out for my main system. If I ever have a few thousand extra kicking around though, I could see getting a used 120 for my living room. Best of both worlds?

Zipperheadbanjo posted:

I love the Deviate form factor, aesthetics, and remote. Sounds good when I've heard it at a dealer, but have never done a head to head with a good Naim separates setup.

I could never go with Devialet though, because the idea of digitizing an analogue signal from my turntable would just bother me... no matter how good it sounded I could never get past that aspect. 

So for me Devialet would be out for my main system. If I ever have a few thousand extra kicking around though, I could see getting a used 120 for my living room. Best of both worlds?

And if the recording had been digital before being converted and transferred to vinyl? (Argument for digital streaming!)

Innocent Bystander posted:

Zipperheadbanjo posted:

I love the Deviate form factor, aesthetics, and remote. Sounds good when I've heard it at a dealer, but have never done a head to head with a good Naim separates setup.

I could never go with Devialet though, because the idea of digitizing an analogue signal from my turntable would just bother me... no matter how good it sounded I could never get past that aspect. 

So for me Devialet would be out for my main system. If I ever have a few thousand extra kicking around though, I could see getting a used 120 for my living room. Best of both worlds?

And if the recording had been digital before being converted and transferred to vinyl? (Argument for digital streaming!)

I do plenty of digital streaming... but I enjoy my vinyl as well and do make efforts to get stuff that is AAA.

That said, your point is taken. Doesn't alter my perspective though.

analogmusic posted: 

 

1. I find your reply rather strange.

2. I mean this was posted 4 hours ago, and you replied in one hour. You say you don't own Naim anymore, yet here you are on the Naim forum and replied very quickly, saying Devialet is good.

3. If devialet were really that good, why aren't you on the devialet forum ... 

4. I think you will be back owning Naim soon.

Whoever leaves, eventually comes back to the Naim magic. 

 

1. And I find your reply rather strange. 

2. This is an international message board. Users write here all day long. Well, I never said I don’t own Naim anymore, I said I left it for something better, imho. Yes, Devialet is very, very good. Maybe is lacks a little in PRaT, but in most other areas it is equal or better. And being a integrated amplifier, dac, riaa, streamer in a small package is very attractive to me. I still have a 32.5, 42.5, HC and lots of cables.  I have the stereo system in my living room, and to me its the whole package that matters. Space used, looks and sound.  Oh, I still have a Phonosophie P3 with Aro. You remenber that?

3. I have been here more than ten years and I like to read and write here from time to time8. Well, I have more then 1000 replys here, so some contribution have been done. Nice people her as well. But I miss Geoff P and spices like Munch. (Perhaps they changed their name over the years.)Never been on the Devialet forum though. 

4. Who knows? Maybe some day I’ll come back. Or later this year with a Muso. 

I've got a Devialet in the bathroom to help me keep on top of my diet regime.