Naim vs Devailet

Why don't you ask Devialet forum,  you might get a less biased reply.

Seems likely people on each forum will advocate for that forum's brand. I have seen one or two people mention that they've made a direct comparison though, so maybe they'll notice the thread.

I'm sure some here would be interested in your thoughts on the differences though, OP, be it from the auditions you've had, or once you've made the switch.

I have put the same question on the Dev forum. I did originally have a Dev200 and PX'd it for the Name combo, it was fine for a while but I find I am missing the slightly smoother sound of the Dev...Speakers are PMC 25.24's

The 220pro is a superb amp as is the 272/250 combo. Have you compared them with your speakers to see if the Devialet will give you what you want ?

No, and unfortunately I will not be able to.  

Ah ok. Well as you had the 200, the 220 is a really good step up. I Hope you find the sound you are looking for (might be worth looking at an XPS on the 272 as another option) with whichever route you go. 

I have heard neither product but I can categorically guarantee you that no matter what anyone says on this thread you are going to get the 220pro. 

However it's quite likely you are making the biggest audio mistake of your life to date, but sure it's one way to learn.

.sjb

I have heard Devialet on several shows and was always impressed by the sound at first, however found after a short while that it had the so called hifi qualities airy, detailed etc, but is missed a bit the musical aspect. If you look at Devialet you might be able to compete to a certain level with the Naim range and be satisfied, but with Devialet you can't get above the 252/300 level in my opinion.

A final suggestion. I would suggest you make up your mind in any direction, because switching is expensive....., so if you again want to switch bag after a 220......

Before you do so, try out an XPS on your combination it will bring things a step forward and bring much more refinement in your sound....

Sloop John B posted:

I have heard neither product but I can categorically guarantee you that no matter what anyone says on this thread you are going to get the 220pro. 

However it's quite likely you are making the biggest audio mistake of your life to date, but sure it's one way to learn.

 

.sjb

 

 

The biggest audio mistake of my life was buying a Sony TA1010 amplifier in the 70's. It got me hooked...I wish I could live with just a Sonos in every room 

Try getting a Devialet serviced/repaired in 10 years time> I don't think Linn touch older models.

Not only is the Naim product super but the Service dept is brilliant and looks after far older products!

jukemark posted:

No, and unfortunately I will not be able to.  

Why not?

To spend that sort of money without trying the Devialet (or anything) with your speakers in your home is risky, foolish, or both. 

How come your profile says you have an NDX, Supernait and twenty.26 speakers? Did you actually try the Naim stuff at home first? Have you thought about different speakers to get a different sound? It may be easier than changing the electronics. 

Remember, the line between 'smooth' and 'boring' can be very fine. Remember also that real music is not smooth, unless it's James Last. 

Mark - just out of interest, why can't you compare them. There are a lot of dealers around which stock both Naim and Devialet which will allow you to do the comparison and make sure you are going in the right direction. I heard the 272/250DR combo at the end of last year (after a 5 year hiatus from Naim) and enjoyed it. It's a very nice amplifier setup and i can understand why it's gained quite a following on here. IMHO it's a real sweet spot in the Naim range and the DR upgrade of the 250 has really upped the game here too. I'd be quite happy with that combination, especially with an XPS in tow, as an end point to my Hi-Fi path...

James

Sound Quality is a matter of taste...

But Devialet has virtualy no streaming capabilities... So you will still need a Naim streamer...

Good point Manu.  No idea why, but I had the impression that the new Devialet models had built in streamers.  It seems they don't.

That said, apparently an update along those lines is expected in the near future, so perhaps comparisons are best put off until it materialises.

I believe they have built-in DACs. If so, and if it is good, it only needs a renderer to stream from a local store, and the these could be combined, as in Melco, Innuos Zenith ... or Unity Core if it is any good when it is finally sorted.  No idea what Devialet sound like, but they specs are great, and they look good, or do until they get fingermarks on them (wear gloves if you need to touch!), have a great looking remote. Hopefully performance matches looks - but the OP knows it suits.

Well I have made the decision to wait a while and persevere with the 272/250dr/20.24 combo!

Thanks for all your input guys.

PS, I already have a separate streamer as I use Roon. 

Innocent Bystander posted:

I believe they have built-in DACs. If so, and if it is good, it only needs a renderer to stream from a local store, and the these could be combined, as in Melco, Innuos Zenith ... or Unity Core if it is any good when it is finally sorted.  No idea what Devialet sound like, but they specs are great, and they look good, or do until they get fingermarks on them (wear gloves if you need to touch!), have a great looking remote. Hopefully performance matches looks - but the OP knows it suits.

Yes you're right - DAC is built in. There is a streamer card arriving later this year, specs unknown at this point but it'll add UPnP at the very least.If it adds what i need then i'll fit it, otherwise it'll go back in its box. Finger prints are a pain but mainly on the remote control which comes in the same finish as the amp but it's white gloves time if i need to slide off the rear section to get to the connector panel or move it. Otherwise a quick wipe with a Microfibre cloth once a week removes any dust and keeps it pristine. I ended up with a couple of small marks on mine after 3 years but this was all polished out when it went back to Devialet at Christmas for the Pro upgrade so it's now back to pristine. 

Anyway glad to see the OP is going to persist a bit longer with his Naim kit 

jukemark posted:

Well I have made the decision to wait a while and persevere with the 272/250dr/20.24 combo!

Thanks for all your input guys.

PS, I already have a separate streamer as I use Roon. 

naim sound is not for everyone. It is my favorite brand, but i find a full naim system is a little bright or hard sometimes, on some tracks. But it have a musicality, a dynamisme, prat, life, ...that no other stuff has. Personally i put an ear preamp with my nap 300 and have an heaven sound: prat, bass, quickness and also the qualities of tubes.

If i were you i would go first to listen different brands before buying naim. Ayon audio are making also amps and streamers ( tubes) , esoteric, ....  You can find what is best for you only by hearing.

as for devialet, for me it sounds cold and too much hifi. But a lot of people are enjoying this staff...   The best is to try.

Keler Pierre posted:

as for devialet, for me it sounds cold and too much hifi. But a lot of people are enjoying this staff...   The best is to try.

Yes that was a criticism of the original D Premiere which could be a bit clinical - the Pro series have really moved the game on.

But as you say - the best is to try 

james n posted:

Keler Pierre posted:

as for devialet, for me it sounds cold and too much hifi. But a lot of people are enjoying this staff...   The best is to try.

Yes that was a criticism of the original D Premiere which could be a bit clinical - the Pro series have really moved the game on.

But as you say - the best is to try 

i have not heard them...

hello, about this thread i can say anyone is free to choose what to do with his money what likes. Are many hi fi companies with  own sound signature so if u like something just go for it. Naim is more than a hi fi company, it's a story, if u like it it's possible to love it. I like the sound of the jadis tubes, i like simaudio, pass labs, but naim it's for me. It's a matter of choice and chance when enter in this big world to know what we like...one thing it's important the sound no matter of costs.

I have a 250 Pro which I bought for a number of reasons. I liked the sound of it, as it has the detailed precision that I seem  to prefer. I had obviously considered a number of Naim products  but was always constrained by the number of boxes I would have to stitch together to get the same result. Additionally, it had to fit into  my AV setup, passing through the AV amp to drive the front speakers. My one very shiny box fulfils all these needs.

On the negative side, Devialet were supposed to have a streamer board integrated into their Pro products and  all new owners are supposed to be receiving this when available. It is an ongoing joke on the Devialet site as it looks like September of this year at the earliest - a year are the April came out. There have also been complaints on Devialet's service but I can't attest to that.

Their AIR solution works fine for me and  have it linked into my switch via Ethernet. WiFi is switched off.  I stream to the Devialet via Audirvana+, mainly using Tidal. This is stage one of what I would like to upgrade to, so cannot give a definitive critique. 

Late to this as the decision's been made. One thing I'd have focused on is the transient attack and cohesion when the "music gets busy". How does the delivery of digital amplification compare to heavy windings of copper? I liked Devialet when I heard it at a dealer. My question was whether it might end up sounding dry in the long run. Never got it home, but there was that niggling. The SAM's an attractive feature if the digital aspect works for you and probably opens up lots of doors for speakers. SAM is also a nice idea for folks like me that are realizing hearing changes in their mid-50s (or beyond).

I came across this thread in a search about other stuff, so perhaps that is a 'sign' to jump in. I'm one of the ex-Naim crowd (or group). I still like Naim equipment very much, but when I was looking to move up the Naim chain, I heard a Devialet D120. It was clearly superior to my ears than the similarly priced SuperUniti. I have since upgraded to a D220 Pro, and the difference, the improvement, is amazing. 

The sound is not cold, or clinical. I have no loss of musicality, or emotion, or PRaT with Devialet and I get more of the music, the subtleties than I did with my Naim equipment. In fact, I feel that I am getting a better, more musical sound than I had with Naim. And I hear this with recorded music that I've had for years, on CD and vinyl. More tellingly, I have recordings I've made with several musical groups. Songs I've played hundreds of times, live and in studio. I was there for the mixing. I know how these songs sound, and the chrome pizza box does the job, fully and completely. My bass, my amp, my fingers, it sounds better with the D220 Pro.

I had Naim equipment for about 10 years, and loved it- mostly. I will say that the UPnP grief I had was so miserable that I could have given up the black boxes for that reason alone. And looking over the continuing series of connection problem threads, it seems that many have similar problems still. 

But really, the Devialet presentation is simply different than that of Naim. And I absolutely admit that I prefer the Devialet sonic signature. I would not go back to Naim, or to tube gear (which I've also had). But I do not bash Naim or ridicule those who prefer it, either for the way it looks, or sounds, or the extensive upgrade path. In fact I'd recommend Naim to anyone in spite of my personal preference, because I think it is excellent equipment.

It always disappoints me to hear people be dismissive of something they've never heard, or listened to for 10 minutes. The biggest mistake is not listening with an open mind.