Devialet 170: comparison to Naim

I have been a Naim fan and owner for years. The idea of extra boxes to get more function and better sound finally prompted me to move to the simplicity and convenience of a one box solution, which I did investing in a Devialet 170 (now 200 via a firmware upgrade). My music source is simply iTunes on a MBP streamed wirelessly and my old SOTA Sapphire TT. 

My Devialet will soon be 1 year old as I look forward to the bi-annual firmware promises (which Devialet has so far honoured), leaving me in awe each time they are able to improve an already great product! 

For all those interested in what modern class D amps are capable of might also want to take a look at the Lyngdorf TDAI-2170.

Quite similar to the Devialet it takes all the hassle of multiple boxes, humming transformers and DAC questions off your shoulders. Plus, it has a built-in room correction which actually works and is user friendly to set up.

All those who like to indulge in racks full of boxes should naturally keep away from it.

Naim Muso and NVi will have/had digital amps

Hi Louis-Andre,

I did a demo of the 170 in:

NS01 > nDAC + TXPS > EAR864 > EAR534 > Living Voice Auditorium II.

It is a brilliant design with superb interface and remote.

Ultimately I couldn't get along with it due to a 'edge' I could hear on the vocals. However, the remote sold me and so I decided to try and get a solution with: A remote; that could reduce the box count; gave me one analogue input.

This lead me to demo a Bel Canto 3.5vb, VBS and Coherent DC umbilical. Great DAC - but using it as a pre as well showed the limit of the form factor. Slotting in a Bel Canto Pre3vb was great - but there was the vocal edge again. So I borrowed a further Coherent DC umbilical and all was excellent.

I now am using:

NS01 > Bel Canto 3.5vb/VBS > Bel Canto Pre3vb > EAR534 > Living Voice Auditorium II.

Never had better sound at home ......BUT, I do wonder what the Devialet would have sounded like with a Coherent digital interconnect between it and the NS01.

System synergy is king in my opinion, which is the strength of this forum for people who are all Naim, and the problem when you ask about how another make would slot into your current setup.

M

I would agree to the a bit critical comments to Devialet. I think it's a brilliant idea and they come quite close to ideal if you look at scale, tightness......, but there is something about that which is missing musicality - it's to me too analytical. But it might be for a lot of people all the high end they need.... 

the same goes for most of the new Linn systems, too cold and analytical to my ears, totally diferrent from the LP12 sound. A Davialet is a bit lifeless and misses on joie de vive, but "hifi" characteristics are better than Naim. 

Yes. That was something that almost led me to reject the Bel Canto, I found that it was all very cerebral, lots of detail but where was the emotional reaction & connection. The Coherent DC cable bought all that back. Which, for me, points at the importance of having a good dealer.

I haven't got off my backside to check Devialet out yet. But I'm going to.

For those people who saw "class D" in the literature and apparently stopped reading, Devialet power amps actually employ ADH technology, an A-D hybrid. That means Class A amps and Class D amps who are running at the same time, in parallel.

Devialet sounds great to my ears and to those who trot out the same lame trope about B&O / lifestyle / Class D should really get out more often. Have listened to a lot of new stuff recently including Beolab 18/19 speakers that look fantastic and sound - well ...really enjoyable. For those muttering "form over function" clearly didn't complete Bauhaus 101 - do I want a living room that looks like the hi end audio equivalent of Basinstoke?

The older I get the more bored with obsessing over the gear rather than listening to the music. perhaps this why the idea of plugging my Dac V1 into some beautifully designed active speakers is starting to sound rather attractive.

Tog

PS Let's not have another thread that starts " Anyone compared <insert Naim gear> to the new < insert expensive yet very different alternative gear> " 

"do I want a living room that looks like the hi end audio equivalent of Basingstoke?"

Sitting here looking at a 6 box single source system that needs another 2 boxes to realise its full potential I'm starting to develop the same mindset. Imagine if I used the other 5 inputs on the 202......

Olly

I heard a Devialet 110 driving a pair of Sonus Faber speakers yesterday both with and without their SAM speaker profiling and the difference was stunning - it turned a fairly flabby middle-of-the-road speaker into a really punchy, open sounding cracker... staggering...

I heard the Devialet 200 with the Sonus Faber Olympica II yesterday, and although I liked it, its certainly different to the Naim sound. Not for me, but it does provide a window to the future. 

I have a 200 on home demo now and there are some extremely positive aspects to its performance -  excellent detail resolution, lower noise levels, terrific ' punch', no transformer hum, 1 box replacing 4 etc, etc and also it's cheaper than my existing Naim system.  Is it any less 'musical' - no, I don't think so

All very interesting. It's the roll out of SAM that's got me particularly interested, although I've always admired the form factor and the power contained within it. Never heard one though. 

Harry, I think you have B&W 802Ds and guess you're aware that there is already a SAM profile for those excellent speakers. You really should try to hear this Combination with a decent source. surprisingly I found NDX + XPS sounded Better than naked NDX.  

One thing to bear in mind with the Devialet - the DAC is built-in and apart from firmware there's no way to upgrade it. Given recent advances in DAC technology e.g. Chord Hugo this might ultimately prove to be a problem...

I can see how that might be an issue, although I assume the DAC can be bypassed in favour if a DAC running on analogue in? I really love the analogue out sound of the NDS into the 552. Apart from the fact that I might well like the internal DAC (haven't heard anything from Devialet yet), two further things that appeal in theory are the SAM profile already available for the 802 and the possibility of biamping them, which is out of the question using Naim power amps - sadly I just don't have the rack space or the space to install another rack. And it would be comparatively expensive.

I'll get round to doing a try out. Should be fun and no harm can come of it either way. The reality might be unfavourable to my ears but the curiosity won't abate. I'm not unhappy with my 552/500 but I feel it can be temperamental and although it is easy to live with, one should strive to keep an open mind.   In conversation with my dealer last week, we were chewing over the VAG situation and the state of the industry in general. He hasn't actually dropped any agencies, but one or two look like they might naturally wind themselves up if the current trends in his business continue. Neither of them being Naim I hasten to add. So what would he consider bringing in as a new agency? Just one strong candidate at present. Can you guess? So who knows, I might in due course be evaluating in familiar surroundings.

I have been reading this particular thread with interest. At one point commercial agenda was criticized. At another point devialet (with and without comparing to Naim mind you) was put on the ground only to rise from the ashes again.  As I said quite interesting.

i'm not commercially vested in either of the products but I have decent experience with both...

first about my current system: I have a mcintosh mc2000 50th year anniversary edition as power amp (2x120w), Avantgarde Duo Omega, and finally Naim Uniti as source/pre or power.

before the devialet situation I made a comparison test in my home.

scenario 1: i connected Naim directly to avantgardes.  Sonically great outcome. Or i would have believed without scenario 2.

scenario 2: this time i used naim uniti as preamp and used its pre out to connect to macintosh as pre. The sound was divinely better almost a holographic experience.  The soundstage was almost visible different, details were fantastic, and musicality was oh my god...  But than again, mc2000 is a legendary tube amp therefore i actually was expecting a "betterness" but not by this much.

than i went to the dealer to see and maybe even listen devialet.  To my surprise dealer had a pair of avantgarde duos also in the house.  So not only i was going to be listening to devialet but also i'd be listening with my very own speakers!!! 

So first catch phrase: upon my exit i had already placed my order for dev-200.

the sound was very immersing, detailed, etc.  but more importantly i was actually listening to musc, not the electronics. That was a great feeling.

i will see the real results on a head to head competition soon in my home.  I will happily report those as well.

i guess my point is simple: i dont know whether they are the best sound or so. But the music is fantastic to my ears and that's all i care.  My wife on the other hand is happy i'll get rid of a phono amp, a power amp (well sort of. She only knows i'll eliminate two equipments )

ciao all

Please do report back with your findings, I for one will be interested. As I'm now living in France and itching to show my face in a Paris dealership Devialet becomes more and more pertinent, especially with that speaker matching tech.

My speakers currently languish on page 4 of the SAM implementation so please any PMC .22 owners out there get voting and push them up the hit parade!

Just go for it and give one a try. It's a superb bit of kit.

For sure I'll report back.  I've met bunch of Devialet guys in Munich High End show few weeks ago.  They were all nice guys.  With their encouragement I voted for AG Duo.  Helas no result just yet.

I also had the chance to listen to PMCs in the same show.  I'd say they deserve most of accolades associated with them.  My only reservation would be their price levels.  Given it was a show with 400+ manufacturers I had the chance to sample a lot of nice goodies.  With it I listened decent amount of good speakers at or below PMC price levels.  I'd still rate PMC as a speaker to listen few hours and immensely enjoy it.

I'd also love to hear how this develops. All the best with it.

I just went ahead and voted for PMC.22.  Good luck with that but you need an additional 92 people as of now

I had the 110 on home demo for a few days. Wanted to compare this kit to my existing set up, a SuperUniti/Kudos Super 10s. As others on this thread have expressed, the Devialet clearly had better dynamics, resolution and a firmer grip and control. The level of detail was rather exceptional and I just loved the remote.

After a few days, I went back to the SU, which simply could not keep pace in terms in presentation and details. However, if had to criticize the Devialet it would be that it seems to lack some of the emotional connection I had with the Naim.

But it is superb sounding (and looking) and I am sure I could get used to it !!

Thank you Karaca!