Naim and Devialet

To me a Devialet looks like a laptop and sound is not that special (bright/too clean), in other words it has no character. 

There is an argument that the ideal system should have no character, simply portraying the music as recorded. (Speakers/rooms tend to be significant limiting factors.)

As for looks, I am unsure how a single slim unit (or a pair stacked if you need higher power) looks less ugly than semi-industrial looking racks of  black boxes each with a glowing indicator light - even if the slim units are silver. But then I find Hugo cute rather than ugly... (though mine was black).

This does not mean I want Devialet: I've never heard, just as I've never heard Naim amps. One day, I'd quite like to hear both - and I would judge on what I heard. It is interesting to read the varying views regarding the sound, and to try to guess where I would stand if I heard...

Robiwan

The Devialet music I'm hearing doesn't fit with the various impressions shared by others on this forum. There are many factors going into a good auditions and there are many Devi integrateds to chose.  The only thing I am reporting on is the dual mono D400 into Verity Audio speakers, and the wonder of streaming cd's through a Unitiserve. The music is not any of "thin, bright, too detailed, boring, uninspiring, etc.). And I understand that the models higher are quantum better. 

Marketing hype is just that. Devialet, Naim and almost all others make unproven claims. If we fell for that hype we would also believe that Trump is making America great again! 

Hi Don

Kind comments, thanks. I lost your contact info. wanting to invite you to stop in on your next trip to BC.  Do you still have my email address?

Cheers

D

There is Devialet and there is DEVIALET, just as there is Naim and there is NAIM. I have heard some Devialet at the lower end (120 or 200, not sure) and was not impressed. I have also heard the dual mono 400s fed by a UnitiServe into some Fact 8s and that was impressive.

I was in fact auditioning the Fact 8s but was left wondering what they would sound like on the end of a Classic Naim system (such as mine) which wasn't available at that demo. They sounded pretty damn good with the mono 400s in charge.

So let's be clear what Devialet system we are talking about. BTW, I really don't like the Phantom speakers whenever I have heard them.

At < $18,000 the 440 pro appears to be "super cheap" compared to even mid level Naim systems. I've all but decided to go the Linn Klimax route but will give this some serious consideration. If it really is @ 500 level this might be a no brainer....

Have they fixed the streaming issues? I was looking into theses earlier this year but discovered they were missing the ability to stream via upnp. Have you compared upnp vs spdif?

Innocent Bystander posted:

There is an argument that the ideal system should have no character, simply portraying the music as recorded. (Speakers/rooms tend to be significant limiting factors.)

As for looks, I am unsure how a single slim unit (or a pair stacked if you need higher power) looks less ugly than semi-industrial looking racks of  black boxes each with a glowing indicator light - even if the slim units are silver. But then I find Hugo cute rather than ugly... (though mine was black).

This does not mean I want Devialet: I've never heard, just as I've never heard Naim amps. One day, I'd quite like to hear both - and I would judge on what I heard. It is interesting to read the varying views regarding the sound, and to try to guess where I would stand if I heard...

I am amazed that you have never heard Naim amps - but as you say maybe one day.

I see on your profile your useing a Bryston 4B sst2 poweramp......nice !

In my vintage system I have been running a 12 b preamp and 2b poweramp that I have had for 25 years and still going strong the preamp had a loose phono socket and went back to Bryston in Canada and they replaced it and also replaced components on the circuit board.All part of their 20 year guarantee.Great company and sound  

Still have'nt heard Devialet either but it seems to have a good reputation

Innocent Bystander posted:

There is an argument that the ideal system should have no character, simply portraying the music as recorded. (Speakers/rooms tend to be significant limiting factors.)

 

I completely agree with this, why would people want their hifi to alter the original sound and impose some sort of ‘character’?

There's no system that doesn't impose character of some sort, and remove some too. Pick your favourite compromise.

My on;y streaming experience with the D400 is via the Unitiserve for streaming stored cd's from a QNAP, internet radio via UServe (generally poor SQ), and streaming from a laptop via USB (digital input) to the Devi. I most often use Tidal with very good SQ and with all internal sound cards in the laptop bypassed (usb in from the web and essentially straight out to the Devi without Windows etc. involved.)

Generally very happy with ease of use, SQ, and the availability of an almost infinite variety of tunes.

Kevin Richardson posted:

Have they fixed the streaming issues? I was looking into theses earlier this year but discovered they were missing the ability to stream via upnp. Have you compared upnp vs spdif?

We're waiting for Devialet's new streaming board to be released which should be in the next month. This will add UPnP and various streaming service functionality (Tidal), and IIRC Roon support too. It's a free upgrade to existing owners of the Expert Pro models which is nice including a trip back to France 

Is that a trip for you, or the Devialet?

Unfortunately just the amp. I just arrange the collection date,  put in its box, and Devialet sort out the rest 

Collected by the best courier in the world? 

Halloween Man posted:

Collected by the best courier in the world? 

Of course - UPS 

It needs to be observed that the difference between a single Devialet and dual mono is huge. Whole different beast. I’ve had a 120 on demo and was impressed but the music had no life. Then I had a 200 and it was a tad warmer. Then I had 2 200s. Had to resist buying it on the spot.

joerand posted:

mogul posted:

The phono pre in the Devi is and the programmed to be perfectly tuned to my cartridge....

... I began to understand how a ripped cd streamed through a DAC can sound better than through a cdp. 

Mogul, I heard a Devialet 400 system via Sopra 2 at a dealer and was very impressed by the tonal balance, resolution/clarity, and low noise floor. Quite engaging in the short-term but no chance for me to evaluate it's long-term musicality or whether it might tend toward the dry side. Safe to conclude that along with ripped CDs you also find vinyl replay through the Devialet DAC better than direct analog replay? (or maybe I'm not understanding the details of your current set-up)

The Uniti Core directly into the NAC-N 272 or other suitable DAC playing the .wav rip of a CD is better than CDP playback than any of the NAIM legacy CD players. Done correctly a ripped CD will sound better.

At almost twice the price it shoud be a whole lot better, imho. 

Chalshus

Not sure what price comparison you are making but ripping to NAS storage and playback through a high quality DAC can be put in place far cheaper than any top Naim CD player with its power supply and cables. There is also much more flexibility with an outboard DAC for gaining access to all kinds of music not available through a cdp. And as Joerand points out, the SQ is there!

The reply was to Mike. 

I switched from a CDS2/XPS/52/SC and a Phonophie power amp to a cheap Rega CD-player thats fed digatally into a D200 in 2013 and have not looked back. Love the Devialet. 

Chalshus

I get it now! And yes, dual mono pretty much doubles the price of Devialet amps. I don't think Naim cd players have "digital out" (at least my now replaced with streaming) cd555.  DAC's are improving fast and really excellent outboard DACs are achievable without killing the budget.

I. Will preface this by saying I have heard neither Naim nor Devialet amplification.

knowing my speakers as I do, I believe that at least a NAP 300, and preferably 500, would be necessary to give their best under my conditions off play. With Devialet I thought 400 or better still 800.

From memory I think the prices are in the same ball-park.

i like what I have read about Naim's approach to power amplification, not matched by D. 

I value neutrality and overall accuracy for which Devialet seems to have a better reputation than N. 

I would like to audition both (but only if I win the lottery!)

However, I will need an awful lot of convincing that D's DAC is at least as good as Dave,, or otherwise that the internal ADC-DAC conversion of an analog signal (as if I were to feed it from Dave) is not in any way detrimental.