Devialet

[TommyC]

Originally Posted by werd

I just recently heard this and it was very nice. It has a very silky synthetic sound to it. Very hifi sounding but very good. I came away with the impression that this is where home audio is headed. It reminded me of the first time i seen a Pioneer plasma tv. That was in the 90's and the cost was 25k on it. Now the same tv is under a grand. It makes me wonder if the cost of this technology might go down. We might be seeing the same caliber for 5k in the not so distant future....hopefully because it was slick sounding.

I'm perplexed by what you meant by "silky synthetic sound."

[weird]

Originally Posted by TommyC

I'm perplexed by what you meant by "silky synthetic sound."

It sounds cyborg .... ha, it just had a remanufactured sound to it with no digital glare. We were using the BCD and BDP, I have owned the Bryston BCD and yet have never heard that player sound like that. It didn't seem to care that it was hooked up into a lousy $5 outlet bar either . It was able to get air around the guitar and synthesizer fillers in Scofield's Uber Jam tracks i was listening to.

I wasn't able to drive into a tough load though, i wanted to hook it up to a pair ML's but wasn't allowed to do that. It didn't have the sensation of huge power behind it like i get with my Bryston 14B, I was looking for that but didn't have the chance to see if it was there.

We were using a moderate pair of Snell floorstanders, they were nice but inappropriately matched imo. Kind of pissed me off actually.

[Still-One]

The dealer here had it paired with some Saha's the day I was there but they move their speakers from room to room depending on what the customer wants to here.

[TommyC]

Another review.

6moons audio reviews: Devialet D-Premier

[Tonepub]

Originally Posted by werd

It sounds cyborg .... ha, it just had a remanufactured sound to it with no digital glare. We were using the BCD and BDP, I have owned the Bryston BCD and yet have never heard that player sound like that. It didn't seem to care that it was hooked up into a lousy $5 outlet bar either . It was able to get air around the guitar and synthesizer fillers in Scofield's Uber Jam tracks i was listening to.

I wasn't able to drive into a tough load though, i wanted to hook it up to a pair ML's but wasn't allowed to do that. It didn't have the sensation of huge power behind it like i get with my Bryston 14B, I was looking for that but didn't have the chance to see if it was there.

We were using a moderate pair of Snell floorstanders, they were nice but inappropriately matched imo. Kind of pissed me off actually.

I had no problems driving the CLX or magnepans with it. This amplifier did a better job of driving tough speakers than any full class d amplifier I've ever tried.

The Devialet has a neutral to slightly forward character to it. Playing it with a Bryston source wouldnt be my first choice..

[weird]

^^^^^^

I would use the BDP into the onboard dac.

I think this technology could get licenced out becoming more mainstream and cheaper. I hope so because i would look at this technology if it was cheaper.

[Tonepub]

It already is pretty reasonable. $16k buys you an amp, preamp, DAC, phono preamp and music streamer. If you subtract a few thousand bucks for interconnects and power cords, you're paying about $3500 for the amp, $3500 for the preamp, $3500 for the DAC, $2000 for the phono preamp and $500 for the streamer.

Not really crazy money and it doesn't need a rack.

[f1eng]

I do not change my equipment often and when I do I give myself lots of time for home demos of what I am interested in.
I am an engineer, I even worked for Garrard in the '70s so I am interested in good engineering and have a fair knowledge of manufacturing costs.
My system has been all Goldmund for about 15+ years but i was intrigued by the DeVialet engineering. To cut a long story short I have bought one and am planning a second to use a master and slave as monoblocks.
IMO the clever engineering has allowed astonishing value. The most expensive thing in an amp is the power supply and here the clever engineering of DeVialet has allowed superb performance for probably 100x less than a conventional power supply. This on its own makes the unit amazing value for money.
The other potentially expensive part is the enclosure, and here the DeVialet is every bit as extravagant as other high end kit, but again saves by having fewer expensive boxes, not to mention the interconnects...

I have seen at least one post wishing for the amp only, without DAC and pre, but a quick look at their website shows that any suggestion that this is a DAC pre and power amps integrated together is only a od to tradition to describe it to the public. The way it works the DAC is just as much part of the preamp and power amp as it is the DAC so you have to get your head round the fact that these old concepts are no longer relevant in this unit. It is worth a look if you are technically interested/minded.

One thing it is -not- is a hobbyist bit of kit. If you get as much fun from listening for the differences between kit/interconnect etc. it won't be of much interest. If you are a music lover who has little interest in the equipment it is a godsend.
best, Frank

[Haurock]

A very interesting read... not sure it is for me.. too small too polished, but nonetheless.. I like the integration...

By the way, the audio store Audiolight in Quebec City, apparently is an exclusive Canadian dealer.. there is a series of 4 videos on UTube, but in french, so I didn't bother to to include them here.. if anyone wants the links..let me know.

[Masterlu]

f1eng... Welcome!