26-Apr-2017, 15:45
Being into high-end audio means living with depreciation much like owning a car. They only depreciate. Some more than others.
IMO, the older Expert line did take a significant depreciation hit when Devialet released the Pro - simply because the old models were being replaced. I suspect that would be true for any audio equipment when the manufacturer discontinues one model for a new one. So I'm not sure Devialet was any worse.
I used to own a Levinson amp. When they discontinued the model I owned, I didn't even consider buying the newer version at the time. Had Levinson come out with an upgrade path, would I have done that? I don't know, but would probably have given it far more consideration. So to be fair, the upgrade Devialet is offering is quite a nice benefit - whether we choose to take it or not. The question to ask... if Devialet was not offering an upgrade path, would you consider selling your 200 to buy a 220 Pro? My guess is that fewer people would do so.
Personally, I was able to sell my 200, buy a new 220 Pro, and come out slightly better than if I had done the upgrade. But the biggest advantage in doing so is that I had both in the house for enough time to convince me that the 220 Pro was indeed a very nice improvement over the 200 - at least to these ears.
IMO, the older Expert line did take a significant depreciation hit when Devialet released the Pro - simply because the old models were being replaced. I suspect that would be true for any audio equipment when the manufacturer discontinues one model for a new one. So I'm not sure Devialet was any worse.
I used to own a Levinson amp. When they discontinued the model I owned, I didn't even consider buying the newer version at the time. Had Levinson come out with an upgrade path, would I have done that? I don't know, but would probably have given it far more consideration. So to be fair, the upgrade Devialet is offering is quite a nice benefit - whether we choose to take it or not. The question to ask... if Devialet was not offering an upgrade path, would you consider selling your 200 to buy a 220 Pro? My guess is that fewer people would do so.
Personally, I was able to sell my 200, buy a new 220 Pro, and come out slightly better than if I had done the upgrade. But the biggest advantage in doing so is that I had both in the house for enough time to convince me that the 220 Pro was indeed a very nice improvement over the 200 - at least to these ears.
Devialet 440 Pro (two 220s)- Oracle CD transport - Kuzma Stabi S/Stogi S turntable - Von Schweikert VR-35 speakers - JPS SC3 SCs - PI Audio power conditioning -
Triode Wire Labs ICs and PCs - Roon on NUC 8i7beh running ROCK
Triode Wire Labs ICs and PCs - Roon on NUC 8i7beh running ROCK
Durham, NC USA