a brief return to d-Premier

[baconbrain]

I recently purchased a used d-Premier (thanks, cosmosound!), which I will be sending back to Devialet soon for an upgrade to D1000 (along with half of my D800). But this gave me the opportunity to compare the d-Premier with the D800 in my system. Always nice to check whether your system has actually made progress, or whether you are just running to stand still. It's like a trip in a time machine back to 2012 (when I bought my first d-Premier, since upgraded to D250, then D800, soon D1000).

First I spent some time just listening to the d-Premier. I liked it quite a bit. But upon switching to the D800, it was immediately obvious (within the first minute of listening) that the newer units are vastly better (even without SAM engaged). The bass is much faster and tighter, and the top end sounds much more open and natural. The d-Premier sounded a little "closed-in" from the upper midrange through treble, by comparison. (For those who care, my audition tracks are Maria McKee's "This Property is Condemned", Alan Toussaint's "Egyptian Fantasy", and the Bach Collegium Japan's "Herz und Mund und Herz und Leben" BWV 147.)

Nice to know that the upgrades have led to clear improvements (although at steadily increasing costs).

One other interesting detail: when I purchased my original d-Premier in 2012, I paid US$11,000 (used), and now four years later, I paid US$3,500 (used). Talk about depreciation!

Really appreciate this post, as I have always wondered how the original d-Premier compares to the new units. Sometimes I ask myself if the upgrade path was/is the best way to go and this feedback reinforces my "perceived" correct decision to do so. Thx!