the new D220 received!

[mdconnelly]

Ok, I did it.  Couldn't stand waiting and dreaded the thought of sending my 200 off for upgrade without actually hearing a 220 Pro....

So I went and bought a 220 Pro!   Found an awesome dealer here in the US (Craig Shumer/Theatermax) that actually has a couple in stock.   So I bought one 3 days ago and FedEx just delivered it.  Yep, already hooked up and playing as I type.   Yep, sounds great right out of the box.  Nope, haven't got a clue to share (yet) about SQ of the 220 Pro vs the 200.  But I will.

I won't sell my 200 until after I'm sure the SQ improvement is worth the price difference.    I suspect it won't take long, but I'll give the 220 Pro a couple hundred hours to breakin before I start any real critical listening or comparison.

P.S.   If you're looking to buy a Pro or to upgrade yours, particularly if you're in the US, you might want to touch base with Craig at Theatermax (disclosure: no vested interest beyond just being a very happy customer).  Very knowledge Devialet dealer with a great understanding of what Devialet is up to (imagine that ;-).   You can find him by googling or just PM me for contact info if needed.

Nice.  Maybe a first impression before you wait the couple hundred hours?!

You say you're hanging onto your 200. So can you return the Pro if you're not convinced?

Sure, I won't deny listening some last night, but I do remember how the 200 changed after a week or so, so any thoughts at this point are not likely to be consistent with end result.

I was reading and not critically listening, but it would occasionally grab my attention away.  I noticed two things...

1) base definition and depth.  Just more there there.  Not boomy or muddy... just very well defined, deeper and more realistic.  I don't use a subwoofer and this almost felt a bit like the benefits of a very well integrated sub.
2) natural top-end extension.  Things like cymbal shimmers were just a bit more magical.

I would say the sound stage may have seemed just a bit closed in but that is precisely what I remember changing/improving most with the 200 so I do fully expect that to open up although it certainly wasn't bad by any means.

So I'm hanging on to the 200 for at least a week or two in order to fully compare it to the 220 Pro.   To be honest, I didn't (and don't) expect to not like the 220 Pro and   returning it is not really an option (well, not without a cost ;-) but I rationalized it by figuring I could flip it if needed since it is in high demand.   I just didn't want to plunk down the upgrade cost without having first heard it.  I unfortunately lost my local Devialet dealer and therefore any chance of hearing one without at least a several hundred mile drive.   So when I found a US Devialet dealer that actually had a few 220 Pros in stock, I jumped.    Even with shipping costs (he's in Florida, I'm in North Carolina - 600+ miles away), buying a 220 Pro and selling my 200 will likely end up being close to a wash compared to the cost of upgrading.   This way I got the ability to compare them (my home, my system, my ears) and not have to wait weeks without one while it's upgraded.   
 
If I can't sell the 200 at a reasonable price, then who knows, maybe I'll upgrade it to end up with a 440 Pro.  Not sure how I'll finagle that past my wife, the accountant, so hopefully selling the 200 won't be too hard.  It is still an awesome integrated amp and at the price they're going for in the used market, a pretty awesome entry point into the world of Devialet.