Astra reviews

[Factory Films]

Seems like Devialet started to pay for some people to come here and talk about how a downgraded spec Astra on any aspect being AMAZING Fun to see the desperateness.

I have a VERY clear understanding of how this sounds vs. an Accuphase, several Luxmans, Yamaha S-3200s, Marantz Model 10 and 30.   IT IS VERY SPECIAL and I want to hear from people who have benched this thing for 300hrs, not from write ups.

So how does it compare to Accuphase 5000 and Marantz Model as well as a Devialet Expert 440 Pro?

It sounds much more detailed than the Marantz Model 30, and I didn't notice any difference in sound or tonality with the Accuphase E-5000 that left me believing one was superior to the other, the each had different characteristics that I loved.  The most noticeable difference across all of them is the Devialet Astra was it was much richer and deeper focus bass tone. I did not hear an Expert 440 Pro.

[Factory Films]

The fact that AES-EBU is omitted is already a deal breaking for me.

X2 for me..... especially considering that with AES input, there is an option to ground lifting and that improved tremendously the soundstage of the Devialet. I have just a D400, but without the ability to do ground lifting for both the RCA-AES connection between the two D200 and the ground lifting for AES input on source, I doubt if the Astra really sounds better than the old D400.

Out of all the reviews I have read so far, none of those have ever compared Expert Pro series to Astra, I wonder if that is something Devialet suppresses reviewers to mention.

Another question I always have in mind is how the old D400 compares to the CI 440. I never connect the network of the D400 as I find that connection via a DDC and an external clock to the DDC fed via AES to the D400 sounds better than D400's network. I know for sure if one uses the network the 440 sounds better than 400. However, if I just use the AES input, is the CI really helping that much?

My dear friend is a professional audio engineer and has always said that AES (XLR) inputs were only necessary when the source has a much longer run than a few meters.  In a standard Hi Fi setup ,typically you are not more than a couple meters from your system.  Is that not your understanding as well?

[spater]

New Astra review in Hi-Fi Choice magazine, September 25 edition.
4 out of 5 verdict (Likes: design, power, neutral sound; dislikes: digital audio processing: rather safe presentation)
Probably most balanced and considered review I've read so far
Goes into quite a bit of detail on the tech specs, e.g. some interesting discussion around the evolution of Class stages from the D-Premier to Astra, which I'm trying to get my head around
Also the new Devialet App has features like 'Bass Reducer Mode' and 'Adaptive Volume Level' which reviewer doesn't like

[markush]

I have a VERY clear understanding of how this sounds vs. an Accuphase, several Luxmans, Yamaha S-3200s, Marantz Model 10 and 30.   IT IS VERY SPECIAL and I want to hear from people who have benched this thing for 300hrs, not from write ups.

So how does it compare to Accuphase 5000 and Marantz Model as well as a Devialet Expert 440 Pro?

It sounds much more detailed than the Marantz Model 30, and I didn't notice any difference in sound or tonality with the Accuphase E-5000 that left me believing one was superior to the other, the each had different characteristics that I loved.  The most noticeable difference across all of them is the Devialet Astra was it was much richer and deeper focus bass tone. I did not hear an Expert 440 Pro.

I was referring to Model 10 amp of Marantz.
Sad you never heard a 440 pro which is in combo with a good streamer/source amazing.

[ray1234]

My dear friend is a professional audio engineer and has always said that AES (XLR) inputs were only necessary when the source has a much longer run than a few meters.  In a standard Hi Fi setup ,typically you are not more than a couple meters from your system.  Is that not your understanding as well?

For Devialet Expert Pro series, one can perform a ground lifting on XLR, which for some reason increases the soundstage size and detail level of the overall sound. The theory behind is that Devialet does not like to share common ground with the equipment before it (e.g. streamer, phono output, etc).

For normal SPDIF connection, there is only two wires, the signal and the ground, there is no way to lift the ground.

Of course, at the end of the day the judgement should be based on the sound quality. Maybe Astra has advanced to a stage that it sounds better than the Expert Pro with ground lift, we just don't know .....

[IanG-UK]

The most telling issue in my view relating to the Astra is that Devialet's chief research and development engineer, Mathieu Pernod, has now left Devialet having been with them from the start - that is 17 years - and has been the brains behind all Devialet electronics.

I have a Devialet 1000 and did listen to the Astra but did not consider buying one as it was not wall-mountable - an easy modification for Devialet to do but they could not bother with it.

Now that the brains behind the Expert and Astra has left, I would not consider buying the new, but possibly not fully road-tested, Astra product.

[Factory Films]

So how does it compare to Accuphase 5000 and Marantz Model as well as a Devialet Expert 440 Pro?

It sounds much more detailed than the Marantz Model 30, and I didn't notice any difference in sound or tonality with the Accuphase E-5000 that left me believing one was superior to the other, the each had different characteristics that I loved.  The most noticeable difference across all of them is the Devialet Astra was it was much richer and deeper focus bass tone. I did not hear an Expert 440 Pro.

I was referring to Model 10 amp of Marantz.
Sad you never heard a 440 pro which is in combo with a good streamer/source amazing.

I've heard a Marantz 10 but not side by side with the Devialet, so it's hard for me to judge with distant memory. The Model 10 is a massive, heavy machine, with no options for the price point. Curious, why don't you think the Astra is a good streamer on its own? It was one of the draws for me to buy it.

[Staradonna]

Astra vs Expert Pro — Sound, Specs, and Real-World Value

Introduction

With the launch of the new Devialet Astra, many Expert Pro owners are wondering: is this really a step forward? On paper, Astra may seem like a spiritual successor to the Expert Pro, but a closer look reveals key technical differences and some surprising limitations. Here’s a breakdown of how the Astra compares to the Expert Pro — both technically and in terms of sound and value.


1. DAC and Internal Processing

Expert Pro:
• Internal DSP (MAT) processes PCM up to 192 kHz and converts DSD64 to 384 kHz PCM, then resamples to 192 kHz before entering ADH.
• MAT (Magic Wire) is present and active.
• Sweet Room correction is supported.
• Superior dynamic range and microdetail when fed from a high-quality external streamer.

Astra:
• MAT is also present (confirmed by Devialet Support), but:
• DSD128 via USB is downsampled to 96 kHz.
• Network and USB PCM streams are downsampled to 96 kHz before entering ADH.
• No Sweet Room functionality.
• Still limited to 24/192 PCM and DSD64 via digital input, like Expert Pro, but downsampling over network and USB is a regression.


2. Streaming Capabilities

Expert Pro:
• Both the Expert Pro and Astra are Roon Ready devices and support RAAT, Roon’s proprietary streaming protocol, which is used exclusively for streaming from Roon to these devices.
• RAAT is not supported by any other source besides Roon, so streaming via RAAT only works between Roon and the Expert Pro or Astra.
• Both devices also support AirPlay and UPnP streaming protocols.
• The Expert Pro does not support Qobuz Connect or Tidal Connect, and since Devialet no longer provides updates for the Expert Pro, these services will never be added.
• When released in 2017, Devialet promised Bluetooth support for the Expert Pro, but it has never been implemented.
• Streaming board development has stalled — no native Qobuz or Tidal Connect on the Expert Pro.
• Using an external streamer (e.g., WiiM Ultra, Eversolo DMP-A6, Lindemann Limetree, or Bluesound Node X/Icon with Dirac) remains the best way to access these services and improved performance.

Astra:
• Integrated modern streaming with Devialet OS.
• Supports Spotify Connect, AirPlay, UPnP, Roon Ready, and possibly Qobuz/Tidal Connect in the future.
• Great if you want an all-in-one solution, but you’re locked into Devialet’s ecosystem — and there’s no Dirac Live or advanced room correction available.


3. Room Correction

Expert Pro:
• Offers Sweet Room, a customizable parametric EQ system.
• Can easily be paired with external streamers that offer Dirac Live, which is superior to Sweet Room in most acoustic environments.

Astra:
• No Sweet Room or other room correction options.
• No support for Dirac or third-party EQ.


4. Upgradability & Flexibility

Expert Pro:
• Modular design allowed for CI board upgrades.
• Wide range of digital inputs: AES, optical, coax, USB, Ethernet.
• Can be matched with external DAC/streamer for better performance and flexibility.

Astra:
• Closed system.
• Fewer inputs, limited to USB-C, network, optical/coax.
• No upgrade path for internal DAC or streaming module.
• Limited customization.


5. Sound Quality

Subjectively, Astra may sound cleaner and more detailed in the midrange and highs, possibly due to newer components and better internal grounding. However:
• Using a high-end external streamer into the Expert Pro’s digital input still results in superior imaging, dynamics, and tonal realism, especially with Dirac room correction applied.
• Expert Pro’s ADH amplification remains class-leading.
• Astra’s DSP downsampling (especially to 96 kHz over network/USB) may degrade high-res content.


6. Price and Value
• Expert Pro 220 originally retailed for €8,000, but now sells for €3,500–€4,500 used.
• Add a top-tier streamer (e.g., DMP-A6 or Bluesound Node Icon) for €500–€1,000, possibly with Dirac.
• Total cost: €5,000–€6,000 for an objectively better-sounding and more flexible system.
• Astra costs around €10,000 and offers fewer options, no upgrade path, no room correction, and internal downsampling.


Conclusion

The Expert Pro remains a superior value proposition – technically, functionally, and musically – especially when paired with a modern external streamer offering full streaming support and Dirac Live.

While Astra introduces a cleaner design and new UI, it sacrifices flexibility, upgradability, and raw performance.

Many long-time owners feel Devialet has abandoned the Pro series by withholding streamer upgrades – but ironically, this opens the door to better sound with external solutions.

Unless form factor and simplicity are your only priorities, and money isn’t an issue, the Expert Pro setup wins hands down.

[Staradonna]

Staradonna
Astra vs Expert Pro — Sound, Specs, and Real-World Value

Introduction

With the launch of the new Devialet Astra, many Expert Pro owners are wondering: is this really a step forward? On paper, Astra may seem like a spiritual successor to the Expert Pro, but a closer look reveals key technical differences and some surprising limitations. Here’s a breakdown of how the Astra compares to the Expert Pro — both technically and in terms of sound and value.

Note: I have not personally auditioned the Astra, so the observations here are based on available technical information and user feedback.


1. DAC and Internal Processing

Expert Pro:
• Internal DSP (MAT) processes PCM up to 192 kHz and converts DSD64 to 384 kHz PCM, then resamples to 192 kHz before entering ADH.
• MAT (Magic Wire) is present and active.
• Sweet Room correction is supported.
• Superior dynamic range and microdetail when fed from a high-quality external streamer.

Astra:
• MAT is also present (confirmed by Devialet Support), but:
• DSD128 via USB is downsampled to 96 kHz.
• Network and USB PCM streams are downsampled to 96 kHz before entering ADH.
• No Sweet Room functionality.
• Still limited to 24/192 PCM and DSD64 via digital input, like Expert Pro, but downsampling over network and USB is a regression.


2. Streaming Capabilities

Expert Pro:
• Both the Expert Pro and Astra are Roon Ready devices and support RAAT, Roon’s proprietary streaming protocol, which is used exclusively for streaming from Roon to these devices.
• RAAT is not supported by any other source besides Roon, so streaming via RAAT only works between Roon and the Expert Pro or Astra.
• Both devices also support AirPlay and UPnP streaming protocols.
• The Expert Pro does not support Qobuz Connect or Tidal Connect, and since Devialet no longer provides updates for the Expert Pro, these services will never be added.
• When released in 2017, Devialet promised Bluetooth support for the Expert Pro, but it has never been implemented.
• Streaming board development has stalled — no native Qobuz or Tidal Connect on the Expert Pro.

Astra:
• Integrated modern streaming with Devialet OS.
• Supports Spotify Connect, AirPlay, UPnP, Roon Ready, and possibly Qobuz/Tidal Connect in the future.
• Great if you want an all-in-one solution, but you’re locked into Devialet’s ecosystem — and there’s no Dirac Live or advanced room correction available.

Shared advantage (Expert Pro & Astra):
The internal streaming facilities of both the Expert Pro and Astra are functional but limited compared to the best standalone streamers. However, both models feature excellent DAC and ADH amplification stages, which can be fully leveraged by pairing them with a high-quality external streamer. When connected via USB, both benefit from asynchronous communication, where the amplifier’s clock controls data transfer. This reduces jitter and improves timing accuracy, allowing devices such as the WiiM Ultra to deliver performance comparable to far more expensive streamers used purely as a digital transport, at least on paper and based on technical principles; this has not been personally tested.


3. Room Correction

Expert Pro:
• Offers Sweet Room, a built-in parametric EQ system that applies to all sources connected directly to the amplifier — both digital and analog.
• When paired with an external streamer running Dirac Live, room correction is applied only to signals passing through that streamer. Sources connected directly to the Expert Pro will still use Sweet Room’s correction profile.
• Sweet Room is less sophisticated than Dirac Live but has the advantage of working across every input, ensuring consistent tonal balance regardless of source.

Astra:
• No built-in room correction functionality.
• No support for Dirac Live or other third-party EQ solutions.
• Any room correction would need to be applied upstream via an external streamer or processor, and would only affect the sources routed through that device.


Conclusion

The Expert Pro remains a superior value proposition – technically, functionally, and musically – especially when paired with a modern external streamer offering full streaming support and Dirac Live.

While Astra introduces a cleaner design and new UI, it sacrifices flexibility, upgradability, and some performance options. The built-in streaming capabilities of both the Expert Pro and Astra are serviceable but not at the level of the best external solutions. Their DAC and ADH amplification, however, remain among the best available at any price point.

When either device is connected via USB to a quality external streamer — such as the WiiM Ultra — they benefit from asynchronous communication, reducing jitter and enabling performance that rivals far more expensive dedicated transports.

Unless form factor and simplicity are your only priorities, and money isn’t an issue, the Expert Pro setup still offers the strongest combination of sound quality, flexibility, and long-term value.


Summary
This is a revised version of the comparison between the Devialet Expert Pro and Astra, based on valuable feedback received — thanks to everyone who contributed. Both models are Roon Ready, support RAAT, AirPlay, and UPnP, and share the same excellent DAC and ADH amplification stages. However, their internal streaming capabilities are limited compared to the best external streamers. Connecting an external streamer via USB, where only the Devialet DAC is used, benefits from asynchronous communication that reduces jitter, delivering performance comparable to much more expensive transports. When connecting via coaxial, where only the Devialet DAC is used, audible differences between streamers can be more noticeable. The Expert Pro has the advantage of Sweet Room EQ, while the Astra lacks built-in room correction.

[blair.athol]

Thank you for this well balanced comparison.
I just propose to correct the following:

2. Streaming capabilities:

Expert Pro:
Supports Spotify Connect, AirPlay, UPnP, Roon ready
Devialet Air (no longer supported on latest Windows or Mac OS but still in Roon)