Astra vs Expert Pro on paper

[ada]

I know sound can't be compared on paper but here are some interesting differences I am seeing in the web site.


Comparison data comes from Devialet and it is for Astra Dual vs 440 Pro:

Capability differences:
Peak power: 2000W vs 4000W
Signal-to-noise ratio: 117db vs 133db
Distortion at 10v: 0.0004% vs 0.00025%
Output impedance: 0.0057Ω (1kHz) vs 0.001Ω
Damping factor: 1400 vs 8000

Input differences:
AES/EBU: N vs Y
DAIR: N vs Y
DSD: N vs Y
Speaker output: from 8Ω to 2Ω vs from 1Ω to 16Ω

Connectivity differences:
Tidal Connect: Y vs N
USB streaming: 384kHz vs 192kHz (but internal DSPs are 192kHz on both)
USB: C vs B
Bluetooth: Y vs N (capable)
Wifi: 6 vs 5
Trigger In/Out: N vs Y

Features:
SweetRoom: N vs Y
Dual Mono: With 2 RCA vs AES/EBU or Single Coax
Daisy chain: 2 (at least at the launch) vs 8
*Modular circuit design: Core Infinity board: N (single streaming and input board) vs Y
*Modular circuit design: PSU: Soldered (PSU section looks soldered and not shilded) vs Isolated/Independent

Other:
Price: €32,000 vs €14,900
Warranty: 2 vs 5 years (initially it was)


Please feel free to comment on if you see other differences.

*Based on the pictures published, might be incorrect

[Vivialet]

SweetRoom N vs Y

[Pim]

Warranty 2 vs 5 years

[RebelMan]

$20K vs $6.5K and starting to look a little too much like the Micromega M-One. I'll pass.

[daniel.avasilichioaei]

Another one: SAM profiles were measured and generated for Expert Pro. I don't think it's ok to apply them identically to an amplifier with other technical characteristics (Astra).

[hardcore]

What is dis? The specifications are poorer on all metrics compared to the Expert Pro, but the price is much higher. Also, no AES digital input, and no mention of DSD support.

Physically, the build looks cheaper than the Expert Pro, especially the 250/1000 Pro model. It looks more like a cost-optimized version than a performance-first design.

[ada]

Personal opinion, this is the proof of how Devialet team evolved in the opposite direction and lost the capabilities of:

1. Product design
2. Understanding their customer needs
3. Technical capabilities
4. Marketing strategy

I think this product is just showing clearly the team of 2016 was superior to today's one and the product we loved wasn't maintained for all these years because they weren't capable of doing it. My only war with Devialet will be to get the ownership of current software pieces of Expert Pro (even if that requires money)

Just check the internal pictures of the Astra, at every single extend this is trimmed down version of Expert Pro:
https://www.on-mag.fr/index.php/topaudio...t-de-gamme

I am just guessing that even if they made the price doubled they are not targeting the existing Expert customers because they have to be insane to sell this trimmed down version to an Expert owner, I wouldn't even exchange my Expert for free to this thing!

[Saint0]

Very disappointed with Devialet's decision to discontinue the Expert line, especially the 250 & 1000 PRO, & replaced them with an inferior performance version that costs more! The only "upgrades" are the gaudy Gold finish and App, software updates.
I've been a Devialet fan since the D-Premier, and upgraded my unit twice to the latest 250 PRO spec. The latest hardware update was sold to the users as a "future proof". I feel the company has lost it soul and abandoned their original customer base to chase after "Lifestyle" customers.

[Vivialet]

I just noticed that the 3.5mm port is also missing now. No way to automatically switch on subwoofers…

[ada]

And for the dual setup they mention RCA connection of double cable, it is hard to know if this is still a digital connection or an analog one. And need of 2 cables instead of one will be also big issue for chaining in more than 2 units which is not possible right now in any-case based on the help section.

Another thing i realized from the internal pictures the design is not any more modular, there is no plug and play Core Infinity board but all the inputs are soldered to the streaming components.