D400 to 440 Pro SQ reviews

[Amelot75]

Hello everyone 

I did ask for reviews for SQ regarding D800 to 1000 Pro, but for people who did the move from D400 to 440 Pro your feedbacks are welcome!

[Amelot75]

No one did the move D400 to D440?

[audio_engr]

No one did the move D400 to D440?

My 400 last Monday 17 Sept was shipped to France for the 440-Pro CI upgrade. I am expecting it in the coming weekend .. anytime after 28th Sept and am ready with my updated SD cards using the current FW to listen to them. 

I hope I will be a happy customer ... [fingers crossed] 

[Damon]

@Amelot75

In threads from fall 2016 there are many posts regarding the change in sound during the Pro upgrade. @Wdw posted on the 400 > 440 upgrade specifically. I think that, although there will be differences for upgrades to different models, the nature and character of the sound changes was largely consistent. And not all positive, so watch for those opinions a well. @woodstock was one who was not so pleased, and he and I spoke on the telephone about it a few times. His opinion is interesting and valid; I just want to point out that there were reactions both positive and negative about the changes.

I can't remember the thread titles but I posted there (some really long, wordy text bombs) so you may be able to find threads through my name as well. On balance, most felt the upgrade gave them detail, dynamics and clarity that they loved. Personally, I would not go back, even though I loved the Expert amp sound.

[Amelot75]

@Amelot75

In threads from fall 2016 there are many posts regarding the change in sound during the Pro upgrade. @Wdw posted on the 400 > 440 upgrade specifically. I think that, although there will be differences for upgrades to different models, the nature and character of the sound changes was largely consistent. And not all positive, so watch for those opinions a well. @woodstock was one who was not so pleased, and he and I spoke on the telephone about it a few times. His opinion is interesting and valid; I just want to point out that there were reactions both positive and negative about the changes.

I can't remember the thread titles but I posted there (some really long, wordy text bombs) so you may be able to find threads through my name as well. On balance, most felt the upgrade gave them detail, dynamics and clarity that they loved. Personally, I would not go back, even though I loved the Expert amp sound.

Thanks for your help but still few and short positives reviews.

[Amelot75]

No one did the move D400 to D440?

My 400 last Monday 17 Sept was shipped to France for the 440-Pro CI upgrade. I am expecting it in the coming weekend .. anytime after 28th Sept and am ready with my updated SD cards using the current FW to listen to them. 

I hope I will be a happy customer ... [fingers crossed] 

Can’t wait your SQ review!

[deviousalet]

I upgraded from the D400 to D440 Pro, and now to D440 Pro Core Infinity. Each upgrade was a noticeable improvement, but the CI upgrade impressed me the most because of the improvements versus the change. I thought the CI would bring new functions but only minor, if any, improvements to sound quality. Instead the sound quality of the CI board is almost as much an improvement as the D400 to D440 upgrade. The most pleasing part of each upgrade was less glare (hardness, digital, jitter, or whatever that is). I used to ameliorate that with accessories (USB filters, cables, etc.) but now the sound of the stock D440CI is more relaxed and natural than anything I could achieve before, while retaining the precision and detail I've always enjoyed. It is a lovely listen. I am having more network issues with the CI boards, and Devialet has many problems to fix still, but the core sound is wonderful and I'm enjoying that more than ever.

[kerkhoffd]

I upgraded from the D400 to D440 Pro, and now to D440 Pro Core Infinity. Each upgrade was a noticeable improvement, but the CI upgrade impressed me the most because of the improvements versus the change. I thought the CI would bring new functions but only minor, if any, improvements to sound quality. Instead the sound quality of the CI board is almost as much an improvement as the D400 to D440 upgrade. The most pleasing part of each upgrade was less glare (hardness, digital, jitter, or whatever that is). I used to ameliorate that with accessories (USB filters, cables, etc.) but now the sound of the stock D440CI is more relaxed and natural than anything I could achieve before, while retaining the precision and detail I've always enjoyed. It is a lovely listen. I am having more network issues with the CI boards, and Devialet has many problems to fix still, but the core sound is wonderful and I'm enjoying that more than ever.

Interesting read Deviousalet. I didn't (yet) upgrade. Also still using an external streamer, which makes me wonder if I could delete by using the CI board. Plus point of the streamer for me is it always works flawlessly. Never got a just Devialet system stable at my place.

[Stino]

Interesting read Deviousalet. I didn't (yet) upgrade. Also still using an external streamer, which makes me wonder if I could delete by using the CI board. Plus point of the streamer for me is it always works flawlessly. Never got a just Devialet system stable at my place.

I got rid of my streamer... now listening always via AIR. No problems whatsoever. Hope it is the same for you after the upgrade. Do it!

[audio_engr]

My 440-Pro CI returned from France Friday morning after upgrading from 400 & they've been playing continuously for the last 40 hours. After the initial 36 hrs of continuous pink / white noises burnin', I sat down to do some serious auditioning. Here's what are my observations ...

The first thing that strikes you is the huge dynamic ability of the amps along with clarity. Upon dissecting this, the Low-level details especially the high frequency harmonics, reverberant cues in the music and other small textural and transient details became much more audible, intelligible and coherent so much so that you begin to rediscover your music once again ... along with the exploding dynamic behaviour of the dual-mono amplifiers that brings forth new realm of holographic, three-dimentional sound to your room. 

I used AIR with my Macbook Air playing files straight from Roon to the 440-Pro CI using Audioquest Diamond Ethernet. The new CI board is apparently doing a ton of good things yet the same earlier DAC chips of the 400 is still present ... it does make me wonder that Devialet has done a marvellous job whatever they did on the CI board. The streaming was flawless using FW 13.0.0 + DOS 2.2.2. 

This upgrade from 400 to 440-Pro CI was worth every bit of my money and my sincere thanks to @Confused for advising me to go ahead with it. I am really glad I did it and IMHO, the direct streaming to the Devialets is absolutely flawless [so far]. 

My next plans are to replace my Macbook Air with a Roon Nucleus with internal SSD, a Linear power-supply that I built myself and also address power conditioning by incorporating a PS Audio Direct Stream Power Regenerator 12.