Devialet announcements in Paris in week 42 2024.

[Axel]

Just playing Devils advocate here a minute, 
Having had the expert in every iteration from one of the very first D Premier it has always improved a lot every time it has been upgraded and the software improvements that Devialet has made has to me always been welcome. 
Not been able to find a product that can replace the amplifier that is not significantly more expensive and even then does not do all the things that the expert does. 
Cost wise I agree that it has a significant cost but I still wonder what other manufacturer can offer this product performance and ease of use at the same price? 

Would I have been even more content if some things would have been different? For sure
Do I find the new Astra to expensive? Not sure yet but it's not "that" much costlier than the current 250 so that all depends on how it sounds and works. 

Is it possible that the new Astra is better than the specs and presented figures that is available to compare to the existing amplifiers? Yes and I will be very keen on hearing and experiening the product in the stores that will have it on Demo as soon as shipments go out. We simply dont know how it stacks up to the Expert series without a side by side comparison in real life so I would hold off on the very negative judgements and form an informed opinion. 

Im happy that Devialet is investing money in the Amplifier range again and looking to improve on many of the features that have been asked for in the time of the Expert series.
Have they nailed every single thing that could be improved? No but they may have just improved it in ways we cant experience just by reading on a website

Just my 5 cents.

Really? It’s twice the price.

[Pim]

Just playing Devils advocate here a minute, 
Having had the expert in every iteration from one of the very first D Premier it has always improved a lot every time it has been upgraded and the software improvements that Devialet has made has to me always been welcome. 
Not been able to find a product that can replace the amplifier that is not significantly more expensive and even then does not do all the things that the expert does. 
Cost wise I agree that it has a significant cost but I still wonder what other manufacturer can offer this product performance and ease of use at the same price? 

Would I have been even more content if some things would have been different? For sure
Do I find the new Astra to expensive? Not sure yet but it's not "that" much costlier than the current 250 so that all depends on how it sounds and works. 

Is it possible that the new Astra is better than the specs and presented figures that is available to compare to the existing amplifiers? Yes and I will be very keen on hearing and experiening the product in the stores that will have it on Demo as soon as shipments go out. We simply dont know how it stacks up to the Expert series without a side by side comparison in real life so I would hold off on the very negative judgements and form an informed opinion. 

Im happy that Devialet is investing money in the Amplifier range again and looking to improve on many of the features that have been asked for in the time of the Expert series.
Have they nailed every single thing that could be improved? No but they may have just improved it in ways we cant experience just by reading on a website

Just my 5 cents.

Really? It’s twice the price.

Here in Australia a 1000Pro was 49k. The Astra goes for 27k. So that is a minor increase. I understand that given the power output you could compare it with the 440 Pro, but given the fact that the 1000 Pro started its life as a 500, then 800, then 900 and eventually 1000, there’s scope for the Astra to go up too. Of course, nobody knows for certain.

[ada]

Astra does not have EVO platform, it doesn't mention even how the dual is working (needing 2 RCA cables but what type?) I am not sure if Astra will be able to get any further power at all. I am planning to ask Devialet to somehow lend me one that I can compare to my 440 Pro and measure the things properly but let's see if they will show any interest because this spec fight is really boring and I think we want to believe that companies always around to improve but I am not 100% sure about that.

[Delija]

Just playing Devils advocate here a minute, 
Having had the expert in every iteration from one of the very first D Premier it has always improved a lot every time it has been upgraded and the software improvements that Devialet has made has to me always been welcome. 
Not been able to find a product that can replace the amplifier that is not significantly more expensive and even then does not do all the things that the expert does. 
Cost wise I agree that it has a significant cost but I still wonder what other manufacturer can offer this product performance and ease of use at the same price? 

Would I have been even more content if some things would have been different? For sure
Do I find the new Astra to expensive? Not sure yet but it's not "that" much costlier than the current 250 so that all depends on how it sounds and works. 

Is it possible that the new Astra is better than the specs and presented figures that is available to compare to the existing amplifiers? Yes and I will be very keen on hearing and experiening the product in the stores that will have it on Demo as soon as shipments go out. We simply dont know how it stacks up to the Expert series without a side by side comparison in real life so I would hold off on the very negative judgements and form an informed opinion. 

Im happy that Devialet is investing money in the Amplifier range again and looking to improve on many of the features that have been asked for in the time of the Expert series.
Have they nailed every single thing that could be improved? No but they may have just improved it in ways we cant experience just by reading on a website

Just my 5 cents.

Really? It’s twice the price.

Here in Australia a 1000Pro was 49k. The Astra goes for 27k. So that is a minor increase. I understand that given the power output you could compare it with the 440 Pro, but given the fact that the 1000 Pro started its life as a 500, then 800, then 900 and eventually 1000, there’s scope for the Astra to go up too. Of course, nobody knows for certain.

That's the price for SINGLE Astra - not dual

And As I see - it's not 27k - it's 30k for single / 60k for dual

https://www.devialet.com/en-au/amplifier...ghtbronze/

[Pim]

Really? It’s twice the price.

Here in Australia a 1000Pro was 49k. The Astra goes for 27k. So that is a minor increase. I understand that given the power output you could compare it with the 440 Pro, but given the fact that the 1000 Pro started its life as a 500, then 800, then 900 and eventually 1000, there’s scope for the Astra to go up too. Of course, nobody knows for certain.

That's the price for SINGLE Astra - not dual

And As I see - it's not 27k - it's 30k for single / 60k for dual

https://www.devialet.com/en-au/amplifier...ghtbronze/

I sit corrected. Still, if they up the power that price increase isn’t out of step with inflation.

[Music or sound]

I came across the Astra when I tired to update my configuration of my Pro 250. I see nothing new with that configurations  for Astra except the lack AES input. The primary reason I bought originally the Premier was that it had a built-in crossover function. It works somewhat but the slopes are not anything what they are supposed to be. I complain about that more than a decade ago but nothing changed so I assume the configurator is just a copy of the old one. "Updated modern design" is just more bling, more consumerism and not more music enjoyment.

I am thinking that DAC and server technology progressed a lot in the last 15 years and I see no hint that got improved with Astra. The basic concept of ADH is still valid today but both amplifier technology (especially class D) and digital design is maturing fast these days and I don't think Devialet is anymore competitive, except there are almost no choices for built in cross overs, at least not high end digital ones (Trinnov maybe but more focused on room correction and never heard it)

Maybe Astra was develop just to have a cheaper to produce case?