Expert 140 What’s Hifi

[midi]

https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/deviale...rt-140-pro

[Pim]

Quote:

"Yet, we’re left wanting more. We’re convinced that older generations of this design sounded better, while acknowledging the differences in price."

Since my Od'A is still sitting here waiting to be upgraded; any thoughts?

[Drifter]

I've always considered What HiFi to be the "People Magazine" of the audio review world and read all of their reviews with that in mind.

Maybe the ATC SCM50's are just not a good match for the 140.

[midi]

For me the old digital-analog discussion, with the outdated arguments.

[Stino]

Quote:

"Much the same could be said of build. Construction is good, but we notice that the chrome finish isn’t particularly smooth or luxurious and that distinctively styled remote – nice sized and a breeze to use – doesn’t work with the slickness of earlier versions. The Expert 140 Pro is less than half the price of that original D-Premier and it shows."



Now they have me wondering: is the housing of the new Experts done with less detail than the 220 Pro, for example? If not then I have no clue What Hifi is saying since all three 220s I have in my house are as slick and good looking as they can be.




Quote:

"In comparison, the Devialet is a little sterile sounding for our tastes, and dilutes some of the drama and involvement we would expect from a product at this level."

I have not heart yet the PMC Cor but I would say, knowing the speaker line, that this amplifier comes as neutral as it gets. Compared to a Naim (like the supernait they are saying) I can understand their remark but it's all in the preference: either you like to hear the sound as it gets recorded or you prefer something that 'pollutes' the sound to have a better boogy factor like Naim does. Oh well... I'm not surprised that they favour the PMC and the Leema, both British brands which seems to be a red line among the top reviews of this magazine / site... But honestly speaking it is not that good to have such a publication for people looking to buy Dev / sell their.

[ssfas]

I don't get their comparisons. They compare to a £5,000 integrated amp that does not have a streamer, DAC or phono stage, let alone a wireless protocol. All those features are probably worth the £4,500 price of 140 Pro alone. If you want to then plug the 140 into a Naim amp, then you can do that as well.

[NickB]

For me they left the un off the front of natural in their against comment.......

[Confused]

Not a good review for Devialet I would say. (maybe they have not been placing enough adverts recently?) I would describe it as damning with faint praise. It is a slightly curious review also, they seam to be comparing it to the memory of the old D-premier, rather than the 110 that they reviewed a while ago. Plus, the review of the 110 was far more favorable, it is worth a read I think for comparison:

https://www.whathifi.com/devialet/110/review

So is the 140Pro a clear step back from the D110? This is what the What Hi Fi reviews seam to be saying, assuming they are being consistent. I have never done a comparison of the D110 to the 140Pro, so cannot comment from experience. Has anyone done this as a direct comparison?

Picking up on @Drifter 's point, personally I think the ATC SCM50's are actually quite a lean sounding speaker, so maybe not the best synergy with a neutral sounding Devialet, although the mid range performance of the ATC's is exceptional I think, so that should shine through with a Pro. It is a shame that WHF's "reference" speaker is not on the SAM list, they might have got a better result with the SCM40's?

But is has to be said, not a good review for Devialet. I am sure that there are some folk out there that take WHF reviews seriously that would be put off by this review.

A final note to @Pim - Get it sent off!!! The 1000Pro is epic.

[Gerronwithit]

I read this review from its posting on Facebook. I do trust What HiFi and am sure this is their own heartfelt conclusion. There appears to me anyway little colouration from the Devialet Pro series so you either like it or not. I had mine on most of this afternoon and was ready to be critical about what I was hearing but am just as happy as the first day it arrived. The Devialet Pro range might simply be like Marmite, you either like it or you don’t.

[Pim]

A final note to @Pim - Get it sent off!!!  The 1000Pro is epic.

I finally received a UPS label today (I think it's been a month or so ago that I sent the first email asking for them) So I'll go ahead then. Still got to find out why I only got 1 label for two boxes...