Expert Pro Alternatives

[sfdude]

Is this new firmware due out supposed to be the V2 version that is selectable on the Devialet website but not actually downloadable?

Still, hopefully the updates on the website/webserver will bring something new for us Devialet Expert owners. Throw a few bones given the amount of money invested in these amplifiers. It will keep us hanging on for about 2-3 more years before they have the time to release another evolutionary upgrade (or fold under due to poor economic times).

[PeppaPig]

I absolutely do understand being sceptical
Having been with Devialet since the start it’s exciting to see how things evolved - but on the other side definitely sad to see how Expert line got neglected in recent years. Most may know that unfortunately the whole management team changed - and so the plans with Expert line which were a lot more ambitious.
Believe me I have invested a lot of energy & time to raise awareness inside Devialet and tried keep an constant exchange with them.
The firmware update I already told you some time back has been scheduled for Q2/Q3 2020.
There has already been some beta testing for it over the months. And I am glad to finally some progress since the last update done in February 2019.

What happened to Devialet management, I only know they have new investors, are the original founders still there & involve in day to day operations?

Just noticed on the Devialet (EU) site the D250 and D1000 are back in stock but in new Matte Black finish.

Matte black? I don’t see the finishing on their EU.

The mirror finish has oxidation problem and they can’t address it.

[Saint0]

I absolutely do understand being sceptical
Having been with Devialet since the start it’s exciting to see how things evolved - but on the other side definitely sad to see how Expert line got neglected in recent years. Most may know that unfortunately the whole management team changed - and so the plans with Expert line which were a lot more ambitious.
Believe me I have invested a lot of energy & time to raise awareness inside Devialet and tried keep an constant exchange with them.
The firmware update I already told you some time back has been scheduled for Q2/Q3 2020.
There has already been some beta testing for it over the months. And I am glad to finally some progress since the last update done in February 2019.

What happened to Devialet management, I only know they have new investors, are the original founders still there & involve in day to day operations?

Just noticed on the Devialet (EU) site the D250 and D1000 are back in stock but in new Matte Black finish.

Matte black? I don’t see the finishing on their EU.

The mirror finish has oxidation problem and they can’t address it.

Actually all the Expert models are in Matte Black finish now, but hard to tell from the photos.

My units had both factory upgrades, went from D-Premier to D250 Pro. It's polished each time at the factory before they shipped it back, still looks new. The mirror finish is unique but high maintenance, prone to finger prints and smudges. I've seen Matte White and Matte Black demo units before, I'd probably pick one of the matte colors instead of mirror finish if they were available.

[agentsmith]

Out with the old
In with the new
It's been a fun and costly ride

                   

[Confused]

Darko has a list of "super integrated" amplifiers, compiled in price order, and including the 220 Pro at the higher end of the price range.

https://darko.audio/2018/07/15-must-hear...mplifiers/

One "alternative" I would be interested in trying is the Benchmark AHB2. It is £3300 in the UK, or £6600 if you wanted dual mono, so a direct Devialet competitor in terms of price, considering you would need to add a DAC, streamer and maybe phono stage of choice. Although not obviously not a direct competitor if you want "all in one" convenience. My interest in the ABH2 is based purely on the fact that it appears to offer incredibly good measurements versus it's price. That said, the AHB2 has an output impedance of 0.09 ohm and 20kHz, rising to 0.22 ohm at 20kHz. This is soundly beaten by a Devialet Expert which is 0.001 ohm, so in theory (and probably in practice), the Devialet is likely to have deeper and better defined bass. I have never listened to one. Has anyone else tried one?

https://www.stereophile.com/content/benc...-amplifier

Other things I have not listened to but would like to given the chance:

https://gryphon-audio.dk/shop/integrated...amplifier/

https://www.hifiplus.com/articles/aavik-...amplifier/

https://www.stereophile.com/content/aavi...-amplifier

Things I have listened to and liked:

https://www.hifiplus.com/articles/hegel-...amplifier/

Also the Mola Mola Kaluga Pre with DAC module and Kaluga amps. I have not listed to the Mola Mola or the Hegel with the Blades though, so difficult to make a direct comparison with the 1000 Pro.

Plus, how many other options are there out there? Very many.

A quick note to @agentsmith - that is quite a swap you have made there! Going from 440 Pro to (very fine) valves is an interesting move. Once you have have spent some time with your new set-up, I hope you report back and tell us what you think.

[tom539]

@agentsmith
what a beautiful amplifier (and DAC, of course) - congratulations.
I would be pleased if you could write something about the sound and possibly the difference to the D440.

Have fun with the new setup.

atb, Tom

[Sailor4W]

Darko has a list of "super integrated" amplifiers, compiled in price order, and including the 220 Pro at the higher end of the price range.

https://darko.audio/2018/07/15-must-hear...mplifiers/

One "alternative" I would be interested in trying is the Benchmark AHB2.  It is £3300 in the UK, or £6600 if you wanted dual mono, so a direct Devialet competitor in terms of price, considering you would need to add a DAC, streamer and maybe phono stage of choice.  Although not obviously not a direct competitor if you want "all in one" convenience.  My interest in the ABH2 is based purely on the fact that it appears to offer incredibly good measurements versus it's price.  That said, the AHB2 has an output impedance of 0.09 ohm and 20kHz, rising to 0.22 ohm at 20kHz.  This is soundly beaten by a Devialet Expert which is 0.001 ohm, so in theory (and probably in practice), the Devialet is likely to have deeper and better defined bass.  I have never listened to one.  Has anyone else tried one?

https://www.stereophile.com/content/benc...-amplifier

Other things I have not listened to but would like to given the chance:

https://gryphon-audio.dk/shop/integrated...amplifier/

https://www.hifiplus.com/articles/aavik-...amplifier/

https://www.stereophile.com/content/aavi...-amplifier

Things I have listened to and liked:

https://www.hifiplus.com/articles/hegel-...amplifier/

Also the Mola Mola Kaluga Pre with DAC module and Kaluga amps.  I have not listed to the Mola Mola or the Hegel with the Blades though, so difficult to make a direct comparison with the 1000 Pro.

Plus, how many other options are there out there?  Very many.

A quick note to @agentsmith - that is quite a swap you have made there!  Going from 440 Pro to (very fine) valves is an interesting move.  Once you have have spent some time with your new set-up, I hope you report back and tell us what you think.

Indeed, the AHB2 seems to be a fantastic power amp. I had (have) it on my shortlist for a long time.

For me, a minimal setup could very well be to combine the AHB2 with a DAC having good volume control. Benchmark naturally suggests its own DAC3, but there are others. DACs these days become incredibly powerful and amazingly inexpensive. So the DAC3 is a bit on the expensive side, but it measures incredibly well.

Alternatively, as already discussed in this thread, the new NAD M33 is a truly attractive alternative. Very positive reviews are already out there.

[David A]

They will issue an update on Monday - finally!

Hang fire, news coming soon.

Well, it's Monday but still early Monday morning. I just checked the Configurator and Devialet have fixed the problem about showing a V2 firmware as the most recent firmware and they are now showing the February 2019 13.1.3/DOS 2.2.4 firmware as the most recent. Monday is a long way from over but it seems odd that if you're going to fix that particular website you fix the error actually fix that error on the same day that you intend releasing a new firmware version because that means you have to change that particular detail twice on the same day on your website.

Oxford Audio may be right about news coming soon but seeing the old firmware correctly restored today on the Configurator page does not leave me feeling positive about seeing a new firmware release today. Devialet have never shown a commitment to the level of accuracy implied by changing the same detail on their website twice in the same day.

I could be wrong so we'll have to see what happens over the next 17 to 18 hours left of Monday, Paris time.

[agentsmith]

Thanks Tom & Confused

I will update here once I get the system properly run in. Initial impression is I am surprised how powerful that 32Wpc sounds. But I am still exploring how that sound compares to the D440 Pro.

It may seem odd to some going from the high tech do everything Devialet to the Japanese hand crafted Kondo. What I learnt from the experience with the Devialet is that it is analogous to a computing platform, similar to an iPhone which is refreshed once every few years.

The Devialet cycle may be 5 years or so. But with their commitment in question, my strategy is to invest in a heirloom grade amplifier and separately a digital front end. The Kondo is a thing of beauty and surely will outlast me.

The Weiss DAC is at least comparable with the built in DAC/streamer of the Devialet IMO. But my focus now is on analog which I have recently upgraded.