Invitation to send your PRO to Paris

[brit]

Well, it's back!  Actually it arrived around mid-day yesterday but I didn't have time to even unpack it.  Pretty impressive to turn the upgrade round in just a smidge over a week, including the trips to and from Normandy.

Looks perfect and sounds jolly fine at first go -- will have a proper listen over the week-end.

Sounds like a terrific turn around for you. Have a good listening weekend  . Look forward to your impressions after you have had a proper chance to try it out - it will take a bit of settling in but I think that you will be pleased you took the plunge.

David

[thumb5]

Ian, can you elaborate on the packaging they gave you to ship the unit in and how it was when it was sent back?  Also, do you think they did any reconditioning to the casework or does it look about the same?

Yes, of course.  The packaging for the 440 Pro comprised two inner boxes and an outer box just big enough to contain them.  The inner boxes had two layers of dark "foam", each about 4cm deep, which was quite resilient and had cut-outs for the amplifier, remote control and (I presume) power cables, etc.  The amplifier and remote were quite a tight fit into the cut-outs in the lower foam layer, then the upper layer sat on top.  There was no provision for shipping the black "presentation" boxes the units originally came in - that's a good thing, because it reduces the bulk of the packaging but also (I think) allows it to give better protection against knocks and other damage.

It's hard to say what Devialet did to the casework; it had no marks or damage when it left me, but it somehow looks fresher and cleaner now it's back.  Maybe they gave it a good polish.  Both amps and the remote control came back with new plastic film covers.

[RebelMan]

Very good, thank you!

[wiresandmore]

To share my recent experience with the CI upgrade process: shipping boxes ordered and arrived 2 days later, amps packed and picked up by UPS Monday 30th July, got the email confirming safe arrival in Normandy Wednesday 1st Aug and then today (Friday 3rd Aug) had the mail and UPS confirmation that they are on their way back to me! Amazingly fast turnaround, can’t wait to get them on Tues (holiday in Ireland on Monday)

Very impressed with this experience so far....

[RebelMan]

That is impressive. I wonder how it has been for people in the Americas?

[wiresandmore]

Well, it (they) arrived back yesterday and sound great out of the box - very impressed! Need to set Roon up again this weekend and have a better listen, but so far so good - highly recommended if you've not done it yet :-)

[Pim]

I've packed the Od'A up and sent an email to Devialet to organise transport. They look pretty ordinary as I've never been able to clean them properly. I've asked for Devialet to see if they can fix that issue. In contrast, the old D 170 I took to of the box it's been sitting in ( for almost two years!) waiting for this moment looks mint. My wife even thought I'd bought a new one! It's quite obvious that the coating on the Od'A isn't as solid as the dark chrome. See what Devialet comes up with.

I'm quietly hoping that they come back Roon ready. It's about time for another firmware upgrade don't you think? 

[G-Vialet]

Glad to read about the quick turnaround of the CI upgrades!
 
Motivated by the positive feedback here, I finally started the CI upgrade process for my 220 Pro. Which seems to take a longer while for me, maybe due to the holiday season, which I perfectly understand and knew about.
 
But here comes the BUT:
I brought my Expert to an UPS office myself on Thursday, Aug. 9. I still had the boxes from the Pro upgrade. One week later, I checked the tracking details on the UPS website and it stated that it arrived in France and was received by “LHOMER” on Fr. Aug 10. I never received a confirmation email from Devialet about the save arrival at the Devialet Factory which you should receive according to “Judith’s” message.
 
Should I get nervous now, I asked myself? You want to be sure a device worth well over € 8.000 made it safe and sound to its destination and you would get it back, too.
So I went ahead and replied to “Judith’s” email and a ticket was opened, that was last Friday, Aug. 24.
This morning, Aug. 27, I got this message: “Ralf, Your Expert Pro system has well arrived in our workshops. Our engineers will setup the Core Infinity board within 15 days. Once the functionnal tests are completed, you will receive an email with the tracking number.” A rather short and unfriendly, an almost annoyed response I think and when does their clock start ticking?
 
What bothers me here is that Devialet doesn’t seem to follow their own process very well. Anyone here who experienced something similar?
I admit that expectations of a quicker turnover than 15 work days were set by the positive feedback here in this forum. The Pro-Upgrade went seamlessly and quicker than announced. I really start missing to listen to my music now.
 
The other thing is, is it becoming common practice that the customer, not the dealer, has to ship their amp to stay compliant for the next software/firmware version and be able to benefit from the new features? Of course you can always say that this is not a necessity and that even without the latest and greatest hardware and software music will come out of your speakers and you should be glad this is possible.
I am used to buy a piece of hifi equipment once and you are set for the next 10 years and more, and it will sit in your space until you decide to get something new. That’s why I was already looking for alternatives during the rainy weekend. But will it be any different with other brands?
 
In another post I wrote about McIntosh amps which I auditioned with B&W speakers and I already had one at my home, thanks to my dealer, when my D120 was gone to fix the chrome plating which came off three years ago or so. I have to say I really do like the Mac’s sound, but I am not so sure about their design, especially when you are used to the shiny tiny modern looking Expert. It’s the opposite of subtle, like a V8 muscle car vs. a Lotus Elise or Renault Alpine. Still, the sound!
 

What’s my conclusion?
I will have to patiently wait for the 220 Pro to come back and I will keep it. For now. But I am also looking into other directions, too. Selling used always comes with a loss and generally I like the concept, the technology and the design Devialet has invented. I just don’t want to be pushed around and forced to miss my music, especially not with a pricey piece of gear like this.
 


Thanks for reading. Didn’t think it would become this long.
 
So long,
Ralf

[rafal123]

Glad to read about the quick turnaround of the CI upgrades!
 
Motivated by the positive feedback here, I finally started the CI upgrade process for my 220 Pro. Which seems to take a longer while for me, maybe due to the holiday season, which I perfectly understand and knew about.
 
But here comes the BUT:
I brought my Expert to an UPS office myself on Thursday, Aug. 9. I still had the boxes from the Pro upgrade. One week later, I checked the tracking details on the UPS website and it stated that it arrived in France and was received by “LHOMER” on Fr. Aug 10. I never received a confirmation email from Devialet about the save arrival at the Devialet Factory which you should receive according to “Judith’s” message.
 
Should I get nervous now, I asked myself? You want to be sure a device worth well over € 8.000 made it safe and sound to its destination and you would get it back, too.
So I went ahead and replied to “Judith’s” email and a ticket was opened, that was last Friday, Aug. 24.
This morning, Aug. 27, I got this message: “Ralf, Your Expert Pro system has well arrived in our workshops. Our engineers will setup the Core Infinity board within 15 days. Once the functionnal tests are completed, you will receive an email with the tracking number.” A rather short and unfriendly, an almost annoyed response I think and when does their clock start ticking?
 
What bothers me here is that Devialet doesn’t seem to follow their own process very well. Anyone here who experienced something similar?
I admit that expectations of a quicker turnover than 15 work days were set by the positive feedback here in this forum. The Pro-Upgrade went seamlessly and quicker than announced. I really start missing to listen to my music now.
 
The other thing is, is it becoming common practice that the customer, not the dealer, has to ship their amp to stay compliant for the next software/firmware version and be able to benefit from the new features? Of course you can always say that this is not a necessity and that even without the latest and greatest hardware and software music will come out of your speakers and you should be glad this is possible.
I am used to buy a piece of hifi equipment once and you are set for the next 10 years and more, and it will sit in your space until you decide to get something new. That’s why I was already looking for alternatives during the rainy weekend. But will it be any different with other brands?
 
In another post I wrote about McIntosh amps which I auditioned with B&W speakers and I already had one at my home, thanks to my dealer, when my D120 was gone to fix the chrome plating which came off three years ago or so. I have to say I really do like the Mac’s sound, but I am not so sure about their design, especially when you are used to the shiny tiny modern looking Expert. It’s the opposite of subtle, like a V8 muscle car vs. a Lotus Elise or Renault Alpine. Still, the sound!
 

What’s my conclusion?
I will have to patiently wait for the 220 Pro to come back and I will keep it. For now. But I am also looking into other directions, too. Selling used always comes with a loss and generally I like the concept, the technology and the design Devialet has invented. I just don’t want to be pushed around and forced to miss my music, especially not with a pricey piece of gear like this.
 


Thanks for reading. Didn’t think it would become this long.
 
So long,
Ralf

For what its worth I am having even worse experience. I sent my Expert Pro 440 and Expert Pro 220 on July 16th. It was great to see it back 7 days later until I realized that they were not upgraded. UPS returned the packages to me as the shipping labels provided by Devialet were incorrect. Couple of weeks later Devialet sorted it out and the amps got to France on August 7th. Haven't heard back from them ever since. Sent an email to Judith asking where they are, but short of several annoying automated messages in response asking if they can close the matter I have not gotten anything back. It has been 45 days and nothing. It might be a shameful record here on the forums. Really disappointing.

[Pim]

I haven't heard back from Devialet since I sent my email above, 2 weeks ago. I guess everybody is enjoying the nice summer in Europe