Original d'Atelier

[IanG-UK]

Most important to me is what you think of the sound difference.

Beyond that I'd like to know anything technical that you can get out of them. For example:

...

Also, since I know the answer to whether I have an extra €30k and so didn't order one, anything you can find out about trickle-down plans to the un-original models would be tantalizing.

Thanks, and enjoy!

I know that Guillaume has had his home demonstration today and will write up his views on this forum, which I am sure will be welcomed by members. Having had a brief chat with him, it sounds like his views and mine on the Od'A have much in common, despite the fact that I'd say that our approaches to listening do differ quite a bit! (This from someone who is still, in principle, signed up to the Quad philosophy that all competently designed amplifiers sound the same.)

Of more tangible importance, given the scarcity of the Od'A, are the answers to deviousalet's questions on the technical improvements and the feasibility and viability of drip down to the 800 and other models. Devialet may be commercially resistant, at this stage, of saying anything, but as the Od'A becomes a product of history, they would be maintaining/improving customer advocacy by being open on the feasibility and viability of extending these changes to new 800s and to existing 800 owners. Whether a feasible (partial?) retrofit will cost as little as £1,000 or as much as £5,000, this should be on their agenda, I hope.

[Womaz]

Hi guys

First of all a big thanks for Jon of OAC for trudging all the way down here with that massive wooden crate! Boy it's heavy, definitely a two man job decanting from car to house. (Ian - how on earth did you manage this on your own??)

Allen keys aplenty we proceeded to remove the wooden cover to find a beautifully presented Master and Companion in glorious copper gold. A very subtle colour I should add, definitely not bling. In some lights it was more of a shade of copper gold. Full marks for first impressions!

We got it connected up very quickly using my existing cables - sorry chaps but no reviews of the AQ cables here. The object was to try and create a level playing field in terms of the 800 v O d'A and make as few changes as possible.

Immediately you are aware of the crystal clear Devialet sound and presentation, nothing much has changed here. But upon playing more challenging pieces at high volumes I found myself being drawn into the music and almost forgetting about this review. At one point we realised that the Devialets had defaulted to 0% SAM. On turning this up to 100% some of the magic started to happen. Massive scale, incredibly realistic drums in terms of sound pressure and pure guttural effect... almost Phantom-like in their delivery but of course with much greater tonal density and refinement... the greater the dynamic swings in the music, and the more complex the pieces the more we could appreciate the improvement wrought by the O d'A. It just kept its cool - quite literally: after 2 hours of vigorous exercise the units barely registered high 20s. 

I'm not sure I could hear more detail but rather greater coherence and of course musicality. The soundstage seemed greater, deeper perhaps. The instruments were a bit more spread out in the room and had a bit more air to breathe in. In that sense it was more realistic, just like a live performance. Some of the brass sounds were mad, I don't remember experiencing that kind of piercing directness with the 800. 

I would say that the O d'A is a better, more accomplished 800. The same car with a bigger engine rather than a new dashboard and new steering wheel. A better engine sound and greater torque. More enjoyment. 

I had a few hairs at the back of my neck moments. 

Without wishing to to gloat I have placed my order.   This ones too good to pass up. I can't wait to revisit my entire music collection.

Guillaume

A great post and put a big smile on my face........even though I will never be able to afford one :-)

[IanG-UK]

Hi guys

First of all a big thanks for Jon of OAC for trudging all the way down here with that massive wooden crate! Boy it's heavy, definitely a two man job decanting from car to house. (Ian - how on earth did you manage this on your own??)

... with difficulty and luck (no torn seats in the car). To their credit Jon's colleagues at OAC did a great job in making sure that there was no damage to the car on loading and during travel - Jon is a model dealer and well worth travelling to for great choice, advice and service. 
(No cheque required Jon!)

[moreno1973]

Without wishing to gloat I have placed my order.   This ones too good to pass up. I can't wait to revisit my entire music collection.

Guillaume

Great news! So we will have more info about SQ from a great Forum specialist...

I wish You a lot of great musical moments with new gear.

Are You going to sell 800?

[thumb5]

Sounds like you had a good day Guillaume! Thanks for telling us all about it. What a great piece of kit it must be - will it take long to arrive?

[Confused]

My interest in all this was basically to see if it is possible to modify / upgrade a D800 and get a discernible improvement in sound quality.
The fact that Guillaume has ordered one after a home demo is just about as clear an indication as you could get that the answer is an emphatic "yes".
Guillaume - I was actually a little surprised that you have ordered one, as opposed to simply getting the OAC demo unit, I was kind of thinking that it might be the last one left! Or at least the last one available to OAC. Do you know which number you are getting? I'd want 001 myself. Anyway, I hope you enjoy your new O'dA, and look forward to SQ updates as you get more used to your own unit. Good luck keeping it shiny too!

[NickB]

My interest in all this was basically to see if it is possible to modify / upgrade a D800 and get a discernible improvement in sound quality.
The fact that Guillaume has ordered one after a home demo is just about as clear an indication as you could get that the answer is an emphatic "yes".
Guillaume - I was actually a little surprised that you have ordered one, as opposed to simply getting the OAC demo unit, I was kind of thinking that it might be the last one left! Or at least the last one available to OAC. Do you know which number you are getting? I'd want 001 myself. Anyway, I hope you enjoy your new O'dA, and look forward to SQ updates as you get more used to your own unit. Good luck keeping it shiny too!

Now I thought you would have wanted 007 !!!

[patcam]

I would say that the O d'A is a better, more accomplished 800. The same car with a bigger engine rather than a new dashboard and new steering wheel. A better engine sound and greater torque. More enjoyment. 

Hi Guillaume,
I am very happy for you !
I have a question about the sensitivity of the SAM in your comparison with the 800, As I have no SAM with my Leedh speakers, do you think that your comments about such magic is applicable without SAM ? On the other hand, I think that SAM would not be very efficient with the Leedh.
Patrick

[Confused]

Picking up on patcam's comments above, I think SAM is a little bit od a minefield at the moment. Since SAM V2 has been introduced the results appear to be a little mixed. Guillaume mentioned running SAM at 100%, this is something I used to do with SAM V1, but with SAM V2 40% is about as far as I'd want to go, above 50% things can get problematic. I believe Devialet are still working on revisions to the method used to convert the original SAM profiles to V2. We may hear more later this year.

One question to Guillaume, I presume that the basic effect of SAM with the Sahas is the same with the O'dA, as with the D800?

[GuillaumeB]

One question to Guillaume, I presume that the basic effect of SAM with the Sahas is the same with the O'dA, as with the D800?

SAM has never been very dramatic in its effect on the Sasha2 in my listening room, with the O'dA it did feel it was doing a bit more however I don't think I can be really sure until I live with it... 

As you know I sometimes prefer SAM switched off. And then I get back used to it switched on... anyway you get the picture!   with some material SAM seems a bit obtrusive and I have had the odd thumps that one or two others have described on the forum. I think it was the Tales of Us Goldfrapp album, can't remember which track now but I know Rufus tested the same piece in his one setup and couldn't hear them. Will be interesting to test this again with the O d'A.

Thinking back on it now, the O d'A seemed to have a better sense of timing and dynamic swings were more effortless and natural sounding. You could definitely sense there being more power. I had some serious hairs on the back of my neck moments. The drummer on Dave Holland's Juggler's Parade (awesome Jazz track by the way!) seemed a bit further back in the room and almost behind the right hand side speaker and the impact of the drums was something else.

Guillaume