Streaming

[Pello1]

Hello everybody,

after ten years of reading this chat i ask for your advice. I use a Devialet Expert Pro 220, currently with a SoTM 200 Ultra Neo. SoTM is updating this little streamer so he is up to date, but a minimum of 8 years old. Furthermore i use a lot of small helpful friends from After Dark (OXCO and LPS) Synergistic Research - powercable for 220- MIG SX - Tranquility Pods, under RoonRock and Expert and some fuses from SR. Stein Music Q2+Q3 for my Fritz!box and EtherRegen. I also use two REL 510 subs. I like my combo very much. After the announcement of Devialet, not to update the Expert line, nothing changed my mind.
But i am thinking about a new streamer and like the Nagra very much. Currently i am using a JPLAY Signature usb cable to connect the Ultra Neo to my Devialet. Nagra must connect via SPDIF. 

Nagra a few days ago introduced a new streamer + dac combo called Nagra Compact Player. I asked the Devialet support if i am able to use this combo and use the Devialet only as a amplifier. They told me that this is no problem, i am furthermore able to use the AES input for my two subs. I asked this because i wrote a Astra review - i think in TAS- they recommend to use high level support from Devialet via AES for best subs performance. 
  

Is anyone in this forum who is using an external streamer and / or a dac combo and / or two subs via AES input and will tell me his experiences. Thank you for reading my whole story and your help️ Happy listening Eric

[Damon]

Hi,

I have not been here in quite a while, and my technical knowledge is very limited, but my memory is that all signals going into a Devialet go through the internal DAC, so there is no benefit to an external DAC. You can use the 220 as an amplifier, but you may not get the benefit of the Nagra DAC section. Or, possibly it will give the 220 a better digital signal to start with. I just don't know about that.

I'm sure that others will post a reply and correct me, but I thought I'd offer something as I see you haven't had a reply in a week or so.

[MightyMart]

I see no reason for you to get a product with a DAC chip in it, especially not at this price point. All analogue signals going into the Devialet (even from phono if I'm not mistaken) are converted to digital before processing in the Devialet DAC.

You should instead get the NAGRA Compact Streamer which is an incredibly capable streamer and a superb match for your Devialet . I've been using one for a few months now and it brings absolute magic to my setup. The NAGRA sound (fleshy, a bit on the warm side, deep bass) adds just the right elements to the mix!

[Pello1]

Hi again,

As the Devialet help desk told me it is possible to use only the amplifier of Devialet and in the same second use the preamp of our Expert to go with my two REL subs. So i am thinking of using a external streamer - the new Synergistic Quark - thats for sure the name of their new streamer is looking very interesting for me- or the streamer of Nagra - with or without their DAC. But until now, no one from this community is using the Expert with a external DAC. The advantage to do so, could be a DAC with higher DSD than the Expert. Perhaps i will use HQPlayer in the future with upsampling to DSD 256. One great advantage of Expert is the ability to use may options. Happy listening, Eric

[audio_engr]

@Pello1

I use the Expert 440-Pro CI and also the Wattson Emerson Streamer. I also have REL 2 x G1 MkII subs.
Wattson Streamer AES/EBU Output - -> Devialet AES input.
REL Sub High Level Input : Devialet Spk binding Post +ve terminal and Devialet's GND Post.

[Pello1]

@ audio engr

Have you ever tried the subs via AES? I have the same input as you. Devialet support is recomanding AES, which should be way better.

Best regards Eric

[audio_engr]

@ audio engr

Have you ever tried the subs via AES? I have the same input as you. Devialet support is recomanding AES, which should be way better.

Best regards Eric

No I haven't tried the method you're saying that Devialet also recommends. I plan to stick to High-Level as RELs were designed to work that way and this concept was the brain-child of REL's founder - Late Richard English Lord .. aka REL !!

[Pello1]

Thanks for your reply. Good to know!

[audio_engr]

Thanks for your reply. Good to know!

Just to be clear, the AES (XLR connector) on the Devialet is a Digital input. It does not output anything and also functions in "digital mode". As per Devialet, how can such a connector that has no output and works only in the digital domain do anything to send audio analog signals to the REL subwoofer ?