Who will buy Astra

[markush]

So far talked to people who were already able to listen to it.
There are obviously to areas that create the noticeable improvement: ADH got improved and the overall power / energy output. The Expert Pro got really hot which is no longer the case with the Astra, meaning obviously the amount of energy transfer/density could be improved - resulting in overall a better control of loudspeakers and audible performance.
Why they changed the way they measured the device/specs is a different story.

[Eoin]

I'm sorry, much as I love the sound of my 440 Pro CI and my Dione Soundbar, Devialet as a company will receive no more of my hard earned cash ...

They promised upgradeability which they didn't deliver, they didn't maintain their app, their general software support across their range of speakers sucks and their soundbar is plagued by the same HDMI fault across multiple TV sets after 3 years of owning it.

Granted my 440 just got upgraded with a Digital to AES/EBU and it's the best I've ever heard it.

I'm fed up with Companies, politicians and any other entity that considers it acceptable to make false promises and never deliver. It's a modern phenomenon, so I exercise the only recourse I have ... I no longer support them by buying more of their products.

Given Devialet's financial woes, it seems to me the writing is on the wall.
It might be prudent to make a few backup / different configurations because when they go bankrupt, you can be sure we'll also loose the ability to access the configurator.

[Staradonna]

With the release of the Astra amplifier, it’s clear Devialet has moved to a new architecture, leaving many of us Expert range owners feeling left behind. Despite repeated promises of upgrades and improvements, the support for the Expert range has consistently fallen short of expectations.

Instead of continuing to rely on Devialet, who don't deliver, we could collectively ask Devialet to open-source (a part of) the software for the Expert range. We could enable developers to create the upgrades and improvements.

If enough of us come together, Devialet might take this request seriously.

[icantbelievedevialet]

I just had to look here once I saw the Astra in my instagram feed!

Wow, hard to believe Devialet still have any customers after the Expert Pro / CI upgrade fiasco and lies surrounding it all.
Worst purchase of my life!  Worst brand ever!

Couldn't quite believe the quote someone posted from a Devialet staff member saying how stable the Pro is so no new features.  I mean, not that anyone expected they would ever be true to their word after silence for so long, but this so blatantly confirms it.  I guess they have no staff from a few years ago anyway so they probably don't even know about it.

And where are the old engineer types that used to frequent this site, lavishing affection for the expert and defending its specifications?  Ah, over on other forums, accepting that Devialet essentially lied about the specs too.

I do hope the Astra is a massive flop.

Hope everyone's keeping well, and that you have a backup of a completely open configuration for the Expert.

[blair.athol]

I just had to look here once I saw the Astra in my instagram feed!

Wow, hard to believe Devialet still have any customers after the Expert Pro / CI upgrade fiasco and lies surrounding it all.
Worst purchase of my life!  Worst brand ever!

Couldn't quite believe the quote someone posted from a Devialet staff member saying how stable the Pro is so no new features.  I mean, not that anyone expected they would ever be true to their word after silence for so long, but this so blatantly confirms it.  I guess they have no staff from a few years ago anyway so they probably don't even know about it.

And where are the old engineer types that used to frequent this site, lavishing affection for the expert and defending its specifications?  Ah, over on other forums, accepting that Devialet essentially lied about the specs too.

I do hope the Astra is a massive flop.

Hope everyone's keeping well, and that you have a backup of a completely open configuration for the Expert.

Wow, how frustrated one can be!
I am not sure where your negative statements about the Expert Pro / CI update are coming from. Although it's true that promises about infinite updates were broken, the Pro/CI update was a real improvement in overall usability and sound quality for me. I am still fine with my Expert 220 Pro CI and I love listening to it via Roon. There are no bugs for me for now, I was just expecting even more to come on the CI platform. Also, I trust that Devialet continues fulfilling it's repair obligations when it's time for it. To make it clear, I will not switch to Astra without a good reason and to the current terms offered by Devialet to their long time Expert customers.
Hope you can enjoy whatever system you prefer to own for a long time!

[Axel]

I just had to look here once I saw the Astra in my instagram feed!

Wow, hard to believe Devialet still have any customers after the Expert Pro / CI upgrade fiasco and lies surrounding it all.
Worst purchase of my life!  Worst brand ever!

Couldn't quite believe the quote someone posted from a Devialet staff member saying how stable the Pro is so no new features.  I mean, not that anyone expected they would ever be true to their word after silence for so long, but this so blatantly confirms it.  I guess they have no staff from a few years ago anyway so they probably don't even know about it.

And where are the old engineer types that used to frequent this site, lavishing affection for the expert and defending its specifications?  Ah, over on other forums, accepting that Devialet essentially lied about the specs too.

I do hope the Astra is a massive flop.

Hope everyone's keeping well, and that you have a backup of a completely open configuration for the Expert.

Wow, how frustrated one can be!
I am not sure where your negative statements about the Expert Pro / CI update are coming from. Although it's true that promises about infinite updates were broken, the Pro/CI update was a real improvement in overall usability and sound quality for me. I am still fine with my Expert 220 Pro CI and I love listening to it via Roon. There are no bugs for me for now, I was just expecting even more to come on the CI platform. Also, I trust that Devialet continues fulfilling it's repair obligations when it's time for it. To make it clear, I will not switch to Astra without a good reason and to the current terms offered by Devialet to their long time Expert customers.
Hope you can enjoy whatever system you prefer to own for a long time!

No bugs affect my system. Like you, I hope that Devialet honour their commitment to customers who have used their products for many years as far as repairs are concerned. I’m keeping my 440s, that’s for sure.

[Music or sound]

The price of the Astra in Europe is 16000 Euro including VAT but on the US site they price it at 20000$ US not including sales tax. I don't get their pricing strategy, definitely does not make me interested!

[mdconnelly]

Attempting to understand Devialet's marketing and product positioning strategy is... challenging. At the Astra pricepoint (or below), there is a lot of solid competition. From my point of view, the Astra is essentially a rebirth of the Expert Pro with, albeit, a few improvements and, questionably, a few corners cut. Yet Devialet has done little to entice prior and existing Expert/Expert Pro owners. How big of a market can there be for a product like the Astra?

[ada]

They said they went back to basics and resetting the company, that is not actually a true fact because they did in a way which kills their main customer base from those successful days. Astra is the final piece of the betrayal they had to the Expert owners and they are expecting a success out of this.

1) None of the Expert customers will follow you for the second time
2) New customers in amp market at that price range will first follow up Expert journey to understand what happened to have a prediction and they will stay away

I am not sure taking these into account who is the real target audience for Astra, maybe they know a market that we are not part of it. Good luck to them. I hope they sell zero and they try to save themselves with bringing some of the improvements (if there is really any) to Expert line under the umbrella of EVO platform which could be a nice strategy to follow as a marketing 1) You deliver something to most core customer base which is quite unhappy 2) You use EVO platform which is another great selling point of telling Expert is future proof

[mdconnelly]

I suspect the Astra could appeal to a luxury crowd who may not be audiophiles but appreciate high-quality sound when delivered with a high bling factor (which, in truth, so did the Expert & Expert Pro). The difference (or perhaps just my rationalization) is that the Expert line was unique in its engineering & design and stood out in the marketplace well beyond the competition. That's just not true anymore.