For me it is the sound quality without doubt, sorry I have tried many different firmware versions and switching bits on and of but cannot hear much difference. However the D400 just makes me smile there are some moments when you have something playing in the background when working in the other room for instance and you just stop and think "what the f***, where did that come from"
My other half who fortunately really loves listening to the system was having a pre swimming snooze the other evening and a Dire Straits (sorry) track came on Radio Paradise - I heard here shout from the other room - this is incredible I have never heard it sound like that before there is just so much going on in the bass that I have not noticed before - mind you he still can't sing !!!!
I love the fact that all that enjoyment can be built into a box that looks so beautiful hanging on the wall - lifestyle product my left foot.
And for all those who moan about broken promises remember no-one else gives this level of upgradeability for nothing and good things come to those who wait.
The things I like best are the sound quality and the simplicity/elegance of the set up.
Another huge bonus is the decrease in expenses resulting from the end of the component/cable upgrade craze. That's easily going to be a nice car worth in a few years.
Cheers,
Bernard
Of couse like everyone else a major factor is the sound quality.
another big thing i like about my devialet - i dont have to learn about 40 other companies dacs to select the one i think will be best (which likely wont be and would require lots of testing with different dacs which can get costly) to then have to learn about a bunch of pre-amplifiers and then finally the amplifiers.
i doubt you could get a dac/pre-amp/amp combination that if all 3 components combined cost the same as a devialet amp would perform just as good. plus then you have to worry about costing all the extra interconnect cables. you need 5 plugs into a power conditioner instead of 2 which for us computer audio people is a big deal by the time we have all the power supplies for our pcs!
SQ without a doubt! 2nd is versatility and the amazing 'all units/functions under the same roof'. Nothing comes close to the SQ/cost that Devialet deliver.
Delight could have been bigger though but one day Devialet will deliver their promises in full but a bit later than communicated/Mike the impatient one
For me its definitely the sound quality, for me it is just so much better than I have ever owned. The bass and soundstage for me stand out....it just fills my whole room.
When they get AIR to work properly or the Dialog with the expert line, then I will be a very contented man.
1. The sound quality is, I think, fantastic.
2. It's very configurable.
3. It's a many in one box (Amp, Phonostage, DAC, "streamer-ish")
3. It get's updated with new features.
4. I think it looks stunning.
I've had it almost 2 years and I've never even thought about up or side grading. I'm extremely happy with my Devialet 200.
1. Politics of free upgrades via firmware updates.
2. Lightweight. Compact dimensions.
3. Posibility of using Devialet anywhere in the world. Great if You want to sell it
4. And most important...Sound offered with 8.1.3 beta firmware. Amazing! Now I feel that 200 is a true highend gear. Vocals are so clear... Fullness of sound is great, You can hear everything and nothing is edgy or nasty...so many layers of sound, so much pleasure in listening different genres of music.
Again, the sound quality is outstanding, the design is innovative and kind to the eye. There is one thing though that is even more important to me, there are no transformers inside that buzz unlike my Naim kit.
Cheers,
Bill
The compactness is amazing. My friends were looking for/thinking of the massive mono-blocks given the sound. I could even carry it easily to fellow audiophiles' places for comparisons and trails. The phono stage is surprisingly good and respectable.