(13-Jun-2016, 16:20)Borgen Wrote: [ -> ]If their next step is to replace major parts of the internal for a premium price, it is not aligned with my expectations for the expert line. When buying the D-Premier, the story was (the way I read it) that there would be software/ firmware improvements on top of that as a platform. Then the upgrade to 250 was offered (which I bought into) as a needed DSP upgrade for handling coming software/ firmware changes. The few that has been has been of limited value to me, the ones mentioned semi-officially such as room correction has never materialized.
I do not mind that they improve their hardwire line, but they might benefit of being mindful of their previous customers and their previous marketing pitches. If they try the same story once more, then good luck. You can fool half of the people half of the time...
In any case, I am still very happy with the 250, but I think I'll leave it at that.
Totally agree with that. So much to do with existant hardware by software improvement...
Devialet have provided plenty of functional and SQ upgrades for Expert customers free of charge. If they offer a hardware upgrade at a fraction of the price of a new box then I will be very happy. AIR3 sounds superb in my system.
It's great fun to speculate (and I'm wondering myself what they may announce) but to be frank I can see no reason to get upset with Devialet before they've even announced what the new enhancements are or what they cost ?
(13-Jun-2016, 11:48)alphafox Wrote: [ -> ]Still, here's a list of new developments and improvements for the new program:- 5 new patents
- New ADH Intelligence
- New Class A amplifier
- New Class D amplifier
- New power unit
- New thermal control unit
- THD < 0.00025% (stereo)
- Improved SNR by 2.5 dB
- Twice as fast transient response
- Twice as efficient thermal management
It's a summary of the changes, but each has sub-bullets that make you definitely want to upgrade.
And nope, the sub-bullets are not <!-- commented out --> in the source code for the page, you'll have to look elsewhere. ;-)
(13-Jun-2016, 16:11)nicoludio Wrote: [ -> ]New 1000 will sound better than the OdA but then again OdA will be upgraded too. So, OdA will be at the top (with 1000 supposedly) but will have the limited edition chassis.
Will the 1000 be in the 120/200 or 250 casing? If you have a D800 will that upgrade to a 1000?
(14-Jun-2016, 02:14)wikeeboy Wrote: [ -> ]Will the 1000 be in the 120/200 or 250 casing? If you have a D800 will that upgrade to a 1000?
800 casing with, apparently, a copper bottom plate.
(13-Jun-2016, 18:25)IanG-UK Wrote: [ -> ] (13-Jun-2016, 16:11)nicoludio Wrote: [ -> ]New 1000 will sound better than the OdA but then again OdA will be upgraded too. So, OdA will be at the top (with 1000 supposedly) but will have the limited edition chassis.
Having produced the Od'A and now announced the 1000, the only logic is to make the technical innards and sound quality exactly the same, which sounds like it will require some changes to the Od'A. Anything else is not defensible.
I can't imagine that, within 5 months, the entire innards of the Od'A will need to be replaced - whereas, after 3(?) years, I could envisage that with the 800.
My memory suggests that Devialet's published specifications for the Od'A were just the same as for the 800. Maybe with the 1000 there will be some adjustments to drive the marketing message. But since I cannot correlate the level of specification change with the degree of sonic change, it's all pretty irrelevant to me, save that I wouldn't want to see any measurements get worse!
For some manufacturers, the OdA equivalent would be a showcase of the best that they are capable of at that given moment. It would not only be a limited but also a reference edition too. Of course, there would be trickle-downs but the limited/reference edition would be the SOTA for some time to come. Eventually, the rest of the line would catch up but that would normally take years not months, and certainly not after you have just bought it.
One possible example is the Audio Research Reference 40. It took a while for the Reference 5 to morph into the Reference 5SE, then now Reference 6. Perhaps the newer models may now surpass the Reference 40 and with a better price/performance ratio. But, the Reference 40 remained at the pinnacle for some time.
Only Devialet knows why the development path of the OdA/new line is what it is. Perhaps they had spare 250/800 casings (the 800 was least popular model in the entire line I understand) and decided that the new electronics under research at that stage was good enough to justify a limited edition, with some cosmetic differentiation. Nonetheless, one would also have thought that the development/research path would have been sufficiently clear to them as to where they would end up at the conclusion of the research milestones.
Then, whoops (!), they had to deal with the ire of OdA purchasers who would now find the performance of their limited edition units had been surpassed.
Of course, with the casing supposedly remaining the same, the only solution was to retain the limited edition casing/colour and replace the innards with the latest version. Reportedly, they had wanted to charge OdA owners for the upgrade. Now, if I had just bought an OdA the day before the official announcement, I would be rather miffed that my TOTL unit is now "obselete" unless I paid some EUR6,000 - 7,000 (or whatever the final amount is) to update it to the latest specs. My dealer will get the Ferguson hairdryer treatment
. So, apparently, as customer PR, certain arrangements will be made with respect to the upgrade. Whether it will be free or at a reduced rate remains to be confirmed.
My fellow OdA owners,
so far the only thing which worries me, is the communication practice of Devialet. Proactive precise communication to their expert customers would rechanneld our emotions from worrying about marketing strategies and about the fact that the ODA investments we have taken are at least sustainable for 12 month.
Do I always feel like a valued customer?
Only if I have overcome the hurdle of stop discussing and worrying and start listening. And than I hope everyone will get the enhanced ODA SQ.
My secret hope is, that devialetOS 10.0 will enable room correction and fixes air. Looking at the current DSP processing power, this should be possible.
My O d'A arrived in early April and the rumours about a "better" model started to circulate barely 2 months later.
I probably didn't expect a new flagship model to appear for at least a year, perhaps even longer.
Anyway I am very glad that the technologies that are in the O d'A are being trickled down to the rest of the range. And the good news is that all Devialet Experts are upgradeable, including the O d'A.
Guillaume
(14-Jun-2016, 08:17)GuillaumeB Wrote: [ -> ]My O d'A arrived in early April and the rumours about a "better" model started to circulate barely 2 months later.
I probably didn't expect a new flagship model to appear for at least a year, perhaps even longer.
Anyway I am very glad that the technologies that are in the O d'A are being trickled down to the rest of the range. And the good news is that all Devialet Experts are upgradeable, including the O d'A.
Guillaume
Yes, the rose gold lining is that, true to their philosophy, the OdA will be upgradeable and not be made obsolete.
