21-Oct-2016, 20:22
Last weekend I compared 400 to 440 at OAC, the dem was done with SF Guarneri Evolution speakers. Before going I wasn’t sure what to expect at all, I have never listened to the 400 and thought it was lacking in any way, so I would be quite happy if the difference was minimal and I didn’t bother upgrading.
When I got there they had the 440 connected up playing music I didn’t know but it sounded great, an opinion that didn’t change with my music. Swapping to the 400 immediately did seem a step back, I noticed it mainly in the midrange that seemed more open and effortless with the pro, but the dynamics and bass extension also favoured the 440. Swapping back and forth on a couple of tracks that were most revealing just reinforced this view, the word that kept going through my mind was linear, both in how it was sounding more accurate, and how it advanced the devialet sound. This was my take away impression, these are simply better Devialet amps, the same stuff I heard going from my old Naim system to the 200 has simply progressed even further in the same direction. I’ll be taking advantage of the OAC old for new swap deal, as soon as they can get a 440.
When I got there they had the 440 connected up playing music I didn’t know but it sounded great, an opinion that didn’t change with my music. Swapping to the 400 immediately did seem a step back, I noticed it mainly in the midrange that seemed more open and effortless with the pro, but the dynamics and bass extension also favoured the 440. Swapping back and forth on a couple of tracks that were most revealing just reinforced this view, the word that kept going through my mind was linear, both in how it was sounding more accurate, and how it advanced the devialet sound. This was my take away impression, these are simply better Devialet amps, the same stuff I heard going from my old Naim system to the 200 has simply progressed even further in the same direction. I’ll be taking advantage of the OAC old for new swap deal, as soon as they can get a 440.