When it comes to Devialet phono sound quality,
I have seen a bunch of posts on hiss and cartridge setup.
A few more on step up transformers.
Very few on overall phono sound quality.
I am talking about the audiophile check list (transparency, dynamics, tone, imaging, etc.)
and also about the emotional connection.
At least for the 1000 Pro, there is quite an investment here with around $35,000 (USA).
If you have that kind of budget, you probably had the money to afford some excellent
analog integrated or separate components before you moved over to Devialet.
Bottom line, does the phono section in the new Pro lineup deliver?
Can it compete if not provide better SQ than your last system?
Please provide your former bench mark analog components including
phono amp, preamp, and amp so that we can better understand.
I am assuming of course that the turntable, arm and cartridge are the same.
If not, please qualify.
BTW, I am very pleased with the SQ on the Devialet for most if not all digital inputs.
For me, this all digital connection or front end compares if not exceeds all other digital SQ experiences.
However, I am wondering about the quality of the Devialet analog inputs - whether it be for analog phono input or even
analog inputs from a CD player. Does the analog to digital conversion (from analog inputs)
and then a second conversion from digital to analog again (to the speakers) take its toll?
Again, please compare this to experiences with past analog integrated or separate components.
I have a step Up transformer ortofon ,a MC pu ortofon cadenza Black ,and i have a very very good Sound i must put my Ear too my speaker to hear Any hiss ,and if i play High ,Wery little hiss , i have noo ploblem vith the Sound ,my Sound is perfect
I did lots of comparisons on a D-Premier before buying one 6 years ago or so.
I tried several analogue sources, including my Goldmund PH2 phono stage, which was pretty much state of the art when produced, my tuner and Revox reel-to-reel recorder.
The sound signature of each analogue source came through un-dimmed.
I concluded that the ADC-DAC in the Devialet was probably audibly transparent. It is not possible to be 100% sure, but my Metric Halo digital recorder certainly is transparent (the microphone feed is indistinguishable from the recorder output by ear) so I see no reason to doubt it, and other people have done null tests on modern digital gear proving transparency is possible so I think that the assumption is fair for a sophisticated bit of engineering like the Devialet.
I still have the Goldmund phono stage but use the Devialet phono input with a low output Ortofon cartridge and SUT. It is quiet, clear without harshness and even - probably a more accurate RIAA stage than is possible in the analogue domain.
As a matter of interest others have used digital recorders with RIAA plugins as RIAA stages and been delighted, but the Devialet version has loads of loading flexibility built in.
Incidentally I have gone D-Premier > pair of D-Premiers > 800 > Original d'Atelier and always been pleased with the phono performance, I have 4 turntables.
I use a Kuzma Stabi S/Stogi S turntable and arm with a ZYX Fuji cartridge. Prior to the Devialet, I was quite content using an EE Minimax phono preamp.
Personally, I feel the Devialet as a phono preamp does an amazing job - at least as good and likely better than the EE Minimax (never had a chance to directly compare them). I too was initially hesitant given the ADC - DAC hop that the phono signal needed to go through with the Devialet, but that proved to be a total non-issue. The fact that I can adjust the Devialet phono settings to the needs of my cartridge has made it a great fit for me and I've very pleased with the SQ.
In truth these days, I find myself spinning LPs only about 10% or less of my listening. But then, if I was ONLY looking to spin vinyl I doubt I would have even considered the Devialet Expert.
I have a Project 6.1 with Grado Reference cartridge. I haven't done anything with my D200 phono settings and a nice LP, to my ears, sounds better than the same rip streamed from my Mac via iTunes.
Would have no idea as to what the best settings should be.
I also have a Technics SL5 which doesn't sound too bad either.
I'd stay with vinyl but steaming is so easy.
The short answer to the OP's question is 'yes'. A couple of years ago I had the chance to try a Tom Evans Groove phono stage with the D800. At first listen the Tom Evans sounded quite good, quite warm and nice. However, after a few A/B switches between the Tom Evans and the Devialet's phono stage it became clear that the Devialet's offering provided far more detail, accuracy and transparency, and was by far the one I would want to listen too. OK, there are better phono stages than the Tom Evans, but you are then talking money that is becoming comparable to the amp itself.
I have to admit that when I first became aware of Devialet amps, the fact that the phono input was digitised was one factor that really put me off Devialet. If you happen to have an analogue source then you would want the keep it analogue! I have now changed my view, I think that doing the very delicate RIAA equalisation in the digital domain is actually very clever and offers a degree of accuracy that would be difficult to match at any price in the analogue domain. Yes, there is a small amount of hiss if run a low output MC cartridge, but having said that, the Tom Evans phono stage was not completely silent either. From a practical point of view, I listened to some vinyl at the weekend, it sounded superb and I did not think about the hiss for one moment.
I switched back to the phono in the D220 Pro this weekend. Hiss is still there.
I actually found the phono in the D220 Pro a little warmer than the Rega Aria at the same load. The Rega Aria of course had no hiss and seems to be more forgiving to noisier records, other than that they were rather close.
The phono in the McIntosh C47 is a real delight and it's the most I've enjoyed vinyl in quite some time. Impossible to compare because everything else after the phono preamp is different as well.
yes
Previous platform: Pass Labs Aleph Ono
Oracle TT/SME 345 arm/Ortofon Cadenza Black
Devialet D220 Pro
Oracle TT/SME 345 arm/Ortofon Cadenza Black
Most definitely more detail, better control
I'm happy with the phono stage in my D200. I'm using a Basis Ovation/Vector/Syncrowave/Transfig Axia S.
In the past I've owned...
Roksan Artaxerxes
Anatek MC1
Pro-ject Tubebox 2se
Krell KPE Reference
ARC PH5
ARC PH7
I couldn't say it's better than all of then for sure but it's definitely good enough!
Cheers
Dave