My used Devialet 200 arrived today! Back in 2015 I daydreamed about a setup of Kef Blade and Devialet expert. I couldn’t begin to afford any of that stuff back then. But now I have Kef LS50 and an Expert 200 from eBay for only $2000.
I’m upgrading from a Sonos soundbar. I got the 200 up and running connected to the tv via toslink. My wife immediately commented on the sound saying that it’s “like surround sound” and that it sounds “bigger and more cinematic”.
Tomorrow I will be able to test it myself and play some vinyls on it. I will give you my full impressions then and I will post some pictures.
Congratulations mate and welcome to the forum. The 200 is still an incredible amplifier and the LS50s are about as good a speaker as you can get for the money. I used the own a pair of the actives and had them setup in my new living room when it was fully insulated but not sheeted yet. I put them in the 6.7m wide window, so there was no reflection from anywhere. I have never heard a sound stage that good. It was spooky how the sound just hang in the air. Unfortunately, one can't live in an un sheeted room, so that was never going to last. Still a fun thing to experience though.
Setup is everything with any stereo, so please put up some pictures and if we can help with some advice, we surely will.
I have a pair of the LS50 and really rate them. They're not usually connected to an Expert amp but I have tested them that way (including SAM) with excellent results.
I also have friends who have your previous soundbar setup and know how it sounds. To me, for sound quality it's not even comparable with entry-level conventional hi-fi kit, but then this isn't a huge surprise as it's intended to be a lifestyle convenience product, and to be fair it's quite good at that.
Needless to say, the Expert 200 is more "exit level" than "entry level" so you're in for a real treat with 2-channel audio.
I guess when you're comparing this setup with a sound bar then yes, it's much better. But you can get a LOT more out of it if you pull those speakers from the wall a bit. You're currently probably getting 50% of the quality of sound that the components can deliver.
Welcome and congrats. I have ls50’s for my front L/R/C speakers and originally they were my hi if listening speakers. There is a reason they have been so highly reviewed and rated. Can’t beat them for the money IMO.