Devialet Chat

Hi,
You can see my system in my signature. I've had the 250 for 10 years this summer. I believe it's as optimised as I can get it without some serious upgrades.
Generally it has given all I wanted from it each time I've upgraded a source e.g from Rega P6 to Vertere DG-1 and various incremental improvements in Audirvana. I'm happy with the Atohm/REL speakers/subs. They don't take up huge room and are very detailed and dynamic with the low end adjustable. The Devialet has been very useful in the phono stage, the quality of AIR streaming and the ability to configure the subs on the line out. However, a decade on I'm wondering if there's more I could get out of the system, particularly since the TT upgrade was such a huge jump and there's more I can do to pimp up the Vertere (PS, cartridge, interconnects, isolators). My digital experience still lacks a little compared to Vinyl, perhaps a slight lack of cohesion and rather flatter soundstage. So if I'm going to ask for an improvement it would be better spatial organisation and a slightly better sense of pace, but quite subtle. Potential to allow further upgrades on the Vertere to show their best would be good.

No immediate plans - likely over the summer, but anyone else thought this through?

Options I see are
1. PRO CI upgrade £3500
2. Add a non- PRO 250 to go dual Mono (occasionally come up) £3500
3. Do both for around £7000
4. Cash in the Devialet and spend £7-8,000 total on 'something else' depending on a listen (Hegel 390, Lingdorf TDAi 3400, Naim 222+250 new series, or Mytek Brooklyn Bridge II + amp)
5. Keep the 250 as it is and add a high end streamer via AES/EBU - numerous choices.

I would go with 5. Keep the 250, buy a Holo Audio Red and use HQPlayer.

1.

I have had 250, 800, 250 Pro and now 1000 Pro.

Clearly the biggest improvement was between 250 and 250 Pro.

Also, RIAA in 250 Pro does sound better than in 250. When I did buy 250 Pro, at the same time I did sell Linn Uphorik(which I did use with 250) because Pro's RIAA does sound better.

I did test also streamers. There were changes in the sound but in my case it was not improvement. I do use ethernet connection to 250 Pro.

I have a 1000 pro, and an external streamer can be a huge improvement. Even an ifi Zen Stream is a big improvement. A Holo Red is another step up. Also ethernet transmission can be improved by using optical ethernet and optimized switches.
But going the pro update path was also a big improvement.

Interesting. There's something definitely second rate about my digital experience, and it's not just the 'vinyl' effect. I was just A/B my copies CD-rip and vinyl LP of Cowboy Junkies 'Caution Horses' - the percussion and bass on 'Rock and Bird' is much crisper and better timed on the vinyl. Margo Timmins vocal on 'witches' is also more expressive and you can hear her small breath sounds more. Much more enjoyable.

(22-Feb-2024, 20:41)Vivialet Wrote: [ -> ]I have a 1000 pro, and an external streamer can be a huge improvement. Even an ifi Zen Stream is a big improvement. A Holo Red is another step up. Also ethernet transmission can be improved by using optical ethernet and optimized switches.
But going the pro update path was also a big improvement.

I was looking at a high end streamer with optical inputs like the HiFi Rose RS130, but thats quite pricey, especially when you factor in the optical ethernet connectors for it.

Keep the 250 and enjoy the music.
Don't invest any more cash on a piece of equipment that prolly won't get any updates.
Heck, you might not even be able to configure it anymore at some point.

(26-Feb-2024, 14:59)Cylob Wrote: [ -> ]Keep the 250 and enjoy the music.
Don't invest any more cash on a piece of equipment that prolly won't get any updates.
Heck, you might not even be able to configure it anymore at some point.

As someone who has owned D-Premier (stereo and mono), D200, D400, D220 Pro, D250 Pro, and the D1000 Pro, my experience was that the D1000 Pro was a significant step up in overall sound quality over any other of the above listed.  

IMHO, The Expert Pro audio circuitry is a big step up in audio quality.  This became very noticeable when I changed over to ATC SCM 40 V2 speakers.  The SAM really opened up the soundstage, providing depth, impact, and sonic details.  I think that the better the speakers, the more noticeable the improvement is sound quality is with the Expert Pro line. The extra power afforded by the 1000 Pro is very noticeable with classical transients.

Thanks for the comments.
I have a Naim Uniti Atom headphone Edition in the office, so I took it downstairs and hooked it up to the line in of the D250. Wow - soundstage, transients etc just as I wanted them. Had a think - Value of non pro D250 currently £3500 + cost of pro upgrade £3500 = £7,000. I called my dealer (Rick at Musicraft) and he had a lightly used Naim NAP250 power amp (New series) and an ex dem NCS222 Streamer/DAC/pre at v little more than that.
Given the uncertainties long term over Devialet's commitment to the Expert series it seemed to make more sense to switch to Naim's current 200 series.
Anyone want a 250?

at least questionable ...
Is the Naim better sounding as the Devialet ? I have some doubts. Also can the Naim control your subs ? And no SAM profile for the Atohms...
btw., using a good external DAC is a good option for the Devialet. The additional AD/DA conversion is completely transparent it seems.
Maybe because you don't have jitter related issues. You need a very good digital frontend to match or exceed a good external DAC.