220 to 440 ROI

[CongoFather]

The best I've heard from my B&W 802D3 w/ REL G1-MK2 pair is when powered by an Audionet Humboldt & Mola Mola Tambaqui and that'll be my #1 choice for the end-game, Fall back at #2 would be Gryphon Diablo 333 / 300.

So you’re currently running a 440 and aspire to the Diablo. Might I ask what improvements you’re expecting from that? I’ve got my own strength/weakness matrix but would love to hear yours…

Great question! 

I'm inching slowly into retirement with cpl of years to go. And 70% of my music is classical, rest being some acoustic jazz, blues and rock. I've had the D400 from 2016 that moved to the 440-Pro CI in 2018. In the 9 yrs of my living with the Devialets, the one big weakness that I've been battling is their lack of midbass-to-midrange density, harmonic richness and the overall wholesome textures that I so vividly look for being a violinist from age 5 and deep into classical music. Warmth is essential to me without veiling details. I've tackled this issue using digital EQ but it's a patchwork with little or no ill effects and I'm living with it so far.

I must say the Devialets have been outrageously fantastic and personally I love the 1792 DAC chip for its musicality (having home auditioned many greats from dCS, Playback Designs, EMM/Meitner, Grimm etc). However - at the end of the day (and my day is coming sometime soon i.e. retirement), I would like to settle down with something that puts a smile on my face. Having auditioned many Amps & Amps w/ DACs, Audionet's Humboldt to me was a bullet-proof item built to last a lifetime. But its cost is horrendously high hence am looking at pristine Used. And at Humboldt's Used prices, Gryphon Diablo 333 is available as new, Used Diablo 300 being even cheaper. 

Devialet as a company over the years has shied away from support for their Expert range of products. So far I've been lucky with no major failures but who knows what Devialet will do especially after starting their 'new Astra line'. Hence, in time and when the opportunity is right, I intend to swing towards another alternative that has a long term reputation of strong support along with impeccable build quality. 

And finally, Devialet Dual-Monos have a flaw. I connect them using the RCA to AES digital link (that I strongly feel should have been AES-to-AES). And (it's a feeling though I may be wrong) that the channel that is fed with the AES input sounds marginally better that the other with the RCA output. Others here feel free to comment.

I have been planning to replace my Devialet 220 PRO recently. I have 2 different setups in my mind, Gryphon Diablo 333 and Accuphase E-5000 + Mola Mola Tambaqui Dac. Have you had a chance to audition & compare Accuphase E-5000 or Diablo 333 with Devialet Expert Pro Range? As these amplifiers do not have built-in DAC modules, and their DAC modules are sold seperately as optional modules, I am planning to use Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC instead of using their DAC modules in my new setup. Do you think it is a good match to use Mola Mola Tambaqui with  Accuphase E-5000?. I know I should first listen and experience it by using a similar setup. However it's not always possible to find these devices together in a demo room. I currently use Devialet 220 PRO with Lumin U2 streamer and B&W 804D3.