01-Jun-2015, 13:17
(This post was last modified: 01-Jun-2015, 13:18 by MusicFirst.)
This is a difficult effect to demonstrate, but I have shown two other devialet owners its effect. I have D400 monoblocks which I connect with either the stock Crystal SP/DIF cable or the Audioprana hybrid SP/DIF-AES/EBU link. The effect is similar using either cable, but slightly less so with the Audioprana.
The effect is best demonstrated on recordings with significant left-right stereo information. The right hand side is missing information and seems to be of a slightly lower volume when compared to the master configured as a stereo 200.
Other than this anomaly, the 400 betters the 200 sonically in every respect I've found so far.
When comparing the 400 to the Master configured as a 200, I use exactly the same input configuration: SAMmed Jamo R909s at 100%; subsonic filter off; with all power saving options, including DPM off;
An example of this effect can be shown by a piece by the Dave Holland Quintet called Juggler's Parade: cut 3 off of the first disc of 'Extended Play Live at Birdland'. In this piece there are several places where the 400 clearly falls behind its stereo sibling. First, from 4:14 to 7:00 into the piece, Billy Kilson's drum kit, which is panned hard right, is not being played while his other bandmates are seriously grooving. On the 200 there is still a presence on the right channel. One can feel the drummer sitting and listening to his bandmates. On the 400, the right channel is almost completely absent from the image. There is no air on the RHS creating a discontinuity in the soundscape that seems and is, wrong, and there are inadequate micro cues that the instrument still exists despite not currently being played. It is this significant removal of low level detail that I miss the most.
At 9:30 Dave Holland and Billy Kilson play a duo for two and a half minutes. This is a truly special moment in the piece and the interplay between the two musicians is magical. On the best equipment it can be stunning. On the 200 almost if not all this magic is retained. On the 400 much of the magic of the interplay is lost.
Later in the piece, from 12:30 to 15:05 Kilsons drumming comes alive explosively, an exciting musical event on the 200 showing why Billy Kilson is considered to be one of the most explosive drummers in Jazz. This is rendered restrained and uninvolving in comparison by the 400.
As one of the most critical listeners I know said last night after listening to the 400 then the 200 and back again, its as if Kilson is in a separate room with the 400s, which is sad considering this is one of my best reference live CDs for years. I know this piece very well, and the 200 gets closer to the musical heart of this aspect of the performance.
Unfortunately, now that I understand this aspect of the 400s performance, I can hear it manifest itself on other pieces.
Now don't be fooled when you switch from the 400 to the 200 or vice versa. At first the 400 seems to swamp the 200 and appears better in every respect. One must listen for these specific characteristics.
I expect the 400s should be better than the 200s in every respect. That it falls short in this one area has made me consider selling the units and looking elsewhere unless this can be rectified through a future FW update.
I intend to submit these observations to Devialet to see what their response will be.
Kerry
The effect is best demonstrated on recordings with significant left-right stereo information. The right hand side is missing information and seems to be of a slightly lower volume when compared to the master configured as a stereo 200.
Other than this anomaly, the 400 betters the 200 sonically in every respect I've found so far.
When comparing the 400 to the Master configured as a 200, I use exactly the same input configuration: SAMmed Jamo R909s at 100%; subsonic filter off; with all power saving options, including DPM off;
An example of this effect can be shown by a piece by the Dave Holland Quintet called Juggler's Parade: cut 3 off of the first disc of 'Extended Play Live at Birdland'. In this piece there are several places where the 400 clearly falls behind its stereo sibling. First, from 4:14 to 7:00 into the piece, Billy Kilson's drum kit, which is panned hard right, is not being played while his other bandmates are seriously grooving. On the 200 there is still a presence on the right channel. One can feel the drummer sitting and listening to his bandmates. On the 400, the right channel is almost completely absent from the image. There is no air on the RHS creating a discontinuity in the soundscape that seems and is, wrong, and there are inadequate micro cues that the instrument still exists despite not currently being played. It is this significant removal of low level detail that I miss the most.
At 9:30 Dave Holland and Billy Kilson play a duo for two and a half minutes. This is a truly special moment in the piece and the interplay between the two musicians is magical. On the best equipment it can be stunning. On the 200 almost if not all this magic is retained. On the 400 much of the magic of the interplay is lost.
Later in the piece, from 12:30 to 15:05 Kilsons drumming comes alive explosively, an exciting musical event on the 200 showing why Billy Kilson is considered to be one of the most explosive drummers in Jazz. This is rendered restrained and uninvolving in comparison by the 400.
As one of the most critical listeners I know said last night after listening to the 400 then the 200 and back again, its as if Kilson is in a separate room with the 400s, which is sad considering this is one of my best reference live CDs for years. I know this piece very well, and the 200 gets closer to the musical heart of this aspect of the performance.
Unfortunately, now that I understand this aspect of the 400s performance, I can hear it manifest itself on other pieces.
Now don't be fooled when you switch from the 400 to the 200 or vice versa. At first the 400 seems to swamp the 200 and appears better in every respect. One must listen for these specific characteristics.
I expect the 400s should be better than the 200s in every respect. That it falls short in this one area has made me consider selling the units and looking elsewhere unless this can be rectified through a future FW update.
I intend to submit these observations to Devialet to see what their response will be.
Kerry
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