New firmware 8.1.3

[Pim]

From Devialet's own website (the Temple of Truth)

"FIRMWARE V8.1.3
- Fix of potential issue with SAM V2 bass extension on certain profiles"

Now in my case SAM V2 bass extension with 8.1.2 was utterly bonkers!  On 8.1.3, very different indeed.  I need to spend more time listening / experimenting, but it now appears that SAM V2 in 8.1.3 is moving towards being very subtle, but if I do try to run SAM 100%, with some music it does sound like there is too much bass, at the very very lowest frequencies.

In terms of what I think 8.1.3 sounds like, I did do a lot of listening last weekend, however, this was in company, so I didn't want to spend lots of time looking like an idiot by constantly experimenting with SAM %.  Earlier on, I had simply selected SAM at 40%, later on we listened to lots of favourite tunes.  This weekend I will have time for some serious listening and will experiment with "new" SAM.  However, based on last weekend's listening, I don't think my system has ever sounded so good.  SAM V2 + 8.1.3 looks very promising indeed.

One caveat, I was sent 8.1.3 a couple of weeks ago by Devialet support due to my ongoing SAM V2 issues, they described it a "beta" version in the covering email, but the files themselves made no mention of beta.  So I'm not sure if I have been running exactly the same version as released today or not.

 
Having another listen now in the morning, in my setup, the bass seems to be a bit less prevalent and there are more highs. This makes for a larger sound stage but it's not as much fun as with 8.1.2. I didn't have a problem with too much bass with 8.1.2 because my wife introduced a couple of bass traps to our living room (Two large teddy bears sitting in the corners) Voices seem less real with too much emphasis on the highs. I can see myself go back to 8.1.2 but not before I've tried 7.1.3 again.... and then hang out for 8.1.4