I too have an 'alternative view' of the O'dA situation. First, I think it is important to state that I fully respect IanG's first post, very intelligent and considered, and pretty much reflective of how I think about the situation, although I am not an O'dA owner, I am mere D800 owner who did briefly think about the prospect of buying an O'dA.
Anyway, here is an alternative way of looking at this. If I had decided to go for the O'dA, there would be a process to go through. First, I would want to listen to one and perform a direct back to back comparison with my current D800, ideally having one on loan to listen to in my system at home . This would serve to get a clear idea of the sound quality improvement offered by the O'dA. Then there is a calculation, taking the cost of the O'dA, and subtracting the second hand / PX value of the existing D800, the cost to change. Then a decision, is the improvement in sound quality, to me, in my system, worth the cost to change. Basic stuff I know, but I am aware of a number current of O'dA owners who did exactly this, it was not a case of 'I must have the latest thing', it was auditioned, and the final decision considered carefully. So, you have made a decision based on sound quality vs costs, and you are happy with that decision. What happens next is you discover that due to changes in Devialet's product line, you are now going to get an upgrade, at no additional cost. So with respect of your original calculation, you are actually getting a larger sound quality improvement than you thought, for the same cost. This is a good thing, logically O'dA owners should be delighted by this. Furthermore, it is begging to look like O'dA owners might get the new (still rumoured) streaming board at no cost. (To be confirmed next week maybe) This again is a very good thing.
So it's all good! Well, no actually. Devialet have managed to offer all this and still annoy their customers, quite an achievement to be honest! As to how Devialet can offer something so good and yet still annoy the customer, well, refer to Ian's original post, it explains it well. Plus, it is not really as simple as I have written above. The fact that the O'dA was a limited edition model may have entered the decision making process. Perhaps on the emotional level, the thought of having a special limited edition model, but maybe on a hard cold logical level too. When I started to think about the prospect of getting the O'dA, I did think about the future resale value of the product. Would it's limited edition status make it some kind of future classic, sought after, and commanding a premium price many years hence? This is a logical and financial thought process, but I am guessing that through Devialet's actions many O'dA owners feel this aspect of the equation has become somewhat tarnished. Curiously, I have been wondering how all this will look in many years time, it is not inconceivable that the O'dA will become an absolute future classic because of all this, sometime it is about the story just as much as the product. Time will tell!
Although whatever I write, and indeed whatever I seam to read about things Devialet, it is always the same thing. Fantastic products, terrible communication, and lets not mention the advertising. I think for me this is what makes Devialet so frustrating. I have bought many things in my time where I have been in some way frustrated by the company involved. My response has been simple, I stop dealing with that company. In may ways, that is how I feel about Devialet, the issues with AIR, the apparent arrogance we have seen recently, the shocking bad communication, my base response is simple, stop buying Devialet products, do not give them money for upgrades. Currently, when I think this through, I have come to the conclusion that I should stick with my D800, it sounds great, I am happy with it. Devialet should not get any more cash from me. This is how the free market economy works, a company offers bad service, the customers go away, the company goes bust. Companies offering good service survive. The trouble is, Devialet keep dishing out products that sound so good it's hard to look elsewhere. Damn them!
On a final note, tategoi's earlier post struck me; 'Why do I have the feeling of being very blessed for owning an Od'A'. I have some free time this weekend, and to be honest, if I was firing up my O'dA now for a bit of listening, I'd feel blessed too! It would be really good. Not that I feel un-blessed as I head towards my D800 remote .......
Anyway, here is an alternative way of looking at this. If I had decided to go for the O'dA, there would be a process to go through. First, I would want to listen to one and perform a direct back to back comparison with my current D800, ideally having one on loan to listen to in my system at home . This would serve to get a clear idea of the sound quality improvement offered by the O'dA. Then there is a calculation, taking the cost of the O'dA, and subtracting the second hand / PX value of the existing D800, the cost to change. Then a decision, is the improvement in sound quality, to me, in my system, worth the cost to change. Basic stuff I know, but I am aware of a number current of O'dA owners who did exactly this, it was not a case of 'I must have the latest thing', it was auditioned, and the final decision considered carefully. So, you have made a decision based on sound quality vs costs, and you are happy with that decision. What happens next is you discover that due to changes in Devialet's product line, you are now going to get an upgrade, at no additional cost. So with respect of your original calculation, you are actually getting a larger sound quality improvement than you thought, for the same cost. This is a good thing, logically O'dA owners should be delighted by this. Furthermore, it is begging to look like O'dA owners might get the new (still rumoured) streaming board at no cost. (To be confirmed next week maybe) This again is a very good thing.
So it's all good! Well, no actually. Devialet have managed to offer all this and still annoy their customers, quite an achievement to be honest! As to how Devialet can offer something so good and yet still annoy the customer, well, refer to Ian's original post, it explains it well. Plus, it is not really as simple as I have written above. The fact that the O'dA was a limited edition model may have entered the decision making process. Perhaps on the emotional level, the thought of having a special limited edition model, but maybe on a hard cold logical level too. When I started to think about the prospect of getting the O'dA, I did think about the future resale value of the product. Would it's limited edition status make it some kind of future classic, sought after, and commanding a premium price many years hence? This is a logical and financial thought process, but I am guessing that through Devialet's actions many O'dA owners feel this aspect of the equation has become somewhat tarnished. Curiously, I have been wondering how all this will look in many years time, it is not inconceivable that the O'dA will become an absolute future classic because of all this, sometime it is about the story just as much as the product. Time will tell!
Although whatever I write, and indeed whatever I seam to read about things Devialet, it is always the same thing. Fantastic products, terrible communication, and lets not mention the advertising. I think for me this is what makes Devialet so frustrating. I have bought many things in my time where I have been in some way frustrated by the company involved. My response has been simple, I stop dealing with that company. In may ways, that is how I feel about Devialet, the issues with AIR, the apparent arrogance we have seen recently, the shocking bad communication, my base response is simple, stop buying Devialet products, do not give them money for upgrades. Currently, when I think this through, I have come to the conclusion that I should stick with my D800, it sounds great, I am happy with it. Devialet should not get any more cash from me. This is how the free market economy works, a company offers bad service, the customers go away, the company goes bust. Companies offering good service survive. The trouble is, Devialet keep dishing out products that sound so good it's hard to look elsewhere. Damn them!
On a final note, tategoi's earlier post struck me; 'Why do I have the feeling of being very blessed for owning an Od'A'. I have some free time this weekend, and to be honest, if I was firing up my O'dA now for a bit of listening, I'd feel blessed too! It would be really good. Not that I feel un-blessed as I head towards my D800 remote .......
1000 Pro - KEF Blade - iFi Zen Stream - Mutec REF10 - MC3+USB - Pro-Ject Signature 12
