I recall reading a thread on another forum regarding the number of Kef LS50's for sale. The logic being that because there were so many being offered second hand that there must be something wrong with them. One conclusion was that the number of second hand LS50's coming to the second hand market was related to the simple fact that they had sold new in very high numbers, relatively speaking.
I am not compiling accurate statistics, but for me I have not noticed much of an increase in second hand Devialets, there have always been a few around. I can also recall when I first bought a Devialet Expert, there were D-Premiers offered for sale then at what looked like low prices.
At this point in time I think the number of potential buyers is low because the upgrade scheme provided a short term impetus to act. So many potential buyers / upgraders have already acted and are hence out of the market, this makes a Devialet harder to sell currently. Also, some upgraders to the Pro bought new and part exchanged their 'old' Experts, this takes one new buyer out of the market and inserts a Expert onto the second hand market for one lucky buyer. To be honest, buying second hand hifi has always been a fine way to get a decent hifi for limited cash. Buying new, selling on quickly, constant 'box swapping' has always been an excellent way of loosing lots of money.
I also think that we are an emotional bunch, and it is very easy to confuse the constant disquiet with Devialet over communication, the streamer board, issues with AIR (mostly historical now) and so on, with dissatisfaction with the actual product.
I have managed to get much listening in with my Pro over the Easter break and I have to say that the system is sounding absolutely sensational. I have no thoughts whatsoever of selling my own Devialet.
Are there cheaper options appearing on the market with better sound quality? If there are I have not yet had the pleasure of hearing them. There are certainly different sounding products, but not better in terms of what I am looking for. Others may listen to what I consider different but not as good, and find it superior to their ears and tastes, but nothing new there I think.
Also, there seams to be a trend in some parts to experimenting with DSD upsampling at ever increasing bit rates. If this is something that you feel in important, then a Devialet which is at it's ADH heart a PCM machine will perhaps seam to you as a little stuck in the past, so maybe best to sell up and move on.
The key to all this is to buy carefully, and make sure that whatever you buy is something that you personally will be happy with for a good few years. That way you need not worry too much about the second hand market at any given point in time. It has to be said though that Devialet are doing their best to be annoying as a company, so in terms of this the emotional factor may get to some. It is just as well the products sound good in the meantime.
I am not compiling accurate statistics, but for me I have not noticed much of an increase in second hand Devialets, there have always been a few around. I can also recall when I first bought a Devialet Expert, there were D-Premiers offered for sale then at what looked like low prices.
At this point in time I think the number of potential buyers is low because the upgrade scheme provided a short term impetus to act. So many potential buyers / upgraders have already acted and are hence out of the market, this makes a Devialet harder to sell currently. Also, some upgraders to the Pro bought new and part exchanged their 'old' Experts, this takes one new buyer out of the market and inserts a Expert onto the second hand market for one lucky buyer. To be honest, buying second hand hifi has always been a fine way to get a decent hifi for limited cash. Buying new, selling on quickly, constant 'box swapping' has always been an excellent way of loosing lots of money.
I also think that we are an emotional bunch, and it is very easy to confuse the constant disquiet with Devialet over communication, the streamer board, issues with AIR (mostly historical now) and so on, with dissatisfaction with the actual product.
I have managed to get much listening in with my Pro over the Easter break and I have to say that the system is sounding absolutely sensational. I have no thoughts whatsoever of selling my own Devialet.
Are there cheaper options appearing on the market with better sound quality? If there are I have not yet had the pleasure of hearing them. There are certainly different sounding products, but not better in terms of what I am looking for. Others may listen to what I consider different but not as good, and find it superior to their ears and tastes, but nothing new there I think.
Also, there seams to be a trend in some parts to experimenting with DSD upsampling at ever increasing bit rates. If this is something that you feel in important, then a Devialet which is at it's ADH heart a PCM machine will perhaps seam to you as a little stuck in the past, so maybe best to sell up and move on.
The key to all this is to buy carefully, and make sure that whatever you buy is something that you personally will be happy with for a good few years. That way you need not worry too much about the second hand market at any given point in time. It has to be said though that Devialet are doing their best to be annoying as a company, so in terms of this the emotional factor may get to some. It is just as well the products sound good in the meantime.
1000 Pro - KEF Blade - iFi Zen Stream - Mutec REF10 - MC3+USB - Pro-Ject Signature 12
