15-Dec-2014, 06:08
(This post was last modified: 15-Dec-2014, 06:14 by Music or sound.)
The reason I was interested in Devialet was not only its sound quality as an amplifier/DAC but its built in digital cross-over function. I have seen almost no discussion of that feature (except for subwoofers) and I thought it would be best to describe my system. It is in a large multifunctional room with the equipment roughly 1/3 into the long axis. So everything is visible from all sides and thus I must avoid excessive cables and other toys.
The speakers were designed and made by myself. The woofers are Accuton S280 and I was originally using Manger MSW for Mid to high but one of them degraded and I started to develop my own bending wave transducers. After many generations they sound better than what I had originally. The actual cross-over frequency is at 350 Hz.
My Devialet D-Premier upgraded to D250 is used for mid/highs (high pass via the configurator).
Line out (low pass) is connected to Kharma MP150 mono amps driving the woofers.
My main source is an antique Meridian 208 used as a CD transport and is still the best sounding digital source I have tried. I really like it's design!
Additionally I am using an Astell&Kern AK120 via Toslink and a Macbook Pro via AIR/ethernet or Audirvana Plus via USB.
Power is supplied via a dedicated circuit and floor outlets requiring only very short power cords.
Speaker cables and interconnect are DIY (silver based) and run in that floor raceway.
I think presently I need to improve my digital sources, searching but I have not found anything yet worth investing in.
When I got the D-Premier I was using a passive crossover in my speakers but switching to that digital cross-over function was a very significant improvement of sound quality: much more dynamic, better bass control and extension, better resolution, decay, imaging.
Any passive crossover no matter how expensive the components reduce sound quality and efficiency. Almost all commercial speakers are based on passive crossovers and only very few have the option to circumvent these and allow there use bi-amping with an active cross over. There is an increasing number of manufacturers which are producing active loudspeakers which now contain mostly digital crossovers (e.g. Merdian, Linn, Manger, PMC, Genelec etc.).
Devialet was originally very attuned to digital cross-overs but the options on the configurator are somewhat limited and not much developed further. The crossover slopes are less than they are supposed to be and no really steep slopes are available but that does not matter too much for my setup as one can choose slopes and crossover frequencies independently for high and low pass (out). Choosing these parameters requires measurements. One thing is totally missing but originally announced is time domain correction (I think the main reason why SAM works for many speakers). I hope it will be implemented one day.
Active cross-overs are beyond what SAM can do as it eliminates the passive components. Some of the commercial speakers could be modified to use active cross-overs but now it is mostly the domain of DIY in connection with Devialet.
The speakers were designed and made by myself. The woofers are Accuton S280 and I was originally using Manger MSW for Mid to high but one of them degraded and I started to develop my own bending wave transducers. After many generations they sound better than what I had originally. The actual cross-over frequency is at 350 Hz.
My Devialet D-Premier upgraded to D250 is used for mid/highs (high pass via the configurator).
Line out (low pass) is connected to Kharma MP150 mono amps driving the woofers.
My main source is an antique Meridian 208 used as a CD transport and is still the best sounding digital source I have tried. I really like it's design!
Additionally I am using an Astell&Kern AK120 via Toslink and a Macbook Pro via AIR/ethernet or Audirvana Plus via USB.
Power is supplied via a dedicated circuit and floor outlets requiring only very short power cords.
Speaker cables and interconnect are DIY (silver based) and run in that floor raceway.
I think presently I need to improve my digital sources, searching but I have not found anything yet worth investing in.
When I got the D-Premier I was using a passive crossover in my speakers but switching to that digital cross-over function was a very significant improvement of sound quality: much more dynamic, better bass control and extension, better resolution, decay, imaging.
Any passive crossover no matter how expensive the components reduce sound quality and efficiency. Almost all commercial speakers are based on passive crossovers and only very few have the option to circumvent these and allow there use bi-amping with an active cross over. There is an increasing number of manufacturers which are producing active loudspeakers which now contain mostly digital crossovers (e.g. Merdian, Linn, Manger, PMC, Genelec etc.).
Devialet was originally very attuned to digital cross-overs but the options on the configurator are somewhat limited and not much developed further. The crossover slopes are less than they are supposed to be and no really steep slopes are available but that does not matter too much for my setup as one can choose slopes and crossover frequencies independently for high and low pass (out). Choosing these parameters requires measurements. One thing is totally missing but originally announced is time domain correction (I think the main reason why SAM works for many speakers). I hope it will be implemented one day.
Active cross-overs are beyond what SAM can do as it eliminates the passive components. Some of the commercial speakers could be modified to use active cross-overs but now it is mostly the domain of DIY in connection with Devialet.
