New product launch?

[MightyMart]

I would kill someone for D400 (joking). Why is there so many negative words regarding prices, upgrades?.  Who else is offering upgrades? And if you are happy with setup, keep it and ignore upgrade.
And because new models have higher prices, old models wont loose on value a lot, if any.

High end audio is not only about sound quality and how much this or that costs. It is also about the trust that a customer shows the manufacturer when purchasing very expensive gear. 

+1 I think that is absolutely spot on.

Now put yourself into my shoes having purchased Devialet's limited edition, anniversary edition, only to find that 3 months after delivery,  a "better" higher specified model is shipping. There was absolutely "no tact or finesse", to use your exact words, in the way that the launch of the 1000 Pro was communicated. None whatsoever.

Guillaume

I can easily sympathize with the feelings you must have had after having received the news of the 1000 Pro so shortly after your purchase. I would have been completely gutted... 

Yes, it's a good thing Devialet invests in evolving its product line and they have done some really incredible stuff since they saw the light of day. There is however a very fine but equally important line to walk when it comes to getting the balance right between offering new and exciting products to your customers and at the same time letting existing owners take pride in their purchase with a feeling of having (in this case) one of the best amplifiers available on the market.

That owners pride though is easily squandered by too rapid product launches of even better gear and/or a marketing strategy that is increasingly hard to predict for existing owners. Devialet has managed to do both these things in a very short time. How the h*ll can Devialet justify launching the O d'A that is supposed to be the absolute state-of-the-art, "the best we are able to produce right now and for years to come" type of product and just months later trample all over it with the launch of an even better and NOT expect customers to feel disrespected?! I don't even own an O d'A and I get upset just hearing about it.

I started losing faith in Devialet prior to the announcement of the latest hardware upgrade. I had already taken an interest in other hifi brands by manufacturers with a completely different communication and marketing strategy compared to Devialets "we offer the best stuff in the world that will basically sell itself" attitude.

And some of these manufacturers make amplifiers that actually sound a lot better than Devialet and with the latest increases in pricing from Devialet their amplifiers are now approaching the costs of some of the even better ones. This simply makes a transition to another brand much easier to contemplate.

What do I get for being a Devialet owner? What are the benefits not to be found elsewhere? Those are the questions I'm struggling with at the moment and Devialet is playing a dangerous game at the moment if you ask me:

1. The products they offer are no longer all that unique (the physical size and looks of the amplifier put aside).
2. The sound quality is no longer exceptional in the specific price category. 
3. They have and are offering products/applications to customers that are not completely dependable and/or finished. (Ask yourselves what will happen if the coming streamer board will end up with the same critical flaws as AIR...)
4. They have not managed to set up a proper customer support.
5. They have no clear communications or marketing strategy.
6. Other brands also have upgrade programs that offer the existing customer to keep his/hers gear up-to-date.
7. Owners are starting to lose trust in them after having put up with a lot of frustration for years.

This latest development with the upgrade could simply be the straw that broke the famous camels back for some of the more dedicated and demanding owners with lots of cash invested in audio gear. 

Sorry for being all doom and gloom here. I still hope that I am incorrect in my views but it is getting harder for me to believe I really am.