Upgrade D-Prem?

[ozthepoz]

In the website there is no more a direct comparison of 200 and 250. But there is one for 400 and 800. The relevant sections are:

AMPLIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
Analog/Digital Converter component TI PCM4220, 24 bit/192 kHz -
upsampling of all content

DSP 400 MHz 4 channels 40 bit/192 kHz floating point
Single Ultra High Precision clock, low jitter
Patented ADH Core (Analog Digital Hybrid)
Patented Ultra Linear Class A
Patented "Magic Wire" Digital/Analog Converter - component TI PCM1792, 24 bit/192 kHz
Patented Switch Mode Power Supply 600W, peak 3000W


AMPLIFIER PERFORMANCE

THD+N (harmonic distortion) at full power: 0.00025%
IMD (intermodulation) SMTPE: 0.00025%
SNR (Signal-to-Noise ratio): 133 dB-A
No measurable thermal distortion
Output impedance: <0.001 Ω
Bandwidth, digital inputs @ 8 to 2 Ω load: DC–87kHz (-3dB), DC–60kHz (-1dB), DC–30kHz (-0.1dB);
analog inputs: same except 0.1Hz (-3dB)


Same for both 400 and 800. Hence should be for 200 and 250.

This tells me 200 and 250 are electronically identical. I also asked the same question to Devialet people couple of months back and this was the answer I got, albeit unofficially.

I do not have the internal pictures, but when I tested 170 at home, I could not find any difference at low to mid volumes compared to 250. When you push at high volumes, 250 had more breath, that was all.

Apart from inputs, the only different breed of the family is the 120:

120: Low Power D-Amp with 1 transformer and 4 inductors per channel

Others: High Power D-Amp with 3 transformers and 12 inductors per channel

All info from devialet.com.

I demoed a 170 and a D-Premier about 6 months ago and there was a noticeable difference into my ML Vantage electrostatics. With the 170, I kept reaching for the volume knob to increase volume - I just wasn't getting the detail at normal listening volumes.

The D-Prem, otoh, sounded powerful, detailed and grippy all the way through.

Of course, I know the 170 is now a 200, but - trusting my ears - I'm pleased I went for the D-Premier.

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I sent mine in for upgrade yesterday, can't wait to get it back

Let us know how you get on. Alan Sircom in hi-fi+ reckons there isn't much of a difference, but the consensus on here and on the 'wam is that it's well worth doing. Be interested in your opinion.