AIR 3 Beta for Mac

[IanG-UK]

I too have been testing the new AIR3 beta and I think it is fair to say that Guillaume and I come to it from different perspectives.

So I am much more of the view that "bits are bits" and that, given that Devialet has consistently used a Mac and AIR in demonstrations and it worked, whereas mine did not, there must be an engineering solution out there. Whereas I think it is fair to say that Guillaume takes the view that laptops and hifi do not comfortably mix and there are (or have been) more robust solutions out there to make good music.

However, we both now experience noise free drop-out free sound and whilst I am wary of commenting on comparative quality I can just say it is seemingly excellent and faultless.

Of course, this does not invalidate other sources which are sonically excellent and operationally preferred but is does appear to show that, finally, Devialet has cracked this issue for me.

I am, like Guillaume, using AIR3 with a Mac and an Od'A and so I have had no opportunity to try it with an 800 or whatever, or with Windows of course, so my delight is tempered with this warning; but if this Od'A is a factor it will clearly need to be part of Devialet's offering at some point, as will a parallel Windows solution.