Goodbye to Devialet - after upgrade program

[RebelMan]

Wouldn't it be better in most cases to just get a second unit to double up in terms of SQ improvements ?

I mean, going from D200 to D400 by getting a second D200 seems as though it would offer a larger improvement in sound and be far more cost effective.

There are some very very good deals on the current models at the moment and that too me is far more attractive than the upgrade price offered for the D200 to move up.

No.  More power does not equate to better sound quality.  More power equates to more output (SPL) and more headroom but that's all.  Unless your system requires more power to suppress potential distortions from driving the volume up it would be unnecessary to increase it.

I tend to disagree. When I upgraded from 170 to 200, my Dynaudio C1's (Love power!) sounded much better at low volumes. I understand not all speakers need power though

I reviewed the impedance and phase curves for your speakers and while they are rated a nominal 4 ohms, they never dip that low throughout the pass band.  On average they perform more like 6 ohm speakers.  Although they are rated with an 88 dB sensitivity they test closer to 85 dB and while they won't win any awards for being the easiest speakers to drive they really aren't that difficult either.  At 100 watts output (into an 8 ohm load) the a Devialet 120 would have no problem pushing the C1's to near reference volumes (96 dB+ in your case) at a listening position less than four meters away in a typical home environment.  Given the stiffness of the Devialet's power supply (it's linear down to 2 ohms!!!) it will never run short on current given the light (6 ohm) load.  So it really comes down to how loud you listen and for how long.  Assuming a 10 dB delta swing you could set your volume to 86 dB and never breach the limits of any Devialet.  The 200 will add about 2dB more headroom but its inconsequential, especially if you value your hearing for the long haul.