Devialet vs Everything Else

[Philb]

For me any comparison of amplifiers must be done with the same speakers without moving the speakers, or anything else, in the room.
The contribution of the speakers, the room and the position of the speaker and listener in the room make a massively bigger difference to the sound than any electronics. The only thing which comes close is if you are into analogue sources, particularly LPs where there is, again a much bigger difference between the individual elements of turntable, arm and cartridge than any electronics.
I have heard The Devialet up against Constellation elsewhere and against Goldmund, Job and valve amps here and I find the Devialet very close to the Constellation (I prefer the Devialet), it is much less coloured than either the normal push-pull but particularly SET amps which are warm but lacking detail in comparison.

The recording itself, speakers and room acoustics are pretty well 100% responsible for the imaging - expecting much contribution to this from the electronics is an error IME.

Overall the Devialet is the least coloured amp I have heard, which isn't necessarily what everybody wants. There are times when I feel like using my valve amp - but not often...

+1 re comparisons are best done in a controlled manner, and also re Devialet seems to be the least coloured system that I have had - 'seems' because my ancillary gear, eg. cables, speakers, source, have all changed over time, somewhat confounding any comparison between systems.

Over time I have cycled through Halcro DM58 monoblocks/DM8 preamp, and EAR Yoshino 509 monoblocks/868 preamp, and notwithstanding my constant faffing around with ancillary gear, and I am happiest with the Devialet sound and functionality.