Where are the PRO reviews and ads?

[Rama]

I have the same feeling here in Germany, my Devialet dealer in Frankfurt announced some weeks ago to upgrade a Dev 200 to 220 Pro and to invite me to a listening session... still waiting... I think it's not really financially attractive for a high end dealer to offer an upgrade for one unit fitting to all needs instead of offering multiple devices...

Update: today my dealer informed me having received back the upgrade to the 220 Pro and he claimed honestly to hear no difference to the 200. At least he offered me to make my own audition and decision  Not really a kind of aggressive marketing to get higher sales for Devialet

I'd be surprised if you didn't think it sounded better, but I do think there was a bit of overhyping going on (what a surprise).  Thinking about it more logically now, its very much an iterative upgrade - and while I much much prefer the pro to the 200, I would have liked to see more.  Maybe an update to the DAC - chipset or sample rates, to add a bit of future proofing (the competition is at PCM 700-odd, and DSD256/512, not DSD64 and 192).  A new streamer board at the same time as the pro would have been nice too (like a whole product rather than some of it missing).  

OK, so Devialet say these things dont matter and Im not agreeing or disagreeing, but from a dealers perspective its hardly a lot to shout about is it?  Also, was it really Devialet pushing the boundaries, or was it a relatively easy re-jig of the boards to use technology already developed for Phantoms?

Customer:  "So, these new more expensive Pro models, what new features do they have compared to the model that came a few years before"

Dealer:  "Well, it looks identical, has the same DAC specs, same firmware, about .000001 less distortion, the old streamer board, the same case, but a new colour on the remote wheel and power button, and it sounds muuuuuuch better"

Customer: "Ah, OK, what do you have that does DSD512, and is RoonReady?"

To be honest I find the lack of native DSD playback on Devialet as a non-issue from a factual point of view. Of course there will always be marketing hype and the numbers game (first it was 16/44 then 24/48...24/96...24/192... DSD 64.. DSD 128.. DSD 256..DSD 512.....).
It cannot imagine downloading a 4-5GB DSD 512 album...just dont have the time, even 24/192 is like 1-1.5GB which is a 20-25 min download on my 10 Mb/sec connection.   

Next the issue of availability or lack there of DSD titles. Most of these purported DSD titles are just PCM based masters now being sold off as DSD in the first place. I saw Dire Straits Brothers in Arms as a DSD when its well know that it was originally recorded as PCM. So all we are getting is a large bag of crisps with mostly air inside when it comes to DSD in my opinion.

However the titles that are being produced as native DSD are mostly for audiophiles. The top ten Albums on Tidal are not coming out on DSD, it will be most probably in native PCM format at around 16/44 or 24/48. 

As for the lack of Roon, come on guys who wants to pay $500 on metadata. Have you seen the new Qobuz desktop application it is wonderful and full of metadata just like Roon. What we need is 24/192 internet streaming and not MQA, as most people in the western hemisphere have enough bandwidth.