@audio_engr - First to say that there are some good points above from @David A @Will @Vivialet, I pretty much agree with what has been posted already.
What I can add is that when I had my D800, it was fairly easy to try a decent front end, and get a nice hike in sound quality. For example, I was running a microRendu / Mutec MC3+USB with the D800 and this I much preferred to AIR. When I moved to the 1000Pro, the big surprise was just how well AIR performs. When trying a comparison of the mR / MC3+USB versus AIR on the Pro, the result was that there is very little difference. I have not yet tried the Network Bridge, so I cannot comment on that, but I have been running the SOtM "bundle", with the Mutec MC3+USB and REF10, and this just edges away from AIR.
So..... If it was my money, I would go for the Pro upgrade and run this with AIR, you might find this is all you desire. Plus, you are then in the latest Devialet "eco system", so you might benefit from future updates, such as Roon RAAT, as has already been mentioned, and anything else that might arrive in the future. One point about the Network Bridge, it does not have a 10MHz reference clock input, so you cannot connect the REF10 direct to the Network Bridge, so you would need something like the Mutec MC3+USB to generate the required word clock signals. So you need to add the cost of an MC3+USB, plus the cost of some decent cables. So why not try the Pro with Roon AIR, you might find this is all you need and desire, you could always add something like the Network Bridge later if you really feel the need. Mindful that AIR with the Pro sounds as good as the Pro with a reasonably good front end, a decent front end on the Expert is unlikely to top it for ultimate sound quality.
The big question remains, is the sound quality hike that the Pro offers worth $8000? I cannot answer this, other than to suggest you look at the links in post #14 of this thread, or better still borrow one to try. (I appreciate this might be difficult in your location) Although I do have a gut feeling that your 802 D3's are easily of standard that would benefit nicely from the Pro's goodness. Of course, you could spend $8000 on gambling and fine wines, or whatever else takes your fancy.
As a last point, it is wrong to buy something on the promise of future features, but I think the Pro makes a case for itself as it stands now. So if Devialet surprise us and something good does arrive as an upgrade, it is a simple bonus.
EDIT: My post crossed with @mdconnelly 's, but it looks like we are saying something very similar.
What I can add is that when I had my D800, it was fairly easy to try a decent front end, and get a nice hike in sound quality. For example, I was running a microRendu / Mutec MC3+USB with the D800 and this I much preferred to AIR. When I moved to the 1000Pro, the big surprise was just how well AIR performs. When trying a comparison of the mR / MC3+USB versus AIR on the Pro, the result was that there is very little difference. I have not yet tried the Network Bridge, so I cannot comment on that, but I have been running the SOtM "bundle", with the Mutec MC3+USB and REF10, and this just edges away from AIR.
So..... If it was my money, I would go for the Pro upgrade and run this with AIR, you might find this is all you desire. Plus, you are then in the latest Devialet "eco system", so you might benefit from future updates, such as Roon RAAT, as has already been mentioned, and anything else that might arrive in the future. One point about the Network Bridge, it does not have a 10MHz reference clock input, so you cannot connect the REF10 direct to the Network Bridge, so you would need something like the Mutec MC3+USB to generate the required word clock signals. So you need to add the cost of an MC3+USB, plus the cost of some decent cables. So why not try the Pro with Roon AIR, you might find this is all you need and desire, you could always add something like the Network Bridge later if you really feel the need. Mindful that AIR with the Pro sounds as good as the Pro with a reasonably good front end, a decent front end on the Expert is unlikely to top it for ultimate sound quality.
The big question remains, is the sound quality hike that the Pro offers worth $8000? I cannot answer this, other than to suggest you look at the links in post #14 of this thread, or better still borrow one to try. (I appreciate this might be difficult in your location) Although I do have a gut feeling that your 802 D3's are easily of standard that would benefit nicely from the Pro's goodness. Of course, you could spend $8000 on gambling and fine wines, or whatever else takes your fancy.
As a last point, it is wrong to buy something on the promise of future features, but I think the Pro makes a case for itself as it stands now. So if Devialet surprise us and something good does arrive as an upgrade, it is a simple bonus.
EDIT: My post crossed with @mdconnelly 's, but it looks like we are saying something very similar.
1000 Pro - KEF Blade - iFi Zen Stream - Mutec REF10 - MC3+USB - Pro-Ject Signature 12
