Expert Pro update email

[agentsmith]

Not whining Wdw, just fact.

The Experts weren’t sold with a promise that you could one day pay to upgrade the unit - they were sold with a promise that the EVO platform provided a unique ability to constantly evolve via free software updates, such that they never became obsolete. Not via buying new or upgraded hardware, but the original purchase would constantly evolve. For free.

Devialet have completely reneged in that promise. If you don’t agree then thats your prerogative, but I think it’s a shameful performance.

If the streaming hardware had become so old it wasn’t feasible to uphold the promise, they should have announced a programme of winding the EVO updates down, and designed a streaming board compatible with older hardware. They didn’t do either.

As it happens, despite not being powerful enough to add some new features, the original streaming hardware still has untapped potential - it could easily be developed further to provide updates. Devialet just chose not to as they don’t want to develop for two platforms. Ie they made a conscious decision to dump development on anything but their latest model - hence the new control software won’t interface with non CI experts. But it could. They’ve chosen not to do it. And they’ve chose to provide no further software/firmware updates.  And that’s something they promised against.

Just to add I think the upgrade program IS good. I upgraded. But that’s a completely different thing entirely to the EVO promise.

Summed up perfectly. For me I feel slightly let down but I am happy as I think my 200 purchase represented great value for money. Their marketing however was exagerated, and that is me using kind terminology. For anyone to think that the original Expert series owners have not been let down, shows they really do not understand the issues.
I am not one of the unhappy owners. I was in the early days as Devialet simply did not deliver., but I have put that behind me. I bought a Melco to get my streaming solution. I have added Roon and I have not looked back, but I totally understand some of the ill feeling towards Devialet as a company.

I understand and agree with the logic as well, they named the platform "EVO" supposedly for a reason.  Although to avoid planned obsolesce I (stupidly?) trusted them one more time and upgraded to CI. 

I also bought a dCS Network Bridge for good measure.  Which I know is kind of redundant especially given that full Devialet Roon integration is in the works, and frankly the latest Devialet firmware is actually quote solid with Roon even through Air.  In fact, I find the dCS with full RAAC has its issue of disappearing from Roon every once in a while.  Such is the problem with computer audio i guess.