Hifi Pig 220 Pro Review

[Blackmorec]

We need to have an open mind here.  I think most of us are so used to seeing glowing reviews for Devialet that now, long after the honeymoon is over, we have become defensive about what "they" are saying lately.  Let's face it, the Devialet is no longer the market disrupter it once was and as such has become somewhat complacent.  If we assume Devialet had the right intentions and in fact made a better performing product could it be that it has become too good?

When I met with Alan Clark (Linn/Classe) our conversation gravitated towards a discussion of the merits of sound quality.  I mentioned a few things about the character (insert emotion) that an pre-amplifier and/or power amplifier convey by using terms like "warmth" and so forth.  Soon after which he seemed to become a bit incensed (I think mostly having to do with his objection to where the company was heading, but I digress).  He responded by telling me "it should be as transparent and colorless as possible".  Maybe the Pro series has achieved this illustrious goal and people just aren't quite use to it yet? 

When any amplifying device is fully transparent and colourless then everything we hear must be as a result of the recording unless what we hear is present in every recording, then its a result of the preceding gear. All that’s going on in this review is that the Devialet is revealing shortcomings in the upstream chain and the reviewer has attributed that incorrectly to the Devialet. If I was a manufacturer and managed to achieve something as transparent and neutral as the Devialet, that would annoy me.  If I was a potential buyer and I read the review under discussion I would probably dismiss the Devialet as I don’t like the characteristics she describes, which were inherent in old digital gear. In reality the Devialet has non of those characteristics and its the review that’s of poor quality.