Has anyone heard the Devialet D-Premier Integrated Amp/DAC
- Thread starter FrantzM
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HiFi News suggest that there is a tweak to the D-Premier (USB and Ethernet connections), a new processing board in the D-Premier, lower cost casework and possibly some lower power lower functionality cheaper amplifier(s). No suggestion of a new state of the art model.
All this came direct from a visit to Devialet in Paris. In HFN magazine June 2013 issue.
I think it is highly unlikely that a "state of the art" model will emerge - but I think it likely that something will.
Firstly, the existing D-Premier has probably had the best even flood of outstanding reviews of any top end equipment I can recall, certainly since the Quad ESL63 in 1981. There would be little mileage in undermining such a highly rated product - especially one which has the capacity to be updated via downloadable software improvements - by a "better" product (were that possible).
Secondly, the existing D-Premier, at c£10,000, is not a mass market or even middle market product - so a "better" product at, say, c£20,000 will have an even smaller market including (and probably excluding) a lot of those who signed up for the D-Premier proposition. Far better, commercially, will be a move by Devialet to produce a simpler lower powered unit at, say, c£6,000 which might quadruple their potential customer base.
Just my opinion ...
Well it depends on your "downscale" definition.
I suspect in the UK that a DAC/pre/pwr based system including the Devialet at £11k ends up with a total price of £20k-£25k for a single source system - probably more if vinyl led. I also suspect that there is very little volume above a £25k single source system limit in the UK. Overseas may be different.
But mass-market single source separates systems start at less than £1k in the UK (and probably in Europe too) so I suggest there is plenty of room for a £6k unit - provided it sounds great - without deeming it to be materially downscale.
We shall see at Munich.
They already have the GBP 20,000, 40,000 and even 60,000 products. Using them in dual mono or quad configuration in by-amp sounds much better than a single stereo unit. I have to say I was disappointed when I listened to it - good bye myth of the perfect system in a single nice box!
Although I dis not have the pleasure to listen to it, I was told that a system using the TheSonusfaber (with its tri-wire capability ) with six Devialets has sounded impressive.
Very true - I run twin Devialets myself - so they have, to a degree, the pricier end covered.
http://www.homecinema-fr.com/haute-fidelite/05/2013/en-direct-du-salon-high-end-munich-2013/
Still nothing on the devialet website but basically 4 new models from 5000 euros to 23000 with many new features
USB Ethernet but no DSD or Multichannel
The model 240 looks like the D Premier. The question is: is the upgrade possible (mother card) and at which price ?
Thanks
Philoouu
Still nothing on the devialet website but basically 4 new models from 5000 euros to 23000 with many new features
USB Ethernet but no DSD or Multichannel
The model 240 looks like the D Premier. The question is: is the upgrade possible (mother card) and at which price ?
Thanks
Philoouu
Answer is already on the website 3500 euros for the upgrade but not sure if the USB and Ethernet needs another 2000 Euros... Not 100% clear
http://en.devialet.com/blog-en-us/d-premier-range.-my-devialet-forever./
As I remember there will be two level of the upgrades, one is changing the back with the new connector, including the USB and Ethernet and the DSP board, and a full upgrade including the new power supply. It should include the first level upgrade. If I remember well.
The site does say "Less than" for the price of the 2 upgrade packages mentioned on the site, so this should not mean EUR3500 or 2000. Better to talk with Devialet since I can imagine there will be a number of cases such as new D-Premier owners who very recently bought, single unit and multi unit users that may need some differentiation. Hopefully there is good recognition of early adopters of tech that was far from mature compared the the new products which are being launched to new customers off the back of the development as mature products. My hat is off the Devialet for the unique features that they continue to develop which makes this product one of the most versatile and technologically advanced on the market.
Before considering upgrading it will be key to understand the gap in performance between the 240 new model and current model or not if you just want the latest. A list of changes and possibly a photo of the new internals for the 240 to compare with the D-Premier will shed some light on the differences. Seems the same DAC, but power supply is upgraded (changes?), Class A?, Class D?, DSP (but what does this mean for sound quality compared to D-Premier) etc....
From the software side it seems like air at 24/192 is ready (AIR2) as well as a virtual sound device for Mac/PC to allow the use of whatever software they want to playback. I am excited about these new features as I have been recently addicted to Jremote as my controller (using the new Jriver on Mac) and want to use Air as my primary connection. Also, seems like firmware 6 is being released but not sure if there will be 2 versions in future with 2 hardware versions. Can seem to find links for firmware, air and Mac downloads on the new site but the new site is a bit of a nightmare to navigate compared to the old site. Any news on when they will release the new software?
Hopefully some of the early reviews of the new units will use the D-Premier as a benchmark. I would also be interested in a comparison of Air v's Ethernet.
If you are the same Petter who complained on Devialet's Facebook page, then it was told you will not be left without upgrade possibility. By they way if you do not need USB and Ethernet how do you know that the new models will be better? How do you know that the new models are not about getting them made cheaper, generating less heat to get smaller, cheaper made chassis and not overall sound quality? There is a chance that the new pieces will not be significantly better if any better than the old D-Premier... I am happy my Devialets as they are and do not think about any upgrade. The new dsp is about more horse power probably for doing room correction, the D/A and the core ADH modul is the same and Í am not sure that stiffer power supply would make any change I can hear with my existing speakers...
Great for you and happy for that,personally with a brand new unit i would like to have the latest upgrades,specially if the air function have more to go on ?
Ethernet is also something i look forward to and was high up as a upgrade wish earlier,so lets see
?? dont know where i have said that ,butt acc to Devialet they sound better the press in Munchen have been told acc to some forums,i haven't heard them so i don't know !
Would also like to know how it would be to use a second Devialet as my plan are ,if the second one has a different hardware ?
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