Has anyone heard the Devialet D-Premier Integrated Amp/DAC

[moreno1973]

Been experimenting recently with the phono settings and the analog input.
I was told to use the 96kHz as the 192kHz were introducing noise but I discovered that even introducing a bit of noise the sound at 192 is a lot better.
Wondering what other people are using and what are people experiences.

thanks

I think that any analog inputs are worse than the digital ones. From all Devialet's inputs I prefer coaxial one with high quality cable. Transparent Reference XL costs crazy money but effects are wonderful. Does anybody compared coaxial and AES/BUS inputs using the same cable model? Any differences?

 

[Orb]

I think that any analog inputs are worse than the digital ones. From all Devialet's inputs I prefer coaxial one with high quality cable. Transparent Reference XL costs crazy money but effects are wonderful. Does anybody compared coaxial and AES/BUS inputs using the same cable model? Any differences?

I have but it was the transport IMO that generated subtle differences - used Crystal Cable reference.

Cheers
Orb

 

[bernardl]

I have just received my Devialet 240 back after upgrade from D1.

I have only tested the USB connection so far using a dirt cheap USB cable that was stored in a closet (it must have shipped with some device I bought years back). The sound is extremely transparent, probably more so than what I remember of the D1, but it does currently sound a little brightish. It could have to do with the new components needing a bit of break in.

I'll have a much better specced USB cable from Viard Audio arriving next week, I'll report back about possible differences. I am not sure to understand why there should be any on an asynchronous solution though.

Cheers,
Bernard

 

[Orb]

I have just received my Devialet 240 back after upgrade from D1.

I have only tested the USB connection so far using a dirt cheap USB cable that was stored in a closet (it must have shipped with some device I bought years back). The sound is extremely transparent, probably more so than what I remember of the D1, but it does currently sound a little brightish. It could have to do with the new components needing a bit of break in.

I'll have a much better specced USB cable from Viard Audio arriving next week, I'll report back about possible differences. I am not sure to understand why there should be any on an asynchronous solution though.

Cheers,
Bernard

Look forward to your thoughts after a little more run-in time.
Maybe one difference as well being warm up time?
I appreciate the original needed hardly any, maybe the newer version requires more power up time *shrug*.
That said probably needs a little break in as you say.

Cheers
Orb

 

[Orb]

I think that any analog inputs are worse than the digital ones. From all Devialet's inputs I prefer coaxial one with high quality cable. Transparent Reference XL costs crazy money but effects are wonderful. Does anybody compared coaxial and AES/BUS inputs using the same cable model? Any differences?

Just to add moreno as I forgot to say this earlier.
I did notice subtle difference between 2 AES digital cables as I had both for awhile; Transparent Reference digital and Crystal Cable.
Interestingly Transparent had much more bass and subtle difference in stage/phase type information to that of the Crystal Cable.
So I do feel Devialet can show up said differences, personally I felt the Crystal Cable may had been more accurate *shrug*.

Cheers
Orb

 

[Petter]

hi

Am intresting in your experience when upgrade the D premier to Full 240 D,any experience so far ?

I am little confused since i "maybe" not think it was a clear way forward sound wise ?? feel that the 240 one clearly go to the bright side after the upgrade ?

Been using it for a week now with factory settings,will look into this tonight,also changed the PC to Nordost,but that schouldent change anything here ??

 

[IanG-UK]

hi

Am intresting in your experience when upgrade the D premier to Full 240 D,any experience so far ?

I am little confused since i "maybe" not think it was a clear way forward sound wise ?? feel that the 240 one clearly go to the bright side after the upgrade ?

Been using it for a week now with factory settings,will look into this tonight,also changed the PC to Nordost,but that schouldent change anything here ??

I've had Devialet 500s for three months having had my D-Premiers revised after having them for one and two years. There was a two week gap during the revision work; I cannot say I can discern any sound difference between the old and the new.

The new has a few advantages; a new five year guarantee; more extensive DSP facilities; more useful (for me) ethernet and USB connectors; and a nicer (in my view) display screen.

This remains a remarkable piece of kit with fantastic sound quality and great versatility in a remarkably small wall-mountable package.

 

[Petter]

yes it is a remarkable piece of kit,was just little confused here in the start up

will give it some time and see,and do some small adjustments

 

[bernardl]

hi

Am intresting in your experience when upgrade the D premier to Full 240 D,any experience so far ?

I am little confused since i "maybe" not think it was a clear way forward sound wise ?? feel that the 240 one clearly go to the bright side after the upgrade ?

Been using it for a week now with factory settings,will look into this tonight,also changed the PC to Nordost,but that schouldent change anything here ??

Having just compared USB and Air Ethernet on a 240 upgraded from D1, I very clearly prefer ethernet.

It does overall sound a bit brighter still, but it may be better than last week. I do also agree with Orb that the warm up time may be a bit longer. A bit of break in may help, we'll know more in a few days.

Cheers,
Bernard

 

[Nightmare]

You should another USB cable ;-)

Here asynchrone USB from Mac is the better solution.
Maybe I should try a better Ethernet cable

 

[MRJAZZ]

hi

Am intresting in your experience when upgrade the D premier to Full 240 D,any experience so far ?

I am little confused since i "maybe" not think it was a clear way forward sound wise ?? feel that the 240 one clearly go to the bright side after the upgrade ?

Been using it for a week now with factory settings,will look into this tonight,also changed the PC to Nordost,but that schouldent change anything here ??

THE power cord change to NORDOST could indeed be the source of the perceived "brightness" change you are hearing. I have no experience with D premier, however any new element introduced such as a PC, can have a marked effect. Give the NORDOST some time to settle in (200 hours), and see what you hear. You may want to try a different PC as well. They do have an effect on perceived tonal balance, just like an interconnect, speaker wire, etc.
CHEERS............T

 

[Petter]

mnjaa ….its a new Nordost Frey 2 with a factory made plug for the Devialet,been running non stop for a week now,did swap back and forward to the naim powerline and some Audioqest NRG-2 with the same result

The new Frey 2 is actually not very bright soundvice ,should be a perfect match…..at least on paper

I have the devialet on Radio Pradice non stop now,so lets see how it develop ,i just cross my fingers….did by the latest Robert Cry Band CD today,first time i couldn't play that kind of music loud did get a bit tiring and tin in the top when he play he's guitar,had to turn down the volume ……

 

[SupremeAV]

There are some nice upgrades and new firmware (7.1) coming out during the Munch HiFi show on May 15th keep an eye out for e-mails from Devialet guys!

 

[colonel66]

There are some nice upgrades and new firmware (7.1) coming out during the Munch HiFi show on May 15th keep an eye out for e-mails from Devialet guys!

For those that can't wait two weeks, here are exerts from Hi Fi News Magazine:


SAM (Speaker Active Matching) has been described by Devialet as its' second technical revolution following the ADH concept at the heart of its amplifiers. SAM was conceived to allow any Devialet amplifier to adapt its behaviour to the attached loudspeaker by processing the audio signal in the digital domain according to a detailed mathematical model of the loudspeaker's bass performance (up to 150Hz). The proprietary code accounts for the speaker's electrical, mechanical and acoustical behaviour and runs in realtime on the amplifier's spare' 400MHz SHARC DSP (one of three). Sample-by-sample, it claims to compute the exact voltage to be applied to the loudspeaker to ensure that its low frequency acoustical response remains a faithful image of the recorded

Currently only one B&W and one Vivid loudspeaker are accommodated, but once a wider range is mapped by Devialet, and the system goes 'live', its customers will be able to select their own speaker from a list and download and install the SAM software via Devialet's website "configurator".

Despite the investment in staff and resources to complete this multi-year coding project, SAM will be free to existing Devialet owners who may now vote online for their favourite models to be included!

Paul Millers gets to play with SAM
SAM is a pre-programmed DSP model of a loudspeaker's low frequency behavior that matches the air pressure received by the recording microphone with the output of the loudspeaker' says Pierre' Emmanuel Calmel, Devialet's co'founder. Eventually any choice of speaker may be downloaded to your Devialet amp (currently only the B&W 802D and a Vivid have been mapped).

But before we explore what SAM is, it's important to state what it isn’t. SAM is not invasive - the speaker, its crossover and drivers do not require modification. Neither is SAM a feedback-controlled correction, a room compensation regime or a form of bass boost. lnstead, correction is applied dynamically, sample-by-sample in the time domain according to all known performance attributes of the loudspeaker cabinet, crossover and drivers. The real-time model{s) currently operate between 10-150Hz, depending on the capabilities of the loudspeaker.

The position and acceleration of all the drivers is precisely modeled and controlled according to the cabinet dimensions, volume, compliance of the air,
mass of air in the vent and reflex losses. All linear and non-linear Theile & Small driver parameters are accommodated including resonance frequency, Q and force factor, moving mass, suspension compliance, diaphragm area, etc. The list goes on.

Devialet has even invested in a (laser) Scanning Vibrometer from Klippel to develop 3D maps of the speaker's low-frequency drivers. The support of the loudspeaker's manufacturer is not necessarily required, it seems...

Of course, by fully controlling the amplitude and phase response of the speaker's output, SAM promises to maximise the bass extension of any speaker without ever moving its drivers outside their safe excursion range. Similarly, the non-linear inductance of voice coils, eddy currents in the motor system, power dissipation and heating effect of the voice coils can also be precisely mapped, Thermal compression and other distortions, typically unavoidable or uncontrollable with conventional power amp/passive speaker combinations can now be, well, avoided

But enough of the theory. What does SAM sound like? ln short, it's jaw-dropping. A rerun of Harald Kloser's theme tune from Thee Day After Tomorrow (44.1kHz/16-bit FI-AC file) made me jump off the sofa. Without SAM, the dual mono Devialet 500 and B&W 802D combination sounded fabulous - the breadth and depth of this atmospheric score filling the room with a peerless clarity. Or so I thought. Then I switched in the SAM algorithm for B&W's 802Ds.

From the first note, the first touch of bow on strings it was immediately obvious - not only to myself but also the other three listeners in the room - that the midrange and treble octaves possessed a greater clarity, transparency and sheer poise. But SAM only works up to 150Hz...

Evidently, by precisely anchoring the two bass units there's less harmonic distortion and other colour working up into the higher ranges. But I was still in my seat. Then the first murmur of timpani was revealed and like a freight train gliding on ice it slipped through the orchestra, its weight palpable, its momentum and gravitas undeniable.

For one distracted moment l thought I'd left my 1kW subwoofer connected and the roof was about to be raised. I jumped up only for the pressure wave to pass. Despite my rattled ribs, the 802Ds had not exploded, for this was the cleanest, deepest bass I'd ever heard extracted from a cabinet of this size. SAM had done its stuff, obliging these two 8in bass units to move precisely and safely to accurately reproduce the sound of this deepest and most resonant of instruments.

So is SAM the future of precision amp/ speaker matching? For Devialet and its customers, certainly. But don't expect the concept to migrate further afield anytime soon

Time to upgrade my Premier Ds to Devialet 500
So during July whilst I am on holiday, Devialet will be upgrading my two Premier D's to full Devialet 500's including new casing and 6 year warranty. Then i wait patiently for SAM for Vivid G1. Apparently some time before christmas

 

[Nightmare]

There are some nice upgrades and new firmware (7.1) coming out during the Munch HiFi show on May 15th keep an eye out for e-mails from Devialet guys!

That contradicts the information that a 6.1 will be launched in June as mentioned in another other forum :

While there was no presentation about the Devialet products, their newsletter says that a new firmware (v6.1) is expected to be released in June.

So who is wrong and who is wright

And I never got an eMail from Devialet so far when new firmware had been out

 

[SupremeAV]

That contradicts the information that a 6.1 will be launched in June as mentioned in another other forum :


So who is wrong and who is wright

And I never got an eMail from Devialet so far when new firmware had been out

I'm a dealer so this is straight from Devialet in fact 7.0 is coming up a lil sooner

 

[gtiboy]

Hi all, can anyone tell me if the dac chips in the Devialet, the PCM 1792 is the best sounding chips they can use?

Just wondering if they could really extract more performance from it?

 

[Ekmanc]

Hi all, can anyone tell me if the dac chips in the Devialet, the PCM 1792 is the best sounding chips they can use?

Just wondering if they could really extract more performance from it?

Strange question, why would they use a chip they didn't think was the best possible chip for their application?

 

[Ekmanc]

A little tip for those of us who use banana plugs, try screwing off the outer casing of the speaker plug on the amplifier...

 

[Nightmare]

I'm a dealer so this is straight from Devialet in fact 7.0 is coming up a lil sooner

Thx for the outing and the information ;-)