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

[Revel Salon 2]

it's all in the review....he has Revel Salon 2 in a big listening room...

Guy;-)

 

[das]

I am curious what speakers are you using with yours? In what size room?

I have quite a number of speakers I use, but the "references" are Revel Salon2s. My room measures about 18' x 38' in total, but about 18' x 16' is what's sectioned off as the listening area.

Doug Schneider

 

[audioarcher]

it's all in the review....he has Revel Salon 2 in a big listening room...

Guy;-)

Ok thanks. I have not heard the newer Revel's either.

 

[das]

Incidentally, distribution in North America (and worldwide) is strong, so these units aren't that hard to find. In North America it's Audio Plus Services (USA) and Plurison (Canada) -- same company really, just different arms for Canada and the USA. They're likely the largest high-end distributor in North America. They're also the Focal distributor.

Doug Schneider

 

[Kingsrule]

I find these comments on the Devialet rather interesting. It could be a case where both "sides" are right as some people expect/want a certain "sound" while others want something else.

As for the "side" I'm on, it's definitely the one that thinks the D-Premier is quite something. As for Stereophile's review, it's quite long after the fact as this product has been on the market for a couple years. Paul Miller of Hi-Fi News in the UK reviewed it first, and then he turned me on to it as he felt it to be the most significant amplifier development of the last 15 years. The fact that he says it's the most impressive product he's ever reviewed for the mag does say something though. I trust he heard what the rest of us did.

I reviewed it more than a year-and-a-half ago and, frankly, haven't heard anything quite as special since. Where the D-Premier might not be "good enough" is simply if it doesn't have enough power. Then again, no amp will be if that's the case. Otherwise...

The D-Premier has many positive attributes, but the three I invite you to explore and compare with other products on the market involve these this things:

1) Play a recording with a lot of spatial information and a truly three-dimensional stage. Familiarize yourself with it on whatever other system you want and then play it trough the D-Premier and see if you don't hear: 1) more information, 2) more starkly defined images, 3) better separation, including a clear-cut delineation between musicians, and 4) a almost holographic presence to the images in the stage. Quite simply, the D-Premier reveals more information than any other set of electronics I've heard that results in sounding, imaging, and detail retrieval that's without peer.

2) Grab an SPL meter an play anything that focuses attention to the mids and highs and play it VERY loudly through any set of electronics. Measure the average SPL. Then do the same thing with the D-Premier and take note if you feel it's not playing loud enough so that you keep turning it up. But check the SPL levels and see if it's the same or higher than what you're were listening at before. What I noticed was the D-Premier was so clean and clear and grainless, that at first I thought it wasn't play loud enough. But then I realized I was listening at far higher levels than before any other amp/preamp combinations were simply sounding louder because they were getting what I like to call "rangy" -- noisy, out of control, etc. The D-Premier remains remarkably composed at any point up to clipping.

3) Finally, the bass. When I first started listening to the D-Premier I feared a lack of bass. So I concentrated on bass-centric recordings and found that what I was hearing wasn't just deep, but astonishingly tight. Bass drums had visceral impact like I'd never heard before. Measurements of the D-Premier show an extremely low output impedance and a sky-high damping factory. It's control of the loudspeaker, particularly in the bass, is vise-like and, in my opinion, better than any amp out there.

These are just a few things that I want to point out because when I read so many comments, there are very few specifics. I encourage you to seek this product out and listen for what I mentioned. If you don't hear a difference, or the difference doesn't matter, so be it. But if you do hear the differences, as I did, you might find it difficult to listen to anything else after and not desire the same.

Here's my review from about a year-and-a-half ago: http://www.soundstagehifi.com/index...5-devialet-d-premier-integrated-amplifier-dac

Thanks,
Doug Schneider

Having owned a Devaliet for over a year I can say the I do not agree at all with #1. In fact, I believe its the Devaliet's biggest downside......

 

[das]

Having owned a Devaliet for over a year I can say the I do not agree at all with #1. In fact, I believe its the Devaliet's biggest downside......

Wow, all that I can say is that I'm very surprised. But you do own the unit. This is the first time I've heard this -- even John Atkinson in his review mentioned hearing things on one familiar track he'd never heard before. Very interesting. What have you heard that's outdone it?

Doug Schneider

 

[NorthStar]

This does indeed look very interesting. Nice to see also that the good people of vivid recognize the quality of this particular B&O lifestyle product
View attachment 7090

That is a great picture, thanx for posting it. :b

 

[Elberoth]

I do not believe in such coincidences and, let's be clear, I do personally question the bias of this contributor. The wording of his posts, his immediate reference to previous comments from Samir,... All that does simply not feel real the least bit, folks into high end audio just don't roam forums one year after a disapointing session to trash products, those folks also don't stop a test after 2 days without testing various interconnects,... and they would not advise such equipment to non audiophiles unless they are high end audio pro themselves, which means pre-existing links withcompetotors.

I can understand your suspictions. But think about this - everyone has to start SOMETIME, with zero posts. I got an early invitation from Steve (he knew me from AudiogoN, where you can find several hundred of my posts from the past 7-8 years, under the same nickname), when he was setting up this forum, but somehow, I did not register at first and than missed this forum completely. It was only after last week, when I was pointed to this forum by a fellow audiophile, read several threads, and decided it is worth registering.

I'm not a distributor nor a dealer. What is more - I know the dealer that carries the Devialet very well, as he is the very same person that sold me my Wilsons, darTZeel, Scarlatti and loads of other gear ! So I have absolutely no reason to trash this product, other that the fact, I simply think it sounds average. What is more, I'm still not precluding getting one myself for my living room and replacing my Primare separates (my hi-men rig is in a separated, dedicated listening room), but for the convinience / looks ONLY, with a full knowledge what it can do, and what it cannot do.

FYI - two evenings is a PLENTY of time to assess a product, if you know your system well, as I do. And there are NO interconnects to test

 

[Elberoth]

1) Play a recording with a lot of spatial information and a truly three-dimensional stage. Familiarize yourself with it on whatever other system you want and then play it trough the D-Premier and see if you don't hear: 1) more information, 2) more starkly defined images, 3) better separation, including a clear-cut delineation between musicians, and 4) a almost holographic presence to the images in the stage. Quite simply, the D-Premier reveals more information than any other set of electronics I've heard that results in sounding, imaging, and detail retrieval that's without peer.

I do not agree with you completely on that one. IMO Devialet sound quality takes a downward slope - good to very good bass, avg midrange and poor highs (all relatively speaking ofc).

Spatial information, airiness of surrounding space, decay trails - this is exactly what this amp is missing.

I'm glad to ackowledge, that g977, who have owned a Devaliet for over a year, also concurs.

 

[joeinid]

I can understand your suspictions. But think about this - everyone has to start SOMETIME, with zero posts. I got an early invitation from Steve (he knew me from AudiogoN, where you can find several hundred of my posts from the past 7-8 years, under the same nickname), when he was setting up this forum, but somehow, I did not register at first and than missed this forum completely. It was only after last week, when I was pointed to this forum by a fellow audiophile, read several threads, and decided it is worth registering.

I'm not a distributor nor a dealer. What is more - I know the dealer that carries the Devialet very well, as he is the very same person that sold me my Wilsons, darTZeel, Scarlatti and loads of other gear ! So I have absolutely no reason to trash this product, other that the fact, I simply think it sounds average. What is more, I'm still not precluding getting one myself for my living room and replacing my Primare separates (my hi-men rig is in a separated, dedicated listening room), but for the convinience / looks ONLY, with a full knowledge what it can do, and what it cannot do.

FYI - two evenings is a PLENTY of time to assess a product, if you know your system well, as I do. And there are NO interconnects to test

I know Elberoth from several other forums. His advice to me and others has been nothing but stellar and spot on. He is as honest as the day is long. He has had the opportunity to hear gear that I and many others could only dream about. He probably has the best ears of anyone I know and will tell it like it is, good or bad. I highly respect his opinion and I have followed his posts for many years.

 

[LL21]

I know Elberoth from several other forums. His advice to me and others has been nothing but stellar and spot on. He is as honest as the day is long. He has had the opportunity to hear gear that I and many others could only dream about. He probably has the best ears of anyone I know and will tell it like it is, good or bad. I highly respect his opinion and followed his posts for many years.

+1. I will vouch for Elberoth as forthright and one of the good guys. I have communicated with him for some years, and i am one of those who has read his copious knowledgable, informative posts for a long time. We all have our convictions, and i personally respect his.

 

[Ekmanc]

I guess that's settled then, it's obviously a pretty mediocre product.

 

[joeinid]

I guess that's settled then, it's obviously a pretty mediocre product.

Hey, sometimes I like mediocre. We can't always have filet mignon and lobster. There is no right or wrong. Only what you like or don't like.

 

[Revel Salon 2]

found a nugget here...John Atkinson says on Audio Asylum that the Devialet is almost as good as a Classé amp with DCS....

Guy La Rue

link here: http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/critics/messages/6/67175.html

 

[Elberoth]

Personally, I do not think this particular Classe amp (dedicated for HT setups) can be considered as any kind of benchmark. Same for the Debussy DAC - you can do better for the money (say MSB AnalogDAC for example - and this comes from a long time dCS owner!).

 

[LL21]

I guess that's settled then, it's obviously a pretty mediocre product.

I would not say mediocre...sure, i could think of components i'd rather buy individually than one Devialet...but i would not say its a slam dunk. probably some mix of ARC Ref 3, CD 5, Gryphon integrated/Oppo 83SE...something like that. But you do have to be prepared to give it a little consideration. And upon first sound, with the right track, it can sound downright amazing. Long-term i did not find myself loving it...but impressive.

 

[NorthStar]

I know Elberoth from several other forums. His advice to me and others has been nothing but stellar and spot on. He is as honest as the day is long. He has had the opportunity to hear gear that I and many others could only dream about. He probably has the best ears of anyone I know and will tell it like it is, good or bad. I highly respect his opinion and I have followed his posts for many years.

-- ...And comin' from you Joe, I totally believe and respect all you're sayin'. :b

P.S. That's four lines up here. :b

 

[NorthStar]

-- John Atkinson, could he be wrong sometimes?

* I've been reading his reviews and articles and measurements since he first started.

___________________

But for him, he is right. :b

 

[joeinid]

-- ...And comin' from you Joe, I totally believe and respect all you're sayin'. :b

P.S. That's four lines up here. :b

Bob,

I am doing the best I can. After the bomb diffusing went horribly wrong, I only have 2 fingers left (both of which were my big toes) - and you make fun. Terrible. You are making me very sad.

 

[NorthStar]

Bob,

I am doing the best I can. After the bomb diffusing went horribly wrong, I only have 2 fingers left (both of which were my big toes) - and you make fun. Terrible. You are making me very sad.

---- Oh man, I'm totally lost now!