Devialet or Pure Class A

[iceman16]

Please share your thoughts..

 

[ID.]

In principle, Devialet for the convenience and extra power. Plus it's compact and looks sexy. Never actually heard a Devialet though so I'd definitely be auditioning to see what I liked the sound of, but the convenience and looks would influence my decision.

 

[drummerman]

'Pure' class A as a USP was the industries response to (relatively) high transistor amplifier distortion certain products had 3 or so decades ago (though the concept has of course been used/known much longer) .

I would argue that it is unneccessary these days. Most decently constructed amplifiers have vanishingly low distortion figures, often with no measurable differences to something operating in constant Class A.

regards

 

[CnoEvil]

Please share your thoughts..

Thoughts are all I can give you, as I haven't heard a Devialet:

- It depends on your priorities (aside from SQ) eg. Aesthetics, Power Consumption, Facilities, DSP etc

- Speaker matching will be crucial

- I would expect the Devialet to be ultra clean and detailed and not quite as emotionally involving as a good Class A, but imo this can largely be mitigated with speaker choice.

FWIW. It is the most interesting modern alternative atm designed for the 21st Century Audiophile. If I had the money and was looking to change, it would be on the top of my list. I would be looking to pair it with some decent SFs or New Kef Refs (or better still Mini Blades).

I would like to see it using UPNP protocol; I also hope that it is financially secure.....this is due to the undoubted big development costs, which combined with the fact that it hasn't a cheap "high turnover" alternative in its range, means it has to sell a lot of highend units, to pay off the bank and make money. To my eyes, it is ripe to be taken over by one of the big boys, who can give it the ongoing funding it deserves. Please note, this is all pure conjecture on my part.

 

[matt49]

Hello iceman!

I was in a similar situation to you: Devialet or Class A. I was tending towards the MF AMS35i, but I thought I'd give the Dev 170 (as was then) a try, even though it looked like a piece of showy bling to me. I was staggered by its quality, and I decided on the Devialet (a year ago already!) on the basis of SQ alone. It seemed to me that the Dev was simply more transparent than the Class A amps I auditioned (MF, Pass Labs, Accuphase, Luxman). I seemed to be hearing more of the music: more presence, more subtlety, more drama.

It's only since owning the Dev that its other advantages have really come home to me.

PRICE the Dev 200 is around the same price as comparable Class A amps, but it is a much more rounded package as it includes a DAC and phono stage -- apparently one of the best there is, according to some folks whose judgement I trust. A Dev is also a streamer: just connect your Mac or PC via ethernet or wirelessly, and you have a top-notch digital source for no expense. My main source is a PC running JRiver controlled by JRemote on an iPad.

EASE OF USE the remote control is lovely to use. You can also control the Dev with an iPad app.

CONFIGURABILITY the ability to adjust settings through the online configurator opens up a whole world of possibilities. I actually do use the tone controls; of course you can adjust their parameters.

UPGRADABILITY every six months or so Dev introduces a new batch of functions. Most recently it was the ability to use the USB port to output a digital stream, which means the Dev is now probably the best solution on the market for archiving vinyl. Genius!

SAM Dev already had class-leading bass performance, with its high damping factor and low output impedance. Its ability to drive difficult speakers is legendary. SAM markedly improves bass performance for small and medium-sized speakers. Most people report improvements with bigger speakers too, those these are less marked.

Cheers,

Matt

 

[Macspur]

Are you thinking of changing the MF for a Dev Iceman?

Mac

www.macsmusic.blogbubble.net

 

[CnoEvil]

I was tending towards the MF AMS35i, but I thought I'd give the Dev 170 (as was then) a try, even though it looked like a piece of showy bling to me. I was staggered by its quality, and I decided on the Devialet (a year ago already!) on the basis of SQ alone. It seemed to me that the Dev was simply more transparent than the Class A amps I auditioned (MF, Pass Labs, Accuphase, Luxman). I seemed to be hearing more of the music: more presence, more subtlety, more drama.

As you are one of the few people on here who has heard both the 35i and Devialet, your opinion carries the genuine authority that only comes from practical experience.

I agree with what you've said, but would like to make the controversial addendum that IME The more power hungry the amp (and Class A is certainly that), the more crucial a decent Mains Cable is in order to hear its true potential. The difference is not subtle, the way it might be on a Class D / Switch mode p/s.

Now having lit the fuse, I'm retreating to a safe distance.

 

[Jota180]

I was tending towards the MF AMS35i, but I thought I'd give the Dev 170 (as was then) a try, even though it looked like a piece of showy bling to me. I was staggered by its quality, and I decided on the Devialet (a year ago already!) on the basis of SQ alone. It seemed to me that the Dev was simply more transparent than the Class A amps I auditioned (MF, Pass Labs, Accuphase, Luxman). I seemed to be hearing more of the music: more presence, more subtlety, more drama.

As you are one of the few people on here who has heard both the 35i and Devialet, your opinion carries the genuine authority that only comes from practical experience.

I agree with what you've said, but would like to make the controversial addendum that IME The more power hungry the amp (and Class A is certainly that), the more crucial a decent Mains Cable is in order to hear its true potential. The difference is not subtle, the way it might be on a Class D / Switch mode p/s.

Now having lit the fuse, I'm retreating to a safe distance.

Wont you have to upgrade the mains cable all the way to the power station then?

 

[CnoEvil]

Wont you have to upgrade the mains cable all the way to the power station then?

I'm not going to turn this thread into a Cable debate - just passing on my experience.

If you have a view about Devialet vs Class A, then I'm sure the OP would like to hear about it.

 

[matt49]

Wont you have to upgrade the mains cable all the way to the power station then?

I'm not going to turn this thread into a Cable debate - just passing on my experience.

Cno, you just did. *scratch_one-s_head*

I agree with what you've said, but would like to make the controversial addendum that IME The more power hungry the amp (and Class A is certainly that), the more crucial a decent Mains Cable is in order to hear its true potential. The difference is not subtle, the way it might be on a Class D / Switch mode p/s.

Now having lit the fuse, I'm retreating to a safe distance.

 

[CnoEvil]

Wont you have to upgrade the mains cable all the way to the power station then?

I'm not going to turn this thread into a Cable debate - just passing on my experience.

Cno, you just did. *scratch_one-s_head*

I agree with what you've said, but would like to make the controversial addendum that IME The more power hungry the amp (and Class A is certainly that), the more crucial a decent Mains Cable is in order to hear its true potential. The difference is not subtle, the way it might be on a Class D / Switch mode p/s.

Now having lit the fuse, I'm retreating to a safe distance.

I felt it was an important point, and was (defensively) just anticipating the reaction. The reason for mentioning it was not to start a pointless debate, even if that is how it looks....and I won't be entering into one.

 

[Jota180]

Bit late!

Class A, tends to be lower powered, runs hot, inefficient and soon to be banned by the EU no doubt. Was a necessary evil when other amp types were poor quality back in the day but that day has well and truly been passed.

Devialet, the future, now.

 

[CnoEvil]

Bit late!

Class A, tends to be lower powered, runs hot, inefficient and soon to be banned by the EU no doubt. Was a necessary evil when other amp types were poor quality back in the day but that day has well and truly been passed.

Devialet, the future, now.

All the above is fair...........though have you ever heard one?

 

[Jota180]

Bit late!

Class A, tends to be lower powered, runs hot, inefficient and soon to be banned by the EU no doubt. Was a necessary evil when other amp types were poor quality back in the day but that day has well and truly been passed.

Devialet, the future, now.

All the above is fair...........though have you ever heard one?

Can you actually hear the difference between two high quality amplifiers over and above the distortions of speakers? I thought the idea was a high quality amp would be transparent or at least transparent enough to be beyond the scope of human hearing.

Unless I did a blind listening test I, quite properly, shouldn't and wouldn't trust my opinions.

 

[CnoEvil]

Can you actually hear the difference between two high quality amplifiers over and above the distortions of speakers? I thought the idea was a high quality amp would be transparent or at least transparent enough to be beyond the scope of human hearing.

Unless I did a blind listening test I, quite properly, shouldn't and wouldn't trust my opinions.

I picked the 35i from many good amps, including Moon i7, Coda CSi, Linn Akurate, Electrcompaniet, Rega and Bel Canto. At the time I didn't know it was Class A or even really what Class A was (so it was blind and with no expectation bias). I made it my business to find out after I enjoyed it so much. In my research (after the auditioning), it just so happened that I liked Class D least, and preferred the AB amps that had greater emphasis in A.

Then I recommended it on here, and out of those that have heard it, they have either bought it (or nearly bought it). It is not something that you can intelectualize from behind keyboard, it is something you just have to try.....Just ask Iceman, Mac, Singslinger, Acalex or Roby, to name a few. I think Matt would also agree (to an extent), even though he took a more modern (and probably more sensible) direction.

 

[matt49]

Can you actually hear the difference between two high quality amplifiers over and above the distortions of speakers? I thought the idea was a high quality amp would be transparent or at least transparent enough to be beyond the scope of human hearing.

Perhaps a more interesting question is what might plausibly cause the differences people think they're hearing. To me the two most plausible candidates are:

1. clipping (or clipping protection circuits): some speaker manufacturers, e.g. Alan Shaw of Harbeth and Roger Sanders of Sanders ESL, think that clipping is endemic with solid-state hi-fi amps.

2. poor impedance matching: the power output of an amp does vary with impedance, and some speakers are very tough to drive.

Unless I did a blind listening test I, quite properly, shouldn't and wouldn't trust my opinions.

I half agree. There are certainly some components I'd prefer to test blind, e.g. digital sources. (I'm not going to say anything about cables and interconnects.) There are others, e.g. speakers, where the differences are so crass that I'm quite happy to test sighted. For me, amps belong in the second category.

Matt

 

[nopiano]

The most enchanting sounds I had ever heard from audio were from AudioResearch and Krell. Eventually I got the cheapest Krell had ever made. That was in the late Nineties.

Four years ago I first heard Devialet, with Sonus faber Cremona speakers. It was wonderful. The amp was simply not there, to my ears, just straight wire with gain. I wouldn't hesitate, though Cno makes some wise points about longevity of a meteoric brand.

But if I had the budget I would still consider Audio Research, and they've been around a while and are now part of a big group.

 

[CnoEvil]

Ooh, I see Cloney Audio in Dublin do Devialet, Harbeth and SF.....I feel an investigative expedition coming on....purely for research purposes.

 

[Macspur]

Ooh, I see Cloney Audio in Dublin do Devialet, Harbeth and SF.....I feel an investigative expedition coming on....purely for research purposes.

Can't wait for that write up.

Mac

www.macsmusic.blogbubble.net

 

[DocG]

Ooh, I see Cloney Audio in Dublin do Devialet, Harbeth and SF.....I feel an investigative expedition coming on....purely for research purposes.

Sure, like that guy who tried a shot of brown sugar, purely for research purposes...*diablo*

No, really, while you're there, do try the Devialet + Quad ESL combo too! IMO an experience you won't easily forget!

 

[CnoEvil]

Ooh, I see Cloney Audio in Dublin do Devialet, Harbeth and SF.....I feel an investigative expedition coming on....purely for research purposes.

Can't wait for that write up.

Mac

www.macsmusic.blogbubble.net

Mrs. Cno can!

 

[CnoEvil]

Ooh, I see Cloney Audio in Dublin do Devialet, Harbeth and SF.....I feel an investigative expedition coming on....purely for research purposes.

Sure, like that guy who tried a shot of brown sugar, purely for research purposes...*diablo*

No, really, while you're there, do try the Devialet + Quad ESL combo too! IMO an experience you won't easily forget!

The sugar bowl has now been hidden.

 

[iceman16]

Are you thinking of changing the MF for a Dev Iceman?

Mac

www.macsmusic.blogbubble.net

Hi Mac

Not in the near future I think. My local dealer don't stock the Dev. so it's not easy to have a proper demo.

 

[Singslinger]

I've not heard Devialet but the feedback on this and other forums is that it is a very impressive brand with superb sound quality. Also, looks are important to me and I think the Devialet kit that I've seen all look mouth-wateringly attractive!

Maybe one day I'll get a chance to audition a Devialet system but for now I can say that between a pure class A amp and an equivalently-priced one operating either in AB or D, I would lean towards the class A. This is even given the inconvenience of high heat output, a drawback that is worse for me because I'm out here in the tropics where the ambient temperature is already high to begin with so my class A amps heat up very quickly.

 

[ellisdj]

I am a class A preferer as they have been the best amps I have heard to date.

However there is another alternative, not Class D - and its a Pure Digital design that has no need for a DAC.

This is it.

I have not heard one, but after buying one product which is exceptional from this company and reading through the site, speaking to them and knowing what I do about the stuff he is doing its a very interesting company I think. They have certainly got a different way of thinking to the norm which is appealing to me.

Now I will have to ask anyone who goes on to buy from this site after reading this post to be a true Gent and say EllisDJ from WHF recommended them. This will get me store credit and I do intend to buy more products from them so it would genuinely earned I feel and truely appreciated !!

I do plan to start a thread on this company when I have more time