Devialet and Avantgarde - has anyone made this pairing work?

E

easyshark

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Jan 28, 2017
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Hi. I've been struggling with my AG Uno XDs and Devialet 400 for a few months now. The sound is utterly beautiful at low listening levels, and excruciatingly harsh at a medium level (loud would be ridiculous). The harshness is most pronounced with big orchestral brass/violins, and pop - but it's really pretty awful across the board. I've played LOTS with different cables. And with the more general tweaks on the various Devialet threads (turn down the power, use a different cable to connect the two 200s) but to no avail. Has ANYONE made the pairing work, and if they have, can they please help me to understand what I am missing? Thank you! P (NB It doesn't matter what the source is...but the main one is an Ayon CD-T - known for its 'rich' sound. (So it's not the source!)
 
easyshark said:
Hi. I've been struggling with my AG Uno XDs and Devialet 400 for a few months now. The sound is utterly beautiful at low listening levels, and excruciatingly harsh at a medium level (loud would be ridiculous). The harshness is most pronounced with big orchestral brass/violins, and pop - but it's really pretty awful across the board. I've played LOTS with different cables. And with the more general tweaks on the various Devialet threads (turn down the power, use a different cable to connect the two 200s) but to no avail. Has ANYONE made the pairing work, and if they have, can they please help me to understand what I am missing? Thank you! P (NB It doesn't matter what the source is...but the main one is an Ayon CD-T - known for its 'rich' sound. (So it's not the source!)
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Nope. On my Duo Mezzo XD's, I absolutely love my 300b amps (Triode TRX-M300's). I've tried lots of amps, including my Devialet 400, Pass, Nord, etc., etc.

My Yamamoto 45 amp is good, but at a measured 0.8 of a watt, is good only at modest volumes.

300b is my recommendation and I find Siltech cables, although quite expensive, pair absolutely beautiful with Avantgarde as well.

Lastly your source and preamp also play a key role in system synergy with the AG's. Avoid hyper detailed DAC's like the Emm Labs and Meitner and definitely favor a Berkeley REF2, Lampizator, etc. Your Ayon should be great.

A tube preamp also works best. I have the Triode Junone preamp. Lastly, don't ignore the digital cable. I find the Siltech digital cables (USB or AES) pair beautifully.
 
Mike said:
Nope. On my Duo Mezzo XD's, I absolutely love my 300b amps (Triode TRX-M300's). I've tried lots of amps, including my Devialet 400, Pass, Nord, etc., etc.

Hi Mike - thank you so much for coming back to me. Interesting you have a Devialet 400 at your place.

Did you have the same experience as me with the harshness at higher volumes?

I will look into those 300b amps - I came across that term only yesterday when I was looking to see if there was an Ayon in my pricerange (I saw an Equinox in some used classifieds). There was also an audionote quest silver for sale nearby too.

The cables I've settled on (after LOTS of swapping around) are all Shunyata anacondas and Verastarr Grand Illusions. Though I've never tried the brand you mentioned.

P
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easyshark said:
Mike said:
Nope. On my Duo Mezzo XD's, I absolutely love my 300b amps (Triode TRX-M300's). I've tried lots of amps, including my Devialet 400, Pass, Nord, etc., etc.

Hi Mike - thank you so much for coming back to me. Interesting you have a Devialet 400 at your place.

Did you have the same experience as me with the harshness at higher volumes?

I will look into those 300b amps - I came across that term only yesterday when I was looking to see if there was an Ayon in my pricerange (I saw an Equinox in some used classifieds). There was also an audionote quest silver for sale nearby too.

The cables I've settled on (after LOTS of swapping around) are all Shunyata anacondas and Verastarr Grand Illusions. Though I've never tried the brand you mentioned.

P
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Yes I did. Although very good with some speakers, the Devialet was not a good match with AG. The AG's are VERY revealing, often showing the true nature of an amp.

Where do you live? Does your dealer have any amps you can try?
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I'm in Sydney, Australia. Alas the dealer is in another State (Qld). Mike - I've researched those TRX M300s and haven't found a local supplier, but I have found a pair of TRV-M300SE nearby (I think!). Clearly they are a cheaper amp than your TRX model - have you heard them/ or have any impressoin as to how they might sound?
 
easyshark said:
I'm in Sydney, Australia. Alas the dealer is in another State (Qld). Mike - I've researched those TRX M300s and haven't found a local supplier, but I have found a pair of TRV-M300SE nearby (I think!). Clearly they are a cheaper amp than your TRX model - have you heard them/ or have any impressoin as to how they might sound?
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I haven't heard those, but I must tell you, if I didn't have my TRX-M300's, I would have that Luxman 300b amp! http://www.luxman.com/product.php?pid=56

Let's try something (humor me). These are my starting points for all AG XD setups:

Overall DB: -7.5 (minus 7.5db)
20hz: +8db with a Q of 0.5
40hz: +5db (Q of 1.0 is fine)
80hz: -5db (Q of 1.0, you may try a Q of 0.5 here too)
Crossover should be 210 (I think that's the standard crossover for the Uno XD's??? Mine is 150hz).

Start with that and tweak accordingly. You might be surprised at how much fuller the sound becomes with these starting points.

Mike
 
Hi Mike - and thank you so much for taking time to help me on this - especially as I am in another country! (I've not had anything like this from AG HQ or my local dealer!) Can you give me a link to a manual that tells me how to do those settings on the Uno? Best. P (Are you saying 210 or 150 for the crossover?)
 
easyshark said:
Hi Mike - and thank you so much for taking time to help me on this - especially as I am in another country! (I've not had anything like this from AG HQ or my local dealer!) Can you give me a link to a manual that tells me how to do those settings on the Uno? Best. P (Are you saying 210 or 150 for the crossover?)
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Sure, happy to help. Go to the AG website and download the XD Series control software:

http://www.avantgarde-acoustic.de/hornloudspeaker-downloads-en.html

Plug a USB cable into the back of your AG's and the other end into your laptop/PC. Launch the program. You will see your speaker(s) appear. Fiddle with the app until you find a place to put in the settings. Save. And go. If I haven't given you a setting for a PEQ setting, than just leave it at 0. It's ideal if you can do both speakers at the same time (two USB cables needed, and ideally long ones), but it's not required.

The crossover on the Uno's I believe is 210. It's 150 on the Duo Mezzo's because of the bigger horn.

If your dealer has not setup the speakers, and you are listening to a flat EQ, you're going to be in for a shock of a transformation.
 
Sorry to be dumb - but is the crossover just the low pass filter numnber (which is 290Hz on mine at the moment). Thanks P
 
Thanks again Mike. I've made the changes. And you suggest I leave it at 290hz? It's 2am now so I can't turn things up - but look forward to doing so in the morning! Thank you again. I will report back tomorrow. HAve a great weekend. Best. P
 
easyshark said:
Thanks again Mike. I've made the changes. And you suggest I leave it at 290hz? It's 2am now so I can't turn things up - but look forward to doing so in the morning! Thank you again. I will report back tomorrow. HAve a great weekend. Best. P
Click to expand...

Yes


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
easyshark said:
Mike said:
Nope. On my Duo Mezzo XD's, I absolutely love my 300b amps (Triode TRX-M300's). I've tried lots of amps, including my Devialet 400, Pass, Nord, etc., etc.

Hi Mike - thank you so much for coming back to me. Interesting you have a Devialet 400 at your place.

Did you have the same experience as me with the harshness at higher volumes?

I will look into those 300b amps - I came across that term only yesterday when I was looking to see if there was an Ayon in my pricerange (I saw an Equinox in some used classifieds). There was also an audionote quest silver for sale nearby too.

The cables I've settled on (after LOTS of swapping around) are all Shunyata anacondas and Verastarr Grand Illusions. Though I've never tried the brand you mentioned.

P
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I experienced the same with my Duo Mezzo XD.
I don't know Devialet but if its power supply is SMPS then try to plug the power cord of Devialet to different socket/power distributor than your Ayon and bass satelites.
I have Ayon Crossfire III, try it, you won't be desapointed, I am sure. My power cord for Ayon is Transparent MM link first edition with Oyaide F1/M1e connectors.
I agree with other Mike's recommendations - SET amp,proper DSP settings and tube source like Ayon or Lampi will be the best match.

BTW I have the crossover at 220 Hz with -24 dB slope but much less overall gain than Mike- -10 to -11 dB.
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Hi Mike,
You are a wizard. I haven't had a chance to turn up the volume yet (alas my listening room is everyone's to enjoy!) but listening at my normal levels (which I loved anyway!) you have breathed life and (particularly) dynamics into the sound wonderfully! Is there a book or webpage I can go to, to better understand why the gain and Q changes have done this?
Do you play with the TYPE - I notice it is Bell in the main column, but under HPF and LPF it is Linkwitz-Riley.
Best and thank you so much again.
Thank you too to Marsio - may I ask what the -24db slope is?
Best
Peter
 
easyshark said:
Hi Mike,
You are a wizard. I haven't had a chance to turn up the volume yet (alas my listening room is everyone's to enjoy!) but listening at my normal levels (which I loved anyway!) you have breathed life and (particularly) dynamics into the sound wonderfully! Is there a book or webpage I can go to, to better understand why the gain and Q changes have done this?
Do you play with the TYPE - I notice it is Bell in the main column, but under HPF and LPF it is Linkwitz-Riley.
Best and thank you so much again.
Thank you too to Marsio - may I ask what the -24db slope is?
Best
Peter
Click to expand...

Peter, you're very welcome and I'm glad you are enjoying the results. These are fundamental EQ parameters and options. Let me check my HPF and LPF settings. The capabilities and options of the XD series AG's is almost endless. Getting perfect bass integration in almost any room is definitely there. The microphone kit/software from AG will be available soon. You will be able to measure your room and send the results to AG. They will then send you back a file to load into settings. You can then fine tune from there.

What you should do is download a spectrum analyzer software to your phone. Then, play pink noise and look for any spikes or dips in frequency from your listening chair. Note, you may find a flatter response from moving your listening position a little (if that's even an option). I suggest you check with management (wife) first. But you can tweak until your hearts content.
 
easyshark said:
Hi Mike,
You are a wizard. I haven't had a chance to turn up the volume yet (alas my listening room is everyone's to enjoy!) but listening at my normal levels (which I loved anyway!) you have breathed life and (particularly) dynamics into the sound wonderfully! Is there a book or webpage I can go to, to better understand why the gain and Q changes have done this?
Do you play with the TYPE - I notice it is Bell in the main column, but under HPF and LPF it is Linkwitz-Riley.
Best and thank you so much again.
Thank you too to Marsio - may I ask what the -24db slope is?
Best
Peter
Click to expand...
Peter,
It' s a part of DSP settings, when you select a filter like Linkwitz Riley you can defind also the slope of the crossover ie - 12 or -24 dB.
Pls downolad free AG software and try.
I will download my settings again, done it already in Mike' s thread about Duo Mezzo.
Mariusz
PS This is my favorite setting:
 

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Mike said:
Peter, you're very welcome and I'm glad you are enjoying the results. These are fundamental EQ parameters and options. Let me check my HPF and LPF settings. The capabilities and options of the XD series AG's is almost endless. Getting perfect bass integration in almost any room is definitely there. The microphone kit/software from AG will be available soon. You will be able to measure your room and send the results to AG. They will then send you back a file to load into settings. You can then fine tune from there.

What you should do is download a spectrum analyzer software to your phone. Then, play pink noise and look for any spikes or dips in frequency from your listening chair. Note, you may find a flatter response from moving your listening position a little (if that's even an option). I suggest you check with management (wife) first. But you can tweak until your hearts content.
Click to expand...

Very good news Mike about the new SW with microphone , can't wait.
 
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