Devialet on Sonus Faber Stradivari's (Strads)

cmalak said:
Mike...impressive. By the way, I was not trying to get a rise out of you by asking the question on price of the Pass gear. I was truly curious and didn't know what it went for but in any case, it's not important. Glad the D400 is over-delivering. my guess is all else being equal the Pass XS gear has to have more meat on the bones, more dimensionality, and greater dynamics as compared to the D400 but I am just guessing here.
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Oh, I know. It's all cool. My point is, I didn't expect the D400 to sound THIS good. XS, definitely sweeter and more dimensionality. But Cyril, this D400 is superb. I now totally understand Jeff Fritz's exuberance for the Devialet on Magico Q7's. Now I do. Completely.


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Alpinist said:
That's amazing, Mike. Exactly how close is the sound quality to the XS gear without the SAM????

Ken
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Very different. XS sounds like a world class SET amp with balls. The D400 sounds like my favorite AB amps - Soulution 501/701.


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Mike said:
Very different. XS sounds like a world class SET amp with balls. The D400 sounds like my favorite AB amps - Soulution 501/701.


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Thanks Mike,

It's great to have amps that produce a different sonic signature with your speakers. Variety is the spice of life. :) If the D400 sounds like the Soulution 501's, it must sound pretty damn good!

Ken
 
Alpinist said:
Thanks Mike,

It's great to have amps that produce a different sonic signature with your speakers. Variety is the spice of life. :) If the D400 sounds like the Soulution 501's, it must sound pretty damn good!

Ken
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It does and you know I was smitten with the 501's from the first time Jon (VTSkier) lugged them to Boston so I could hear them!


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Mike said:
It does and you know I was smitten with the 501's from the first time Jon (VTSkier) lugged them to Boston so I could hear them!


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And with the SAM technology, the D400 has that chameleon effect where it can produce excellent synergy with a great variety of speakers. Certainly takes some of the guess work out of amp/speaker matching.

Ken
 
Alpinist said:
And with the SAM technology, the D400 has that chameleon effect where it can produce excellent synergy with a great variety of speakers. Certainly takes some of the guess work out of amp/speaker matching.

Ken
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Very true Ken. There isn't SAM for the Strads yet, but maybe one day. They have enough votes.
 
I have you to thank for my D800 Mike, guess I'm a bit luckier on having SAM for my Amati Futura :heart:
 
I haven't heard the the XS150s or the Soulutions, but I prefer the D400 to the XA200.5s.

The only solid state amps that I've heard that are better were the Technical Brain monos.
 
Dewster said:
I have you to thank for my D800 Mike, guess I'm a bit luckier on having SAM for my Amati Futura :heart:
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You're very welcome! D800. [emoji106][emoji106]. Don't tell Joe.


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Mike said:
Very different. XS sounds like a world class SET amp with balls. The D400 sounds like my favorite AB amps - Soulution 501/701.


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Mike, you've definitely got some of the best amps. They are monsters too! :amazing: You're a lucky guy!! I don't have the room to accommodate those amps, nor the funds. So that lends itself to my current approach to system building. I've heard a simple, synergistic system blow me away. I know guys like Jeff Dorgay are amplifier guys. At this point i'd say I put a bit more emphasis on my speakers and front end, but ultimately believe in a balanced system approach.

Sorry about the slightly
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comment!
 
:sigh:
KeithR said:
Technical brain amps, eh Dan? Those are rare birds- love to hear your thoughts on them.
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Yes, they are rare birds and I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to hear them in my system.

I was offered a very attractive purchase price, but it was more than the total cost of my system.

I’m trying to be nice, but you and I have nothing in common (especially our taste in music), so I don’t think my thoughts about the TBs would be of any value to you.
 
What I found experimenting with the Devialet over the weekend was that it really shines and goes to a whole new level with the better digital source and cabling you gave it. My favorite out of the Lumin digital bnc (requiring a bnc to coax adapter), Auralic Aries (tried usb, aes/EBU and coax), MacBook Pro (usb) and T+A PDP3000HV (coax) was the T+A PDP3000HV. The differences between digital sources, cables, etc. was dramatic.

The muckety mucks over on the Devialet Chat forum (who know this product inside and out) tend to love the TotalDAC Server via AES/EBU. Would love to try that.
 
Mike, what did your Strads ever do to you to be fed digital? ;)

Any thoughts on how your R2R sounds through the Devialet with the Strads?
 
dlb2 said:
Mike, what did your Strads ever do to you to be fed digital? ;)

Any thoughts on how your R2R sounds through the Devialet with the Strads?
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Damn! I forgot to try that. Oh well...next time. The D400 is already back singing on the Focal's this morning.

The D400 on the Strads was meaty, with amazing bass definition and control. Great control of sibilance on older recordings and lots of the midrange goodness from the Class A part.

I have a dealer friend who values the total package of the Devialet at $70,000 to $100,000 based on comparing it sonically to amp/preamp/phonostage/DAC combos in his store. I would have a hard time disagreeing.
 
I absolutely love my Devialet 400 on my Strads. It's great on my 40.1's too but for some reason I love the grills off the 40.1's with the D400.

Just wish I had gone for the 800 from the start, but I'll get over it.



Mike said:
Damn! I forgot to try that. Oh well...next time. The D400 is already back singing on the Focal's this morning.

The D400 on the Strads was meaty, with amazing bass definition and control. Great control of sibilance on older recordings and lots of the midrange goodness from the Class A part.

I have a dealer friend who values the total package of the Devialet at $70,000 to $100,000 based on comparing it sonically to amp/preamp/phonostage/DAC combos in his store. I would have a hard time disagreeing.
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