Game Changer

Not unlimited. LVMH guy and 3 other angels funded them to the tune of €40m...Not sure how much they are willing to plunge into the affair. Also they developed the tech before that funding round. BTW, a lot of that capital goes into marketing...maybe too much as they dont seem to be able to deliver on the production side for the Phantom yet, with premium local dealers still waiting for even a single demo unit.

Others I know in the high-end are making plans...the game is far from over. LoL
Devialet is a welcome addition to the scene though...

I do agree that most in the high end, are NANO-caps.

My experience in both US & European private equity and venture cap deals suggest that marquis investors with deep pockets tend to derive reputational, ego and other non-financial benefits or satisfaction from investments like this. Unlimited ? Of course not - there was no assumption or implication that Devialet could go ahead and spend a Billion Euros on R&D . In the context however of the market size and the ability of their competitors to keep up, the amounts of money Devialet would need to call on are de minimus to the investor Group. Throw in a little Gallic hauteur and you have the ingredients for a company that would have the capacity to call on any capital requirements they have. The amounts involved are rounding errors on the balance sheets of their investor Group.
 
OK then, we have general agreement.

However, in this niche I think quality collaborations may be more important than R&D per se. Also, when carving out a new niche, I guess you really have to spend those Marketing $$$$.
 
The Devialet is a great piece, but I think of it as more a lifestyle product.
It sounds very nice, but I don't think it's making other manufacturers too worried.
 
The Devialet is a great piece, but I think of it as more a lifestyle product.
It sounds very nice, but I don't think it's making other manufacturers too worried.

My feeing too, based on what I know.
 
ABSOLUTELY!

It is a game changer in my mind. Is it perfect? No, nothing really is perfect, but I love what I am hearing. If I use it straight up or through my ART monos, Pass XA60.5's, Jolida, or any other amp so far, it's absolutely wonderful - clean and clear in a great way. The DAC is outstanding and the whole package is super quiet, with black backgrounds and pinpoint imaging. While I love my GAT, the Devialet as a DAC/preamp is soooo good, I have not used my GAT since getting the D400.

you need to put the GAT back in, at least so it don't get lonely :D
 
The Devialet is a great piece, but I think of it as more a lifestyle product.
It sounds very nice, but I don't think it's making other manufacturers too worried.

If it was oriented towards the lifestyle B&O crowd , they really didn't have to incorporate technical and geeky features like SAM, an outstanding phono stage , multiple digital inputs and configurable everything. It would have been simpler and cheaper just to omit many of those features. The fact that they went down to an alternative path suggest they have bigger aspirations in mind since the target audience and higher price points (and geekier setup) drops off dramatically in doing that . One explanation for the current quasi-angst among audiophiles about how to approach Devialet is that we're so used to being generally abused in terms of product appearance (think Lampizator) that we associate sonic nirvana with two things - lots of boxes and looks that even at the best of times, only a Transformer could love. "Its so ugly it has to sound great - all the engineering went into the parts and design".

Regime and paradigm shifts are always thus.....

Shodhan
 
Actually no. Prettier gear will always win out if SQ is equal. Lampizator is successful despite the spartan look because there is something to the sound ...just ask people who have spent time with the products.

I agree that Dev is not just trying to get the B&O crowd, but rather trying to create a new niche, ie very high end lifestyle. They are basically saying you can almost have it all. That is where the $$$ from marketing come in. They wont convince the tube fans, but they can go after the SS guys. I think they may go after a much better specced Phantom and with that add the final frontier to their stable .... DRC.
 
Actually no. Prettier gear will always win out if SQ is equal. Lampizator is successful despite the utilitarian look becuse there is something to the sound ...just ask people who have spent time with the products.

I agree that Dev is not just trying to get the B&O crowd, but rather trying to create a new niche, ie very high end lifestyle. They are basically saying you can almost have it all. That is where the $$$ from marketing come in. They wont convince the tube fans, but they can go after the SS guys. I think they may go after a much better specced Phantom and with that add the final frontier to their stable .... DRC.

Out of respect for the guys on AS who love their Lampizator's I won't say anything - its always a bad idea to criticize cults or religions ......:rolleyes:
 
Ha, ha ,....... :)

I do find the cult/religion audio thing really funny. I told Joe last night, everyone is getting along so well on the forum (which is great to see). I told him, maybe its time for a good old "Magico vs Wilson" or "no Shindo for you!" thread! LMAO.
 
I do find the cult/religion audio thing really funny. I told Joe last night, everyone is getting along so well on the forum (which is great to see). I told him, maybe its time for a good old "Magico vs Wilson" or "no Shindo for you!" thread! LMAO.

Be careful what you wish for Mike..... I know this will come as a bolt from the blue , but I am capable of being positively rambunctious and disruptive. As they say, Forewarned is Forearmed - you uttered the fateful Sh!@#& word.............. let the floodgates open wide :exciting:
 
The Devialet is a great piece, but I think of it as more a lifestyle product.
It sounds very nice, but I don't think it's making other manufacturers too worried.

Curiously IMHO it is not a lifestyle product, it is an audiophile style product. It is not the best of the best or the perfection (such thing does not exist in audio), but some of its qualities should worry other manufacturers. After a succesful experience with it audiophiles will become more exigent.

My feeling, based on what I am listening!
 
Curiously IMHO it is not a lifestyle product, it is an audiophile style product. It is not the best of the best or the perfection (such thing does not exist in audio), but some of its qualities should worry other manufacturers. After a succesful experience with it audiophiles will become more exigent.

My feeling, based on what I am listening!


Anyone in the business not watching , paying attention to Devi , is already dead on the vine......
 
Curiously IMHO it is not a lifestyle product, it is an audiophile style product. It is not the best of the best or the perfection (such thing does not exist in audio), but some of its qualities should worry other manufacturers. After a succesful experience with it audiophiles will become more exigent.

My feeling, based on what I am listening!

Agreed 1000%. People will continue to denigrate it because it isn't some behemoth looking amp. But, when you live with one for a while, and optimize it with cables, source, etc. boy oh boy, it can run with some pretty darn good gear costing a lot more.
 
Agreed 1000%. People will continue to denigrate it because it isn't some behemoth looking amp. But, when you live with one for a while, and optimize it with cables, source, etc. boy oh boy, it can run with some pretty darn good gear costing a lot more.

I think we are all saying the same thing with different words. Curiously, I dont like behemoth amps myself.

I think they are creating a new niche…audiophile lifestyle. This will go a lot further in the future and by others too. Be careful what you wish for as the Linn Xact is more in keeping where the future is…The Speaker IS the source. Phantom is far along that way, as is the Anatta!
It will handcuff gear swappers though…I like your term…ECOSYSTEM.
 
It's doesnt matter where you worship, it's what you worship ... :P
You are on fire today. :roflmao:
So are you a member of the Fire Baptized Holiness Church of the Polished Chrome and Big dial? Or Church of il Divino Bathroom Scale? I see they already have a Phantom to solidify the OTHER plane.
 
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