Talk me out of a devialet 200....

[Bobolaclune]

I'm with you, Kiwi. Sounds too good to be true.

I'd like to see the frequency response charts that verify this.

I have D200 and Magico S1 speakers and feel that there is only a modest increase in the bottom end frequency response with SAM.

Probably falls into the "The more you know, the less you understand" school of wisdom....

There's probably a good dose of pyscho-acoustics at play in the Devialet and in many other components . Manufacturers (at least some of the more savvy of them) are aware that human hearing is malleable and can be manipulated into perceiving sonic traits that won't show up in the numbers and which are generally pleasing to the ear.

 

[garata]

Are you happy with the combo? How satisfying is the low end then?

Magico S1's with the D200 and without SAM have a low end response that is extremely satisfying to me and has made me a convert to the idea of a sealed practically inert cabinet.
The bass response can seem a bit light on at first impression (only a 178mm nanotech midrange/woofer) because the bass is so free of any trace of bloatedness but the more that you listen you realise that there is a taut, tuneful, tight bass that reaches impressive depths when required and provides a really solid foundation for the music. I believe that the response starts to roll off around 40HZ and is down -3dB around 32HZ.

Straight away I preferred SAM on, but I did not feel that there was that much in it. I felt that the transition from D170 to D200 was more influential.
However, turning SAM off after several weeks of listening it was very apparent that SAM raised the bar for the S1's considerably.
The bass is where the improvement is most notable. It is tighter, more robust and with greater extention. Bass, indeed, the whole recording is presented in a subtlely different way. It is a clearer yet warmer presentation and when you switch SAM off things seems a bit washed out.
I could be wrong but I don't feel that the response extends down to 25HZ (-3dB).
Love the S1's but dream of S3's. S5's would be too big for my room.

 

[Bobolaclune]

Magico S1's with the D200 and without SAM have a low end response that is extremely satisfying to me and has made me a convert to the idea of a sealed practically inert cabinet.
The bass response can seem a bit light on at first impression (only a 178mm nanotech midrange/woofer) because the bass is so free of any trace of bloatedness but the more that you listen you realise that there is a taut, tuneful, tight bass that reaches impressive depths when required and provides a really solid foundation for the music. I believe that the response starts to roll off around 40HZ and is down -3dB around 32HZ.

Straight away I preferred SAM on, but I did not feel that there was that much in it. I felt that the transition from D170 to D200 was more influential.
However, turning SAM off after several weeks of listening it was very apparent that SAM raised the bar for the S1's considerably.
The bass is where the improvement is most notable. It is tighter, more robust and with greater extention. Bass, indeed, the whole recording is presented in a subtlely different way. It is a clearer yet warmer presentation and when you switch SAM off things seems a bit washed out.
I could be wrong but I don't feel that the response extends down to 25HZ (-3dB).
Love the S1's but dream of S3's. S5's would be too big for my room.

Thanks for this post, very useful. You are quite right to be wary of the Q5 bass response - in every situation I heard them , I thought the bass was excessively prominent . You would need a huge , well-treated room to be able to take advantage of them, their characteristics seemed more prominent in every way and forward than the Q5's . The S3's are the sweet spot in the 'S' series.

 

[Bobolaclune]

Thanks for this post, very useful. You are quite right to be wary of the Q5 bass response - in every situation I heard them , I thought the bass was excessively prominent . You would need a huge , well-treated room to be able to take advantage of them, their characteristics seemed more prominent in every way and forward than the Q5's . The S3's are the sweet spot in the 'S' series.

Sorry I meant the S5 bass response

 

[mauidan]

I've read the Absolute Sounds review above and I am struggling to understand how the Atom Speakers which ordinarily have a frequency response of 45Hz to 30KHz can once SAM is switch on dive down to 25Hz (-3dB)? Can anyone explain how this is possible in simple terms?

http://en.devialet.com/assets/Press/Stereo_translation_EN.pdf

 

[mauidan]

Jax,

How do you like your D200?

 

[o0OBillO0o]

Mauidan - welcome and looking forward to your impressions.

Ralph (Kiwi) - having had the 200 and 800 in my system, I think the main reason people would move on from the Devialet is the ecosystem mentality. The Devialet works very well if you use its DAC and phonostage and digital inputs only. The A-D-A conversion is bad - at best. So go digital out into the Devialet's digital in and you're fine (with the exception of the phonostage which is actually quite good). But, if you want to try out the latest and greatest DAC, forget about it. It will sound poor. Want to use the DSD DAC in your Esoteric K-01? Forget about it. It will sound poor.

Prior to my review, I remember reading how much effort Devialet put into their phonostage. The ability to use different RIAA curves was also nice - especially for older LP's.

On both units I had, they ran out of steam way way to fast. It could have been the difficult load from the Raidho's....not sure. But even the 800 started sputtering and hissing at about 93db. Devialet said there was something wrong with that unit. They said the same about the 200 as well. Hmmm....

If either unit performed to spec, I would have probably bought it. Because when it worked - it sounded terrific. And the remote is fantastic as well.


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Mike, I def took your advice and got a "normal car", but both The Devialet 120/200 have credible TI ADCs did you do any Vinyl ripping or ?? - how did you deterime the ADC as bad?

Happy New Year

 

[o0OBillO0o]

Also acording to Jeff Dorgay, " Even though the Devialet works in the digital domain, upsampling everything to 24/192 first and then applying the RIAA equalization in the digital domain, there is no sacrifice in the analog magic—perhaps this is the future after all?"

 

[Mike]

Mike, I def took your advice and got a "normal car", but both The Devialet 120/200 have credible TI ADCs did you do any Vinyl ripping or ?? - how did you deterime the ADC as bad?

Happy New Year

I tried multiple sources - Oppo, MA-1 DAC, Squeezebox even. The ADA conversion was less than desirable, the exception being the excellent phonostage.

Jeff is wrong IMO. Stay in the digital domain with the Devialet.


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[wisnon]

So Jax,

Did anyone talk you out of the Devialet yet?

 

[CDLehner]

So Jax,

Did anyone talk you out of the Devialet yet?

No...he talked himself, into a 2nd one. :roflmao:

 

[Mike]

No...he talked himself, into a 2nd one. :roflmao:

Cool! [emoji41]


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[o0OBillO0o]

I tried multiple sources - Oppo, MA-1 DAC, Squeezebox even. The ADA conversion was less than desirable, the exception being the excellent phonostage.

Jeff is wrong IMO. Stay in the digital domain with the Devialet.


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Not sure how the phono stage can be good, its all converted to digital according to a few sources, and then the rest of the analog (to digital) be not good enough, for you, Mike. However, I dont own it and never touched one. I default to those who have.

Devailet is going to be huge this year in audio.

 

[wisnon]

Not sure how the phono stage can be good, its all converted to digital according to a few sources, and then the rest of the analog (to digital) be not good enough, for you, Mike. However, I dont own it and never touched one. I default to those who have.

Devailet is going to be huge this year in audio.

They have LVMH money behind them, so no surprise there.

 

[Mike]

Not sure how the phono stage can be good, its all converted to digital according to a few sources, and then the rest of the analog (to digital) be not good enough, for you, Mike. However, I dont own it and never touched one. I default to those who have.

Devailet is going to be huge this year in audio.

Because they really spent time and energy optimizing the phono input. Also, have you looked at the config tool?

 

[wisnon]

Seems that Jax must really be busy enjoying them, as he has abandoned this thread. LoL

 

[o0OBillO0o]

They have LVMH money behind them, so no surprise there.

Ahh, thanks for the insight! Surprised me as I dont follow French companies.

Because they really spent time and energy optimizing the phono input. Also, have you looked at the config tool?

Mike, okay, right on.

 

[wisnon]

Bill,

Apparently they have 3 biz angels funding them. One with LVMH money, another a French Tech gazillionaire and I cant recall the description of the 3rd, but also very prominent in French society. Is there a high end company with deeper pockets? Not even Magico, I believe.

 

[o0OBillO0o]

Good to know. I expect big things then!

 

[jaxwired]

No...he talked himself, into a 2nd one. :roflmao:

Guilty! Running two d200s now which is of course called the d400. Happy and no plans to change anytime soon. Expecting new speakers in January so we will see how I feel then, but I kinda feel like I'm at a good stopping point and will most likely stop here for a good long time.