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Devialet Expert Long Term Experience?

Would love to hear some more long term experience on the Devialet 200 or other of the Expert series amps. Many flattering reviews but few real life stories.

I recently heard two of the 200s as 400W monoblocks with the B&W 800 D3s and was blown away. I will listen to a single Expert 200 soon with some more speakers and am pretty sure I'll like it. I am a bass head and loved the tightness, accuracy and speed but at also loved the resolution and width of the mids and highs.

What I would like to know is how the Devialets feel and behave long-term in daily usage. They seem to run quite hot and some seem to experience some loss in SQ while running hot. Does it, despite the whole running class A/D in parallel thing, deliver class A quality with class D quantity and does it do so reliably at high temps over many hours and years of use? Any other bugs in this rather unconventional approach to an amp?

128x128superpef

Showing 3 responses by marktomaras

marktomaras
544 posts
 
OP - how has the journey proceeded? Did you go for the Devialet? I am considering one myself.
marktomaras
544 posts
 
superpef - 

Thank you very much for the detailed report!  I have high hopes, and a scheduled demo coming soon.  I am also skeptical.  I have a pretty sweet setup with great manufactures, tubes, the works.  The little shiny square has its work cut out for it!
marktomaras
544 posts
 
So I auditioned the Devialet Expert Pro 220 in my home over the weekend. I listened to it against my current system, which consists of an Audio Research tube power and preamp, PS Audio DAC, and Whest phono stage.  (you can see the details in my virtual system page here on Audiogon).

The Devialet is an impressive piece.  My system is no slouch however and I was not compelled to sell everything with a jumping up and down enthusiasm.  The fact that the little Devialet could run with the more traditional system, and sound on par with it, is a great feat and kudos to the people in France that designed and built this excellent machine!

I may end up getting one, but as I said, it was not the mind blowing experience that would be required to make the decision instantly.  The temporary lack of fully Roon Ready meant that I had some connection issues.  I was able to fix them, but they came back, and I had to fix again.  I am no stranger to this, but still, it is annoying.

The phono stage sounded great.  It was interesting to hear my vinyl played through a digital device and still sounds like vinyl.  I like the idea of possibly ripping my vinyl, if I take the time and care to do it properly.  Though I am still not convinced that I should sell my record collection and turntable.  We shall see how minimal I need to go with my system.

So my overall observation was good.  I just need more time to let this sink in!


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