....possibly hyperbole but Hi-Fi News in the UK raving about the Diavlet D-Premier amplifer.
Apparently it has patented a new hybrid of Class A and Class D technology. It sounds very interesting, looks unique and would appear to be a must hear for those who are interested in high quality servers where apparently it excels-although I'd be interested to hear what it can do with any source.
Pretty expensive I believe at £12000 or approx $18000.
It looks very interesting and it's not every review you read where you really want to hear the thing.....
Here's their website, quite a lot of info on there if you browse about. http://www.devialet.com/
Page 3 of the review has a box describing in very general terms how it operates. The patent includes considerable additional detail.
The patent describes the topology as being "Class AD." Since the great majority of the power to the load is supplied by the Class D section, I certainly don't think it would be correct to refer to it as being Class A in any sense other than the fact that the output voltage is controlled by a Class A circuit element (notwithstanding the fact that the Class A circuit element is connected directly to the output).
Perhaps all that can be said, IF Class AD is not a generally recognized term at this point (and I don't know whether it should be considered as such or not), is that it uses an output topology that encompasses both Class A and Class D circuit elements, that work in conjunction with one another.
Completely lost interest once I saw Class D. IMO Class D is for tight budgets, Home Theater and car audio (no I haven't heard them all, but so far none have come close to the emotional level of my Scott 222D (that's a "D" I can live with!)
the review is posted on the absolutesounds dot com site. My curiosity was also piqued reading the review, and I would also like to hear this amplifier.
Paul Miller is not given to hyperbole, but we will find out over time if this becomes a classic or another has been.
Doubtless it will be reviewed in the States so until then I wish you all all the best with your aesthetically beautiful looking amps and speakers..........
Ben, no offense but its unlikely that your reviewer has heard all of what might be termed the very best. For example, I know he's not heard one of these:
Ben, I took what you said as a heads up, but it does look like a bathroom scale. If I get a chance I will give it a listen. What do you mean that it excels with servers?
Well the media can deal in hyperbole from time to time. The Hi-fi press have their faults though usually in the detail of the review you can filter out the true value of what the reviewer thought-often it is a case of positive spin-trying to put the product's positives in context but usually you get a feeling of its worth.
This was a review by a respected journalist who tends not to deal in hyperbole and he was stating it was an exceptional and exciting product.
I thought I'd share and I'm not surprised at the replies many of which missed the point-it was to make you in the States aware of a product that has only been reviewed in the UK. I wasn't stating it was true what was said in the review but as I say I thought this looked interesting for people interested in the hobby.
Imagine the term "best" being up for debate, wow. I think a reviewer can state in his own opinion probably having heard the best equipment available where it stands in the grand scheme of things.
Now what we all think when we hear it is what is key..... but nevermind it looks like a set of bathroom scales. :-)
Since when in the world of art, was the term "best" ever valid? Seems to me this very word should be banished from our music listening and equipment hobby simply because there is no quantitative dimension that can be used to determine it.
Perhaps the cost is a function of their office being located on Place Vendôme in Paris. Kind of expensive real estate for an audio company, no? There may be higher rent areas of Paris, but not many.
Has anyone looked up the patent application (try the EPO) to see if there is anything to it? Perhaps next we will see a hybrid of classes A and T power amplification systems or perhaps AB and T over ICE.
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