Devialet Owners & Discussion Thread

[Guest]

13 hours ago, KRSDarwin said:

In my system the streaming by Ethernet direct into the Devialet was the undisputed king and superior to the Nucleus+ by USB cable (and Spdif) into the Devialet because the Nucleus+ was ever so slightly more sterile. With the Reclocker in place the Nucleus+ now definitely delivers the best sound, and that’s saying something.

It will be interesting to see how many Expert Pro users here will consider the Gieseler Reinigen.  Not many Expert Pro users are using USB, even on DevialetChat. 

[KRSDarwin]

I have acquired a Thorens SPU 124 cartridge (equivalent to an Ortofon Synergy GM). I intend to use this cartridge with the phonostage in my Devialet Expert Pro 1000.  I am seeking assistance in configuring the phono settings of the Devialet (which has many pre-programmed cartridges but not the SPU 124 or other SPUs).

 

The SPU 124 has an ‘Internal impedance, DC resistance’ of 2 ohm and a ‘Recommended load impedance’ of 10 – 50 Ohm.

 

The Devialet phono settings are shown below:

 

I have chosen a ‘Loading” of 37 Ohm on the basis that the SPU 124 has a recommended load impedance of 10 – 50 Ohm.

 

My questions are:

 

1.       I do not understand what the “Max level” is or what it should be set at. Devialet says “Maximum output RMS level of the cartridge: the amplifier gain is adjusted to make it match the maximum RMS voltage at the speaker output (Factory setting 5: 5 mVrmsI. An excessive value requires to push the volume control higher and needlessly prepares the amplifier to high power demand, with slightly increased energy consumption and heat dissipation; a too low value leads to clipping the most dynamic records”.

 

2.       In the loading I do not know what “pF” is and what it should be set at (it has a range of 0 to 700).  Devialet says “”Resistive and capacitive parallel loading of MC cartridges. Should match the cartridge manufacturer’s recommendation to achieve optimal frequency response and overall tonal balance.”

 

Any recommendations (with reasons) on what the Max Level and Loading (in pF) should be set for the SPU 124 would be gratefully received.

[PKay]

@andyrhopefully you can help. 

[andyr]

11 hours ago, PKay said:

@andyrhopefully you can help. 

 

Thanks, Peter - I think I have (on his parallel thread).

 

[KRSDarwin]

For the record on this thread, I implemented responses received (loading of 37 Ohm 0 pF and Max level of 500) and the results are really excellent. 
 

Now my vinyl through the Devialet is sounding as good as the streaming (via USB reclocker). A great result and a very happy Devialet owner (thanks in no small part to the SNA community). 

[Steever]

What the?

 

 

 

[Pim]

On 16/3/2023 at 2:53 PM, Snoopy8 said:

It will be interesting to see how many Expert Pro users here will consider the Gieseler Reinigen.  Not many Expert Pro users are using USB, even on DevialetChat. 

I've actually just been able to top my USB input by going the Holo Audio Red AES/EBU route. My USB cable is an MIT with some filtering boxes in it. It sounds very different from 'normal' USB cables and very good. I had to set the whole lot up on a power conditioner to hear the improvement from the Red over USB though. Without it, they sounded exactly the same. I've never liked the ethernet port on the Devialet. Too sterile and noisy (high frequency noise. The annoying stuff)

[Guest]

7 hours ago, Pim said:

I've actually just been able to top my USB input by going the Holo Audio Red AES/EBU route. My USB cable is an MIT with some filtering boxes in it. It sounds very different from 'normal' USB cables and very good.

I like the MIT USB cable but it is no longer available. Went with Sablon.

 

Curious to know what AES/EBU cable  you are using. AES/EBU cables are another expensive rabbit hole!  

 

Still believe the Reinigen will beat Holo Red...  A few Reinigen owners have have done a comparison with other DDCs. Also, DDCs do have a sound, adds another clock to the chain.  

[Pim]

7 hours ago, Snoopy8 said:

I like the MIT USB cable but it is no longer available. Went with Sablon.

 

Curious to know what AES/EBU cable  you are using. AES/EBU cables are another expensive rabbit hole!  

 

Still believe the Reinigen will beat Holo Red...  A few Reinigen owners have have done a comparison with other DDCs. Also, DDCs do have a sound, adds another clock to the chain.  

 

I’m not using it as a DDC but as a streamer. Goldensound measured it to be very low in jitter and noise. He had it on a power conditioner, so I tried that too and it worked. It beat a very expensive Cary Audio streamer into SPIDF. It’s sounding quite special at the moment. As far the AES/EBU cable, it’s an Analysis Plus. Not sure about the type. Just whatever the dealer had lying around. 

[KRSDarwin]

Hi all,
 

I thought there was a Devialet amplifiers owners’ thread but I can’t locate one, hence this kick off prompted by a new Devialet amplifier having been announced. [Thank you to the Administrators who found the existing thread (which I had contributed to) and tacked it on, much appreciated]

 

I have been lucky enough to be the owner of a Devialet Expert Pro 1000 for a few years and absolutely love the product. I also have a Phantom 1 speaker but am far more impressed by the Expert Pro amplifier. I use the Expert Pro 1000 (2 amplifiers joined) to horizontally bi-amplify my Paradigm Persona 7Fs and I love the sound. The sources I feed into the Devialet include a Thorens TD 124DD turntable, streamed music (controlled by Roon) from a Nucleus + by way of a Gieseler Reinigen USB reclocker and separately by a Topping D10 DAC/Spdif converter, Denon 4520 AVR (using HT Bypass), Oppo Universal Player and Sonos (never used). So very versatile. 

Some of my perceived negatives about the Expert Pro 1000, it frustrates the upgrade bug, it maybe makes a mockery of a serious turntable given everything is converted to digital and for sometime no apparent software/hardware upgrades (though my system has performed flawlessly and without interruptions) and I haven’t really heard any benefit from SAM (speaker active matching). 

 

I saw tonight that a new Devialet amplifier model has been announced, the Astra.

 

https://www.devialet.com/en-au/amplifiers/

 

Mainly marketing material available at the moment but I am initially a bit sceptical whether (despite the price increase) the quality or functionality has been improved. I will follow reviews and comments from owners with interest. An early report from Stereophile doesn’t say much and is more a heads up on the Astra product. 

Edited November 17, 2024 by KRSDarwin

[mbd]

I also have the D1000 and overall am happy with it. I’m not so impressed that Devialet hasn’t really delivered on the potentials advertised around the Core Infinity upgrade, and they’ve been slow to update firmware. The iOS app could also use a bit of work. 
 

There’s a forum for Devialet owners where some have gone through the specs to compare. The general sense I’m getting is that the specs of the new Astra aren’t much better than (or in some cases inferior to) the D1000, yet are priced at about twice the price.

 

That said, maybe it sounds better? Who knows what voodoo is inside. I’m happy with what I have, and hope for it to last me for many more years. 
 

Out of curiosity have you experimented with the Sweet Room eq functionality? I’ve dabbled but am not an expert (no pun intended). 

[Phill451]

22 hours ago, mbd said:

I also have the D1000 and overall am happy with it. I’m not so impressed that Devialet hasn’t really delivered on the potentials advertised around the Core Infinity upgrade, and they’ve been slow to update firmware. The iOS app could also use a bit of work. 
 

There’s a forum for Devialet owners where some have gone through the specs to compare. The general sense I’m getting is that the specs of the new Astra aren’t much better than (or in some cases inferior to) the D1000, yet are priced at about twice the price.

 

That said, maybe it sounds better? Who knows what voodoo is inside. I’m happy with what I have, and hope for it to last me for many more years. 
 

Out of curiosity have you experimented with the Sweet Room eq functionality? I’ve dabbled but am not an expert (no pun intended). 

I have a Devialet but not the higher end of the range like yours. I also expected more developments to the software. Having said that I’m still very happy with it. 
 

I’ve used the sweet room eq, but I’m also far from an expert. I did some basic room measurements and applied some  changes using the Devialet website guidance. I'm happy that it improved a few obvious room issues. 

[KRSDarwin]

On 18/11/2024 at 7:20 PM, mbd said:

Out of curiosity have you experimented with the Sweet Room eq functionality? I’ve dabbled but am not an expert (no pun intended). 

I’ve just re-orientated my whole system within my room and today changed the prime listening chairs. This has definitely delivered improvements.  In the coming weeks I will dial in based upon (tape) measurements and listening. 
 

I haven’t used Sweet Room but will have a look into it once I feel I have optimised the positioning. Thanks for raising Sweet Room. 

[ViVa]

How did you go there @KRSDarwin?

I am thinking of reviewing my room as well....I don't seem to get more out of my Expert 140 Pro paired with Bryston Mini T speakers. 

Anyone paired these with KEF LS50 Meta?

[KRSDarwin]

Well …. Dialled in with precise measurements and achieved the neat trick of speakers disappearing when listening in centre chair.  However now the listening (lounge) room looks like this. 
 

Hopefully an update on the weekend.