Tír Na HiFi

I'm arranging a home dem of the Devialet 170 with Ivan from Cloney. I've been gradually dismantling my Linn Aktiv system over the last year or so - too many boxes given that I only listen to streamed FLAC, Spotify and Internet radio. Heard the D-Premier in Cloney about a year ago and was very impressed - so if the 170 is as good, I'll be very excited. Cost of change is pretty much neutral, given what it will be replacing.

Will be demoing it with my Linn Kurate 242s, so will let you know how inget on. Addition of Ethernet and USB were the final improvements that made me want to have a serious listen.

Ken

I'll be very curious to hear your findings. I hope to be auditioning the 170 in a few months along with ARC Reference 75 and the Atash NC1200 monoblocks.

Had a bit of a read of the reviews. If it sounds half as good as it looks it sure looks a real winner. I remember Ivan raving about the devialet
when I called in to cloneys early last year.That one was the tres expensive one so didn't pay much attention to it as it would never be on the radar. Look forward to hearing it some day. Do they do a separate dac or is it all integrated kit?

in the back of my mind I can't help but think that any one-box system is a compromise. I know I said it was (from my limited experiences) a "game changer" - whatever that really means - but I'm not sure I'd buy one myself.

That is my concern as well. I am more interested in the amplification side but then you are paying for phono, dac etc. I guess I don’t want to believe the DAC would be as good as my Berkeley Alpha II. That said Stereophile just did a follow up on the Devialet integrated phono stage and were very impressed

I don't agree with the notion that a one-box system is a compromise. For one it keeps signal paths very very short and does away with connectors and cables. Of course it's all down to implementation in the end but it would appear that Devaliet is a great example of 'digital done right'. The proof is in the pudding: reviews and user opinons on other forums are glowing.
I suspect that the internals of the system have FPGAs in much the same was as dCS has, hence making 'sound upgrades' in future very simple through a software upgrade.
It's a tired old audio myth that one must have half a room full of heatsinks in order to get the best sound.

Early Devialet ?

DaveF wrote:I don't agree with the notion that a one-box system is a compromise. ....
It's a tired old audio myth that one must have half a room full of heatsinks in order to get the best sound.

lets just say I've never heard a one box system that wasn't a compromise. I've heard the Devialet at the show and in Cloney's but that's not enough to make a serious judgement. It was very very good but I didn't covet it!

BTW, the alternative to one box is not "half a room full of heatsinks"

Ivor wrote:

DaveF wrote:I don't agree with the notion that a one-box system is a compromise. ....
It's a tired old audio myth that one must have half a room full of heatsinks in order to get the best sound.

lets just say I've never heard a one box system that wasn't a compromise. I've heard the Devialet at the show and in Cloney's but that's not enough to make a serious judgement. It was very very good but I didn't covet it!

BTW, the alternative to one box is not "half a room full of heatsinks"

Steady on there lads are ye loosing the run of yourselves and going all hydrogen audio here??

Have to agree with Ivor. I've too have never heard a one box system either that was compromised in some way. And anyway it's kinda boring having something that's 'perfect' even though it can be upgraded/updated when required. No thanks....Every one to their own taste, eh? Anyway best of luck with the dem Ken :)