Devialet 400, I know it's different, but I love it ....

Well for the last 6-9 months or so it's been the Totaldac d1-server. It's got a lovely airy sound, you can really feel the space between musicians. The Melco N1Z on my fairly brief listen in the same system surpassed that. It has a real grip to things, big presentation that fills the room and a fairly analogue quality. I'm struggling to see how it can get any better actually!
The N1A is maybe not quite as good as the Totaldac. It has a slightly more apparent graininess than the N1Z and the presentation again is smaller (much like the Totaldac vs the N1Z). I'd need to spend more time with it but it probably does a few things slightly better than the Totaldac and a few things slightly worse - it's just a little different.
The problem for me as I only have a Devialet 200 is price - it starts to get a bit out of hand with Totaldac or N1Z prices and not really justified. I am seriously considering an N1A. You get a lot for your money with that device. the more expensive devices are maybe more relevant to D250/400/800 owners.
 
Have you compared the TotalDAC to the Aurender? I'm thinking the N10 or N100 as an ideal match to my Devialet. Aurender seems to have lots of good options, a mature app, built in Tidal, etc.

For those who insist on a standalone DAC, it's great to see this space and the likes of Aurender, Auralic, Totaldac, Melco and others challenging the traditional Mac or PC back end.


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I've not heard any of the Aurender devices. They seem to be selling quite well so there's obviously a lot to like. The build quality looks really good. My inner IT guy is thinking that Melco are doing more interesting things from a hardware/OS point of view - i.e some interesting things regarding hard disk/SSD & communication optimisation which I'm not sure Aurender are doing. Aurender though seem to have the lead on internet streaming in particular and have their own control point (I think?) and are probably a better option in terms of usability. In terms of on-board storage streamers they look like the 2 competitors. Melco have only very recently introduced streaming so it's fairly early days for them.

Regarding traditional/recommended Devialet options I find AIR perfectly adequate but not really setting my world alight from a sound quality perspective. There is unfortunately a major bug which causes intermittent white noise or dropouts too which Devialet are taking way too long to fix. I'm not totally enamoured with direct PC or Mac (via USB) streaming either. The dedicated devices to seem quite a bit better. Melco only uses USB and sounds pretty fine with that but I agree that AES or SPDIF are really good with the Devialet too (Devialet used to recommend AES as the best connection method I believe).
I'm using a Cubox right now which I considered a temporary solution and something to play around with but with optimizations (processor affinity including moving USB interrupts to a dedicated processor core, process prioritisation) it's proving a real bargain. It lacks decent audiophile quality connectivity/build but is actually pretty good, but not really a nice friendly consumer device!
 
I'm using BNC out from my Lumin S1 (total overkill, but it's what I have for now until the Aurender N10 comes in). Of course, the Lumin works flawlessly with the Devialet and I can even convert DSD to PCM on the fly. Looking forward to the Devialet becoming DSD compatible.


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Mike said:
I'm using BNC out from my Lumin S1 (total overkill, but it's what I have for now until the Aurender N10 comes in). Of course, the Lumin works flawlessly with the Devialet and I can even convert DSD to PCM on the fly. Looking forward to the Devialet becoming DSD compatible.


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Converting DSD to PCM is like buying a very expensive boutique bourbon and using it to make the equivalent of a Jack and Coke.
 
mep said:
Converting DSD to PCM is like buying a very expensive boutique bourbon and using it to make the equivalent of a Jack and Coke.
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Agreed, but until the Devialet is updated to handle DSD (reportedly at MUNICH), it's the only option.


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joeinid said:
What is your favorite transport right now?
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Network/file Players and Streamers are not "transports."

A transport can playback an optical disc (CD, DVD, SACD).

My PS Audio PWT does a good job with CDs and DVDAs off its AES/EBU output(Audience Au24 SE) into my D400.
 
Next week, I will be going from my Mac Mini into a Berkeley Alpha USB….out with a Siltech AES/EBU... into my Devialet 400. Right now I am running a long USB into the Devialet. I can't wait to hear the new configuration.
 
Thanks Dan.

Should be awesome Bruce! Can't wait for your opinion.
 
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