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Posted (edited)

Item: Devialet 120

Location: Sydney

Price: NLA

Item Condition: As new

Reason for selling: Tubes

Payment Method: Pickup - Cash, Paypal, COD Only

Extra Info: I miss tubes and I need more power for Magico S3's.. 3 months old. Perfect.

Pictures: devialet120-banner.png

Edited by Tom.Stopforth
  • Like 1

Posted

Heard this amp at Andrew's place last week when picking up his, now my, Magico's and was stunned at the synergy. The sound stage (huge), imaging (pin point), and resolution (highly) of this amp was quite incredible. Throw in the quality of the DAC and streamer functionality and I can't help but feel that this has got to be one of the best kept value for money secrets in HiFi at the moment.

 

I also love the remote. Doubt this will last long! :)

Posted

Thanks Soapy

 

It's a good bit of kit - I haven't worked out in my head if I buy a devialet 250 (ie stay SS) or come back to tubes + dac + cables etc. 

 

S3's need more power than a 120 (or 180w to 4 ohm).

 

Soapy - how are the S1's & cables?

Posted

Thanks Soapy

 

It's a good bit of kit - I haven't worked out in my head if I buy a devialet 250 (ie stay SS) or come back to tubes + dac + cables etc. 

 

S3's need more power than a 120 (or 180w to 4 ohm).

 

Soapy - how are the S1's & cables?

 

Mate - The only problem I have is that when ever I walk past the S1's and musics playing I just stop, sit down and stare in disbelief at what I'm hearing. I've never known something to be so resolving, yet musical, and non-fatiguing at the same time. It's unlike anything I've ever experienced before. :)

  • Like 2
Posted

Sorry for the spectacularly dumb question, but it there any way to connect a pair of headphones to the 120?

  • Like 1
Posted

Item: Devialet 120Location: SydneyPrice: $6000 new price $7990Item Condition: As newReason for selling: TubesPayment Method: Pickup - Cash, Paypal, COD OnlyExtra Info: I miss tubes. I need more power for Magico S3's.. 3 months old. Perfect.Pictures: devialet120-banner.png

I hear you brother. Class D to tubes, a big jump.

Posted

Sorry for the spectacularly dumb question, but it there any way to connect a pair of headphones to the 120?

I believe you can configure a pair of line-outs to drive headphones. Not sure if this is supported on the 120 though.
  • Like 1
Posted (edited)

ummm, you can get an optional pre out board that supports inter alia headphones - costs around $1000

 

My understanding is that it has MC & MB just basic ie the flash cart matching comes with the 200 up.

 

Now to correct a BIG misunderstanding this a a Class A amp that uses Class D to provide current - much like Quad's "current dumping" amps. It's a hybrid. Sound is crystalline clear.

 

I just like tubes more. If i end up with S3's I'll need SS and alot more power than 180 w's. If I don't then it's tubes. ISo either way it needs to go. wish the nCore 1200's were more readily available.

Edited by Tom.Stopforth
  • Like 1
Posted

Hi Andrew

Those S3s are crying out for some Vitus amplification.

Did you listen to the S3s with the RI-100?

If not give it a try.

Selling the Devialet at least means you can keep the ANtipodes

Good luck

Andrew

Posted

ummm, you can get an optional pre out board that supports inter alia headphones - costs around $1000

 

My understanding is that it has MC & MB just basically ie the flash cart matching comes with the 200 up.

 

Now to correct a BIG misunderstanding this a a Class A amp that uses Class D to provide current - much like Quad's "current dumping" amps. It's a hybrid. Sound is crystalline clear.

 

I just like tubes more. If i end up with S3's I'll need SS and alot more power than 180 w's. If I don't then it's tubes. ISo either way it needs to go. wish the nCore 1200's were more readily available.

 

How bout Mola Mola's? PMG bring them in (i think they're in production now?).

 

Sorry for being off topic. GLWTS!

Posted (edited)

Hi Andrew

Those S3s are crying out for some Vitus amplification.

Did you listen to the S3s with the RI-100?

If not give it a try.

Selling the Devialet at least means you can keep the ANtipodes

Good luck

Andrew

 

 

Oh yes - hadn' t thought about that. One or other. Or both  - not bothered either way really. The Antipodes DXe can still be bought if someone wants it. I don't mind how my NAS sounds running Minimserver. 

 

Nope haven't heard the S3's with Vitus, but I have heard Vitus amps before - I find them a little clinical. They aren't really for me. 

 

I didn't hear the S1 before I bought it, and dipped my toe in the water with the entry level. Now I wish I had just bought the S3 and had been done with it. S5 would be far too big for my apartmento.

 

Cheers

 

EDIT: wouldn't you know it - the Antipodes Dxe just developed a fault and is on the blink. Time for a refund I think. 

Edited by Tom.Stopforth
Posted (edited)

Andrew,

I concur with your view on vitus...

Would you say the devialet is less clinical?

 

Oh yes - completely different sound. Vitus has that hyper etched, clinical quality I don't care for. Hearing a Vitus amp with Victor's Marten Birds you could take apart every single part of a performance but not be connected to it at all. When we replaced it with some tubes mono's he had, the magic came back, at the expense of the detail and precision. I much preferred the latter presentation. I didn't even like the Dartzel integrated he briefly had through his place. I just didn't think it was very good.

 

The Devialet sounds completely  different. It sounds of ...nothing. It is transparent, crystal clear and very detailed (if your speakers allow it to be). The better your speakers the better it makes music.

 

To my mind it is the closest "wire with gain" I have heard. I am a died in the wool tube type guy and it's the closest I have come to being totally satisfied. I certainly haven't ruled out a more powerful Devialet for a pair of Magico S3's. The more I think about it, the more problems I foresee with tubes - heat, space, cables etc all add to it.

 

I like the dac implementation very much - again with highly resolving speakers, eg the Magico S1's I sold, I didn't want for any detail at all. I'm currently using my trusty Spendor SA1's and the quality of the Devialet is wasted on them. It's a much better dac/amp than they are transducers, if that makes sense. And they are really lovely speakers - but they don't play in the same paddock as the Devialet. 

 

Edit - Magico S1's are a difficult drive, they are 84 db, 4 Ohm and dip to a little over an Ohm in the treble. The 120 could produce concert level, but struggled with driver control at full tilt.  S3's are worse. Frankly nCore 1200 modules would do nicely.

 

Hope that helps.

Edited by Tom.Stopforth
Posted (edited)

The worse thing about the devialet is the bloody chrome finish that attracts fingerprints like nothing else. I keep a microfiber handy...couldn't they have just made it in audiophile matt black.

Edited by Tom.Stopforth

Posted (edited)

 does the devialet display the same grip on the bottom end that class d is known for?

 

 

 

Oh yes - it is very strong. One of the traits I like very much. It had no problem with the bottom end on the Magico's. It just got a little untidy when I had concert levels going and large tympani peaks etc. But that was when what I was asking it to do was well outside it's performance envelope. 

 

I guess because like so much of this hobby, it's a suck and see approach to synergy, I was reluctant to buy a Devialet 200 or 250 (they are alot more expense than the 120) until I had lived with the 120 for a while. I'd have no hesitation now. 

Edited by Tom.Stopforth
  • Like 1
Posted (edited)

I think upon reflection I'll keep it. Why spend more money?

Edited by Tom.Stopforth
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