Devialet Expert 140 Pro

Devialet is one of the few companies that has managed to introduce a lot of freshness to the world of
high-end audio equipment. The French broke with the long-standing patterns and entered the market
with such a bang that it was impossible not to notice it. Although their products were remarkably
innovative from the very beginning, they were presented in a ready, beautiful, refined form. It's like
someone brought them from the near future. Elegant, packed with patented solutions and disgustingly
luxurious amplifiers in flat cases were even advertised with the slogan "One day, everyone will own
a Devialet". From the prices it seemed impossible, but today - when the Phantom speakers made such
a sensation, and their cheaper counterparts, Phantom Reactor, are just entering the market - this an-
nouncement seems a little closer to reality. French engineers combine modern technology, original
design, high quality workmanship and rich functionality in a very thoughtful and consistent way. You
don't have to be an audiophile to see the uniqueness of these devices. While other manufacturers focus
on traditional blocks, Devialet offers us equipment from another galaxy. Minimalistic, but offering
countless functions and endowed with unique possibilities. Small, but with very high power. For this
open to updates and expansion perspective by adding more blocks. It is not surprising that the com-
pany already has a large group of loyal fans. people who have no problem spending a lot of money
on audio equipment, but they need to know that they don't pay for outdated technology dressed in
stories about military capacitors and a wooden front housing. Although today most users associate
Devialet with design speakers with atomic sound, the core of its offer has always been flat amplifiers,
or rather all-in-one systems. Their next generations are getting stronger, smarter and more refined.
Recently, a new version of the base model from the Expert Pro series landed in the catalog and it was
with such a miracle that it came to our editorial office. Although today most users associate Devialet
with design speakers with atomic sound, the core of its offer has always been flat amplifiers, or rather
all-in-one systems. Their next generations are getting stronger, smarter and more refined. Recently,
a new version of the base model from the Expert Pro series landed in the catalog and it was with such
a miracle that it came to our editorial office. Although today most users associate Devialet with design
speakers with atomic sound, the core of its offer has always been flat amplifiers, or rather all-in-one
systems. Their next generations are getting stronger, smarter and more refined. Recently, a new ver-
sion of the base model from the Expert Pro series landed in the catalog and it was with such a miracle
that it came to our editorial office.
The changes compared to the predecessor seem cosmetic. From the outside, both models will be
difficult to distinguish, especially if we consider the lack of visible model designation. The front panel
has only one button, while the top surface is decorated with only two elements - a round display and
the manufacturer's logo. Nothing has changed here. However, the French systematically increase the
power of the amplifier, introducing smaller or larger changes in the circuits responsible for digital
signal processing and expanding the functionality of their devices. In the tested model, such a novelty
is Core Infinity, i.e. the digital heart of our stereo harvester - a miniature computer with considerable
computing power and the ability to process signals with audiophile parameters. It is equipped with a
Quadcore ARM processor clocked at 1 GHz, 1 GB DDR3 RAM and 4 GB flash memory. The pro-
cessor module is encapsulated with such "additions" as the FPGA system for Devialet OS support,
signal transmission management and jitter minimization, DSP processor for increased sound pro-
cessing capabilities, three asynchronous sampling frequency converters, an improved USB interface
and a network connectivity module enabling listening to quality music 32 bit / 192 kHz via UPnP.
My guess is that if you're not interested in technical details, it's almost softened at this stage. Let's put
it this way - Expert 140 Pro is a bit stronger than its predecessor and has a completely new "brain"
allowing better playback of music from various sources, including web services. There is one more
very significant difference. The new model is cheaper than its predecessor PLN 4,600. If things go in
this direction, maybe one day everyone will actually have Devialet?

Appearance and functionality

I love companies that define luxury in their own way. Many audio and consumer electronics manu-
facturers have adopted the American approach altogether - more is better. It translates into adding
handfuls of subsequent sockets, buttons, displays and transformers, and thus - increasing power, rais-
ing parameters and of course adding zeros in the price list. From the very beginning Devialet lets us
know that this time it will be completely different. Expert 140 Pro can support a variety of streaming
services and give the user access to functions that are in vain to find in other all-in-one systems avail-
able on the market, but that does not mean that its front must look like a control panel in a nuclear
power plant, right? All this technology is hidden here deep under the surface of a monolithic, modern,
shiny housing. We don't have to bother with it if we don't feel like it. The device is removed from the
elegant, black packaging, in which also rests an effective remote control with a large knob and several
buttons. A large controller built on a flat base immediately associated me with the manipulators used
by engineers working with three-dimensional models in CAD applications. A beautiful, sophisticated
gadget, thanks to which we can control our equipment from anywhere in the home (the remote control
works on radio waves). The kit also includes a small box with accessories, including a power cord, a
pair of cotton gloves and a soft cloth. This is understandable, because the mirror-like silver surfaces
get dirty quickly. You can see every fingerprint on them. An important element of the described
system is also a microSD card, which we'll be back to in a moment. Interestingly, the mentioned
power cable is not just any - it is the AudioQuest from the NRG-X series. Maybe it's not hi-end yet,
but it doesn't bring shame. Considering that such a cable costs a good few hundred zlotys in a shop,
it is a very nice gift from Devialet.

The device installation procedure is really fascinating. After removing the main unit from the sponge
molding and removing the foil protecting its upper surface from scratches, we should consider setting
up our Devialet. Expert 140 Pro is only four centimeters high, which theoretically gives us great
flexibility in this matter. However, it is hard for me to imagine that someone would consciously give
up the possibility of displaying such an effective device and slip it into some narrow gap. Apart from
the issue of ventilation and the presence of the display on the top panel, this would be obvious waste.
So there are two options to choose from - the traditional horizontal position or hanging the device on
the wall. To do this, you will need a special handle sold separately for a round thousand zlotys. in-
cluding, who decide on the second option, you will certainly like the logo imprinted on the cover in
such a way that it is in the right position when the casing hangs in the correct position, with the button
and display facing up. The French also made sure that users deciding on such an extravaganza did
not have to watch the cables protruding from the device. In its rear part a metal cover was mounted,
which spread over the nests 8 cm long "roof". So just take care of the right sockets or tunnels in the
wall to reduce the entire stereo system to one flat pancake and of course a pair of decent columns.
The extension of the top cover will also be useful after installing the device on the top shelf of our
table. When we connect the cables, we can mount the cover and hide the sockets with the wires
protruding from them. Very clever.

The next phase of fun with Devialet is actually working with a computer. Fortunately, we don't have
to connect a laptop directly to our brand-new system. All you need is the microSD card mentioned
above. We can use it to save settings using the configurator available on the manufacturer's website,
which then - after inserting the card into the socket on the back - will be entered into our system after
it is started. At first it seems strange, but when we see how many things we can change and how
flexible this solution is, we come to the conclusion that it is just faster. Although Expert 140 Pro is
the cheapest model in the whole series, we can set even the parameters of individual sockets in it
(which seems particularly important in the case of a phono input), enable pre-out (for example, when
we want to connect an active subwoofer to the system), set the filtering on the speaker outputs or use
the SAM (Speaker Active Matching) system. It is a solution that adjusts the performance character-
istics of the amplifier to the parameters of our speakers. And it is not about basic parameters such as
efficiency or rated impedance. The French realized their vision in a rather uncompromising way, by
downloading various loudspeaker sets to their Paris office, subjecting them to precise measurements
and introducing appropriate "programs" for their amplifiers, so that the obtained sound was - no less
or more - perfect. Initially, the list included dozens of models, but the company promised to take
measurements of the sets in turn, which customers asked to enter. Today the catalog is really impres-
sive. We have well over 800 models available here, and that's certainly not all. For example, if we are
interested in B&W 805, we have four versions to choose from - 805S, 805 Diamond, 805 D3 and 805
Signature. Under each model, the company also includes a description of the changes that we will get
by activating the SAM system. To enable users to make corrections for columns that are not yet in
the company database, the company even created a handy device called SAM Lab. I don't know if
distributors have it or if it is sent on special order from France, but if we want to create settings for
speakers that Devialet has not heard of, there is such a chance. we have four versions to choose from
- 805S, 805 Diamond, 805 D3 and 805 Signature. Under each model, the company also includes a
description of the changes that we will get by activating the SAM system. To enable users to make
corrections for columns that are not yet in the company database, the company even created a handy
device called SAM Lab. I don't know if distributors have it or if it is sent on special order from France,
but if we want to create settings for speakers that Devialet has not heard of, there is such a chance.
we have four versions to choose from - 805S, 805 Diamond, 805 D3 and 805 Signature. Under each
model, the company also includes a description of the changes that we will get by activating the SAM
system. To enable users to make corrections for columns that are not yet in the company database,
the company even created a handy device called SAM Lab. I don't know if distributors have it or if it
is sent on special order from France, but if we want to create settings for speakers that Devialet has
not heard of, there is such a chance. the company even created a handy device called SAM Lab. I
don't know if distributors have it or if it is sent on special order from France, but if we want to create
settings for speakers that Devialet has not heard of, there is such a chance. the company even created
a handy device called SAM Lab. I don't know if distributors have it or if it is sent on special order
from France, but if we want to create settings for speakers that Devialet has not heard of, there is such
a chance.

I have to admit, however, that the biggest impression on me was the wealth of options available in
the configurator of our device. We can set things like display brightness, volume level at the start of
the device or maximum output power, and even assign specific functions to buttons on the remote
control. It is even possible to switch the speaker outputs to mono. Available RCA sockets can perform
almost any function. With one click we can choose analog, digital or gramophone input. Bah! In this
section we don't even have to set the exact parameters of our insert. It is enough to indicate the man-
ufacturer and model. The list includes inserts from companies such as Airtight, Audio-Technica, Benz
Micro, Clearaudio, Denon, Dynavector, Goldring, Grado, Lyra, Nagaoka, Ortofon, Pro-Ject, Rega,
Roksan, Shure, Sumiko and Wilson Benesch. For example, we have 16 models from Audio-Technik,
25 from Ortofon. Would you like to choose an equalization curve for this? No problem. There are
thirteen options to choose from - RIAA 1953, RIAA1976, NAB, RCA, Columbia, EMI, AES, Decca,
L'Oiseau Lyre, Telefunken, Capitol, MGM and Esoteric. Concrete! In the tab with the general settings
of our device we can, however, set the color correction parameters, including the frequency at which
the bass correction will be focused. So, if our listening room has a nagging mode at 62 Hz, we set this
value in the appropriate tab to later equalize the band exactly in this place. If you want to use a Wi-
Fi network, remember to enter its name and password from the configurator level. The device itself
does not give such a possibility, and without access to the network will not connect to a dedicated
application for smartphones and tablets. Interestingly, the configuration is saved in a plain text file,
whose content resembles html code.

As the cheapest model in the whole series, Expert 140 Pro is not especially overloaded with sockets,
but if I'm to be honest, I don't know if I would still need any fountains. On the back there is a microSD
card slot, network socket, USB type B and digital optical input, then four gold-plated RCA sockets
(two of which are described as analog and two as digital) with a grounding clamp for the turntable
located nearby, they continue high-quality speaker terminals, two barely visible 3.5 mm sockets (one
of which can be used as an additional optical input or communication connector, and the other is a
typical trigger) and an IEC three-pin power socket. What else could we wish for? It comes to mind
even more analog sockets or the XLR input. However, please remember that we are dealing with a
device that is clearly geared towards digital sources (well, maybe except for the rich possibilities of
configuring the phono input). In this case, we should simplify the situation as much as possible and
avoid double signal conversion. In other words - we will listen to the turntable without any problems,
because it is an analog source, but if we use a CD player or an external streamer, select one of the
digital inputs and let Devialet do the work as it was designed for it.

Configuration carried out from a computer is a great help for audiophiles. A great thing for users who
like to squeeze the last juices from their equipment. However, if we come to the conclusion that we
have exhausted all the possibilities, take it easy, there is one more development path - system upgrade
by adding another such block and creating a dual mono or multi amp system.

My impressions from the operation and use of the tested system were very positive. Expert 140 Pro
is simply beautiful. Workmanship - Premier League. Technology and flexibility used - I bow. Pilot -
no words. The possibility of mounting in a vertical position - very tempting, especially for users who
do not keep a table set from top to bottom in other living rooms and do not see any contraindications
for this. Configuration carried out from a computer (without establishing communication with our
system) and saved as a special file on the memory card is one of the surprises that has probably more
pros than cons. First of all, we can play with the settings at any time, and if we use two pairs of
columns or two phono cartridges alternately, or we want to have two sound modes at hand with a
different correction, just get a second card. Settings are made each time the device is started, which
is indicated by the inscription on the display. Of course, we can give each configuration its own name.
If the whole family uses Devialet and we do not want to worry that someone in our absence could
damage the electronics or speakers, nothing simpler - just after listening, insert the card with a setting
that allows you to achieve a much lower volume and the matter is done. But let's face it, it's a big help
for audiophiles. A great thing for users who like to squeeze the last juices from their equipment.
However, if we come to the conclusion that we have exhausted all possibilities, take it easy - there is
one more development path. Unlike its predecessor, Expert 140 Pro allows you to upgrade the system
by adding another such block and creating a dual mono or multi amp system. It is a pity that we then
have to buy a complete device with network functions, remote control and sockets that will not be
used. But there are also pros of this situation. A tower of two or three Devialets can always be sepa-
rated. For example, if we decide to set up a second system in a different room. However, if we wanted
to introduce even greater changes, a complete all-in-one system will certainly be easier to sell. If
you've ever tried to find a buyer for a power amplifier or a power supply for a specific brand, you
surely know what I'm talking about. Expert 140 Pro allows you to upgrade the system by adding
another such block and creating a dual mono or multi amp system. It is a pity that we then have to
buy a complete device with network functions, remote control and sockets that will not be used. But
there are also pros of this situation. A tower of two or three Devialets can always be separated. For
example, if we decide to set up a second system in a different room. However, if we wanted to intro-
duce even greater changes, a complete all-in-one system will certainly be easier to sell. If you've ever
tried to find a buyer for a power amplifier or a power supply for a specific brand, you surely know
what I'm talking about. Expert 140 Pro allows you to upgrade the system by adding another such
block and creating a dual mono or multi amp system. It is a pity that we then have to buy a complete
device with network functions, remote control and sockets that will not be used. But there are also
pros of this situation. A tower of two or three Devialets can always be separated. For example, if we
decide to set up a second system in a different room. However, if we wanted to introduce even greater
changes, a complete all-in-one system will certainly be easier to sell. If you've ever tried to find a
buyer for a power amplifier or a power supply for a specific brand, you surely know what I'm talking
about. that we must then buy a complete device with network functions, remote control and sockets
that will not be used. But there are also pros of this situation. A tower of two or three Devialets can
always be separated. For example, if we decide to set up a second system in a different room. How-
ever, if we wanted to introduce even greater changes, a complete all-in-one system will certainly be
easier to sell. If you've ever tried to find a buyer for a power amplifier or a power supply for a specific
brand, you surely know what I'm talking about. that we must then buy a complete device with network
functions, remote control and sockets that will not be used. But there are also pros of this situation.
A tower of two or three Devialets can always be separated. For example, if we decide to set up a
second system in a different room. However, if we wanted to introduce even greater changes, a com-
plete all-in-one system will certainly be easier to sell. If you've ever tried to find a buyer for a power
amplifier or a power supply for a specific brand, you surely know what I'm talking about. However,
if we wanted to introduce even greater changes, a complete all-in-one system will certainly be easier
to sell. If you've ever tried to find a buyer for a power amplifier or a power supply for a specific brand,
you surely know what I'm talking about. However, if we wanted to introduce even greater changes, a
complete all-in-one system will certainly be easier to sell. If you've ever tried to find a buyer for a
power amplifier or a power supply for a specific brand, you surely know what I'm talking about.

If I were to stick to something, I would mention a few details of utility and software nature. I do not
know why the device itself does not give us the ability to adjust anything. I understand that the de-
signers focused on minimalism, but four buttons would not spoil the effect. Instead, they would allow
you to adjust the volume or change the source without reaching for the remote control or smartphone.
When I stood directly at the tested device and realized that I could not do much about it without a
driver, it was at least a strange feeling. Since the remote control has no display, and from the couch I
could not see the colored window on the top panel of Expert 140 Pro, I did not know what I was
doing. Half poor with a potentiometer. His work is audible but choosing a source in such a situation
is already a lottery. I assigned SAM correction to one of the buttons, but without the display I didn't
know if I was turning it on or off at the moment. Micromega cleverly coped with this problem by
mounting two displays in flat M-One systems. Maybe the salvation is the application for mobile de-
vices? To some extent, yes. The app, however, is something like a virtual remote control and you
should not count on any additional functions. Why can't the user make changes to the settings without
removing or inserting the card? If we mount the equipment vertically and put a metal plug on the
sockets, it is not very convenient. Lyngdorf TDAI-3400 offers great configuration options for indi-
vidual operating parameters, in which a whole lot of settings could be displayed in the application,
and even more - on the computer, through the browser, in real time. I think, that the answer to this
question is once again simplicity. Expert 140 Pro has powerful capabilities, but the manufacturer
apparently wanted to take some things off our minds and encouraged us to close the topic once and
for all after properly installed, at least until important changes are made to the system. And I respect
that the most.

Personally, I would only like Devialet to put the software situation in order, and ideally - to introduce
one, comprehensive, advanced application that supports all devices of this brand. After the Gold
Phantom and Expert 140 Pro test, I already have three Devialet applications on my phone. There are
as many as five items in the App Store signed by the French company, and the one designed for the
Expert Pro series does not do much. For example, I don't know how to get hi-res files shared on a
network drive. The tested model also supports AirPlay, Spotify Connect and the Roon system, which
is a lot easier. And how to listen to music in hi-res quality comfortably and audiophile? Well, we can
use the Devialet AIR system here. It is a data transfer protocol developed by a French company,
which we can treat as another option for managing music playback. This is most conveniently done
from a computer. The program prepared by Devialet (actually the overlay) bypasses system settings
and allows you to communicate with our equipment from other programs. Expert 140 Pro can then
act as an external sound card. The highest signal quality is offered by digital inputs - coaxial and
USB, on which we listen to DSD64 files. As for the price of the described model and the fact that it
uses a new Core Infinity system, these parameters are not stunning. The question is how many people
will listen to DSD128 or denser files on such a device ... Some time ago the company showed Devialet
OS, which brought some new features. But what exactly does this change for the user? I don't know
if the subject of software ' French don't hang around a bit. I also wonder if Devialet is following the
path that many audio equipment manufacturers have already chosen to support network connectivity.
It is possible that they are quietly striving to transfer matters related to the music itself to other appli-
cations, such as Spotify or Roon. If they continue to develop so dynamically, maybe there is really
nothing to reinvent the wheel and invest in the sixth application, which in a moment will require
updating. On the other hand, combining all these functions in one well-developed app that supports
every Devialet device available on the market and allows you to listen to music from several of the
most commonly used sources would definitely be a beautiful gift for both current and future custom-
ers. I also wonder if Devialet is following the path that many audio equipment manufacturers have
already chosen to support network connectivity. It is possible that they are quietly striving to transfer
matters related to the music itself to other applications, such as Spotify or Roon. If they continue to
develop so dynamically, maybe there is really nothing to reinvent the wheel and invest in the sixth
application, which in a moment will require updating. On the other hand, combining all these func-
tions in one well-developed app that supports every Devialet device available on the market and al-
lows you to listen to music from several of the most commonly used sources would definitely be a
beautiful gift for both current and future customers. I also wonder if Devialet is following the path
that many audio equipment manufacturers have already chosen to support network connectivity. It is
possible that they are quietly striving to transfer matters related to the music itself to other
applications, such as Spotify or Roon. If they continue to develop so dynamically, maybe there is
really nothing to reinvent the wheel and invest in the sixth application, which in a moment will require
updating. On the other hand, combining all these functions in one well-developed app that supports
every Devialeta device available on the market and allows you to listen to music from several of the
most commonly used sources would definitely be a beautiful gift for both current and future custom-
ers. that they are quietly striving to transfer issues related to the music itself to other applications,
such as Spotify or Roon. If they continue to develop so dynamically, maybe there is really nothing to
reinvent the wheel and invest in the sixth application, which in a moment will require updating. On
the other hand, combining all these functions in one well-developed app that supports every Devialet
device available on the market and allows you to listen to music from several of the most commonly
used sources would definitely be a beautiful gift for both current and future customers. that they are
quietly striving to transfer issues related to the music itself to other applications, such as Spotify or
Roon. If they continue to develop so dynamically, maybe there is really nothing to reinvent the wheel
and invest in the sixth application, which in a moment will require updating. On the other hand,
combining all these functions in one well-developed app that supports every Devialet device available
on the market and allows you to listen to music from several of the most commonly used sources
would definitely be a beautiful gift for both current and future customers. maybe there is really noth-
ing to reinvent the wheel and invest in the sixth application, which in a moment will need to be
updated. On the other hand, combining all these functions in one well-developed app that supports
every Devialet device available on the market and allows you to listen to music from several of the
most commonly used sources would definitely be a beautiful gift for both current and future custom-
ers. maybe there is really nothing to reinvent the wheel and invest in the sixth application, which in a
moment will need to be updated. On the other hand, combining all these functions in one well-devel-
oped app that supports every Devialet device available on the market and allows you to listen to music
from several of the most commonly used sources would definitely be a beautiful gift for both current
and future customers.

Sound

If you are audiophiles, I know what you are thinking now. Expert 140 Pro is an interesting, perfectly
made and charged with modern technologies device that gives the user great flexibility and allows
you to play with things that virtually no other stereo system at this price has, and even the wife will
love it. But is he playing? And it is not in the sense of "whether the sound is coming from the speakers
at all", but rather "does it sound as good as a comparable system consisting of separate components"?
So I will answer without any uncertainty - yes! The attachment of French designers to the issue of
aesthetics, fabulous remote control and guts that look a bit like a close-up to a laptop motherboard
can raise some doubts for some music lovers, but the final test should be listening. And this one went
perfectly from the beginning. I have no doubt that Devialet will spread many price-comparable am-
plifiers on the shoulders, not to mention devices that also have built-in network connectivity with
support for various streaming services, digital inputs and a fully functional phono stage working with
MM and MC cartridges (not to mention about the possibility of setting exact parameters). Expert 140
Pro is more than a nice gadget that adorns a modern living room. It is a fully audiophile equipment
that, in combination with high-end loudspeakers, will provide us with very, very high-level sound.
digital inputs and a fully functional phono stage cooperating with MM and MC cartridges (not to
mention the possibility of setting exact parameters). Expert 140 Pro is more than a nice gadget that
adorns a modern living room. It is a fully audiophile equipment that, in combination with high-end
loudspeakers, will provide us with very, very high-level sound. digital inputs and a fully functional
phono stage cooperating with MM and MC cartridges (not to mention the possibility of setting exact
parameters). Expert 140 Pro is more than a nice gadget that adorns a modern living room. It is a fully
audiophile equipment that, in combination with high-end loudspeakers, will provide us with very,
very high-level sound.

When it comes to the nature of the sound, the French system behaved like a high-class hybrid ampli-
fier, with a slight advantage of the transistor element. We have, above all, brutal power and the asso-
ciated dynamics reserve, manifesting itself both in the possibility of entering high volume levels
without the slightest effort, as well as in the way events are presented on a micro scale. To get the
right level of realism during listening, we must be aware that electronics can handle both large and
small impulses. We need to know that the layer of these small nuances does not disappear in the sheer
volume of louder sounds. I would compare it to adjusting the brightness and contrast on a TV or
computer monitor. If it's too bright, some areas will start to merge into a white spot, and if we exag-
gerate with contrast and lower the brightness, we will not see the difference between dark gray and
total black. Only restoring the right balance between these extremes will make us perceive the image
in its best form. French engineers know very well how to do the same with sound. Expert 140 Pro
can deliver a powerful bass and focus on the subtleties of vocals at the same time, without any effort.
What's more, in dense electronic music, it comes just as well as with a solo piano, presenting the same
high level. No repertoire can surprise him. He approaches it with great indifference, or - if you prefer
- cool objectivity. Although its sound is not so cool at all. It has a lot of smoothness. Maybe even a
little warm? Exactly that we are not forced to break down the recordings into atoms and not feel like
sound engineers when working at the console. However, Devialet impresses with its dynamics, clean-
liness, neutrality and ability to hold the speakers with an iron hand. The spectacle before us is con-
trolled in every aspect. Even when playing demanding songs with deep bass and a mixture of random
sounds, Expert 140 Pro had free energy and computing power to use. Nothing eluded him. Everything
was where it should be. I have the impression that not only the speakers used in the test were abso-
lutely listened to by Devialet. Even the performers themselves seemed to be under his control. As if
they were locked up somewhere in the digital world, like some of the heroes of the "Black Mirror",

Exemplary tonal balance, excellent purity, freedom, brutal power and confidence that nothing will
fall on the sound. It really can be enjoyed. Does the French system have anything else to offer? Yes.
If you give him some time, you will discover a slightly softer side of his nature. Nobody said that
such a decisive approach to music must be associated with a lack of timbre, coherence and musicality
understood as the ability to get the user into a long-distance listening session. Although Devialet has
never abandoned his tendency to organize sound, he has shown that he knows how vocals and strings
should sound. He proved that - with all its dynamics and resolution - he would never confuse the oboe
with the exhaust pipe from Polonez. Jazz compositions and climate ballads? No problem. I listened
to heavier music even better in which Expert 140 Pro could use his magic wand and turn the mess
into a wall of a specific, springy and energy-inflated sound. And in its sound can you find any element
of tube romanticism, analog fluidity and organic color associated with paper membranes? I don't
know if I would go that far. The French system strongly adheres to its version, which is one hundred
percent compatible with the idea of hi-fi. He tries not to add too much from himself, which, however,
does not mean playing boring, gray and lifeless, Oh, certainly not. With such dynamics and clarity
during listening we will certainly not fall asleep. It turns out that Expert 140 Pro is a very audiophile
animal. Where better performance directly translates into a higher level of realism, it goes almost to
the maximum. He gives as much as he can. Charge. In turn, in areas requiring some restraint, objec-
tivity and following generally accepted rules, he behaves like a perfectly trained soldier. He does not
argue, does not undermine the authority of the commander and does not do everything his own way.
There is absolutely no problem with accepting that the effect must be as intended by the artists and
producers of the recording. With all their brutal strength, it is in their hands that Expert 140 Pro gives
away all its work. Audiophiles do not like this sound. that the effect must be as intended by the artists
and producers of the recording. With all their brutal strength, it is in their hands that Expert 140 Pro
gives away all its work. Audiophiles do not like this sound. that the effect must be as intended by the
artists and producers of the recording. With all their brutal strength, it is in their hands that Expert
140 Pro gives away all its work. Audiophiles do not like this sound.

Finally, I would like to highlight a few things, the first of which must be the way the bass is presented.
Beloved ... What this block makes with bass, I don't think even dreamed of philosophers. Depth,
speed, elasticity, filling, ability to suppress the shock wave in a split second - it's hard for me to even
determine with myself which of these features made the biggest impression on me. To shorten these
considerations, I will only write that the bottom of the band performed by Devialet is close to perfec-
tion. The Equilibrium Ether Ceramique loudspeakers used in the test danced like Expert 140 Pro
played them, and certainly they are not yet setting that limit its possibilities. If I were a producer of
audiophile subwoofers and heard something like that, I would park the next day at Devialet's head-
quarters with a bus full of hi-end wine, ripening cheese, exquisite desserts and suitcases with money.
I would do anything to let the French agree to design amplifiers for me. And if it went well, maybe
complete devices. After all, the speakers from the Phantom line are known primarily from the pow-
erful bass going down to the bottom. Until now, I thought it was due to rigid metal membranes work-
ing like perfect pistons, but now I am beginning to wonder if the secret of this sound is not the elec-
tronics hidden in the middle. The second important issue is space. It is wide and well organized, with
lots of air between the instruments. Perfectly matches the character of the tested system. In terms of
depth, a lot depends on what our speakers have to offer. Expert 140 Pro doesn't pull anything out. that
the French would agree to design amplifiers for me. And if it went well, maybe complete devices.
After all, the speakers from the Phantom line are known primarily from the powerful bass going down
to the bottom. Until now, I thought it was due to rigid metal membranes working like perfect pistons,
but now I am beginning to wonder if the secret of this sound is not the electronics hidden in the
middle. The second important issue is space. It is wide and well organized, with lots of air between
the instruments. Perfectly matches the character of the tested system. In terms of depth, a lot depends
on what our speakers have to offer. Expert 140 Pro doesn't pull anything out. that the French would
agree to design amplifiers for me. And if it went well, maybe complete devices. After all, the speakers
from the Phantom line are known primarily from the powerful bass going down to the bottom. Until
now, I thought it was due to rigid metal membranes working like perfect pistons, but now I am be-
ginning to wonder if the secret of this sound is not the electronics hidden in the middle. The second
important issue is space. It is wide and well organized, with lots of air between the instruments. Per-
fectly matches the character of the tested system. In terms of depth, a lot depends on what our speakers
have to offer. Expert 140 Pro doesn't pull anything out. After all, the speakers from the Phantom line
are known primarily from the powerful bass going down to the bottom. Until now, I thought it was
due to rigid metal membranes working like perfect pistons, but now I am beginning to wonder if the
secret of this sound is not the electronics hidden in the middle. The second important issue is space.
It is wide and well organized, with lots of air between the instruments. Perfectly matches the character
of the tested system. In terms of depth, a lot depends on what our speakers have to offer. Expert 140
Pro doesn't pull anything out. After all, the speakers from the Phantom line are known primarily from
the powerful bass going down to the bottom. Until now, I thought it was due to rigid metal membranes
working like perfect pistons, but now I am beginning to wonder if the secret of this sound is not the
electronics hidden in the middle. The second important issue is space. It is wide and well organized,
with lots of air between the instruments. Perfectly matches the character of the tested system. In terms
of depth, a lot depends on what our speakers have to offer. Expert 140 Pro doesn't pull anything out.
but now I'm starting to wonder if the secret of this sound is by chance the electronics hidden inside.
The second important issue is space. It is wide and well organized, with lots of air between the
instruments. Perfectly matches the character of the tested system. In terms of depth, a lot depends on
what our speakers have to offer. Expert 140 Pro doesn't pull anything out. but now I'm starting to
wonder if the secret of this sound is by chance the electronics hidden inside. The second important
issue is space. It is wide and well organized, with lots of air between the instruments. Perfectly
matches the character of the tested system. In terms of depth, a lot depends on what our speakers have
to offer. Expert 140 Pro doesn't pull anything out.

Theoretically, Devialet shouldn't need anything but high-end speaker sets. In this situation, "details"
such as cables and power accessories become even more important, not to mention the speakers. Just
because the French system controls the speakers with such amazing confidence does not mean that
we can connect anything to it.

And here we come to the last issue, which is the choice of accompanying equipment. Theoretically,
Devialet shouldn't need anything but high-end speaker sets. In this situation, "details" such as cables
and power accessories become even more important, not to mention the speakers. Just because the
French system controls the speakers with such amazing confidence does not mean that we can connect
anything to it. On the contrary. Expert 140 Pro will repay you for every small step to perfection and
reveal the imperfections of the devices that work with it. Well, maybe it is not so ruthless, but you
should definitely treat it with respect. With loudspeakers with a clean and dynamic sound, you can
get a truly thunderous effect. I wonder how he would match the sets with a slightly milder disposition.
I have to try it once with Graham Audio LS5 / 9 monitors. Judging by the columns on the SAM list,
users of Devialet systems choose different directions, also as non-obvious as supplementing such a
modern pancake with classic, British monitors or other speakers using ideas and technical solutions
from several decades ago. It is important that they are good. Speaking of which, turning on equaliza-
tion doesn't change the sound in any unusual way. It would definitely be worth taking advantage of
this boon and choose columns that have already been measured and entered into the company's data-
base. I would not expect miracles though, because that's not the point. SAM can gently stretch the
band and slightly improve dynamics, but if we can't apply it, nothing great will happen. I would not
say that in this way we will lose 25% of the capacity of our amplifier. There are certainly loudspeakers
that this technology helps to a much greater extent, but I do not know if you should worry about it so
much. In other words, if you have speakers that are not on the list and may never be there, a calm
head. SAM is a nice addition, but if Expert 140 Pro didn't have it, it would still get high marks. I did
not expect to say that, but if I were to sell all my equipment and leave only Devialet with decent
loudspeakers at home, I would not be unhappy. It is even possible that I will think about this seriously
in the future. There are certainly loudspeakers that this technology helps to a much greater extent, but
I do not know if you should worry about it so much. In other words, if you have speakers that are not
on the list and may never be there, a calm head. SAM is a nice addition, but if Expert 140 Pro didn't
have it, it would still get high marks. I did not expect to say that, but if I were to sell all my equipment
and leave only Devialet with decent loudspeakers at home, I would not be unhappy. It is even possible
that I will think about this seriously in the future. There are certainly loudspeakers that this technology
helps to a much greater extent, but I do not know if you should worry about it so much. In other
words, if you have speakers that are not on the list and may never be there, a calm head. SAM is a
nice addition, but if Expert 140 Pro didn't have it, it would still get high marks. I did not expect to say
that, but if I were to sell all my equipment and leave only Devialet with decent loudspeakers at home,
I would not be unhappy. It is even possible that I will think about this seriously in the future. but if
Expert 140 Pro didn't have it, he would still get high marks. I did not expect to say that, but if I were
to sell all my equipment and leave only Devialet with decent loudspeakers at home, I would not be
unhappy. It is even possible that I will think about this seriously in the future. but if Expert 140 Pro
didn't have it, he would still get high marks. I did not expect to say that, but if I were to sell all my
equipment and leave only Devialet with decent loudspeakers at home, I would not be unhappy. It is
even possible that I will think about this seriously in the future.
Construction and parameters

Devialet Expert 140 Pro is a stereo all-in-one system in a compact design. The device was built on
the basis of the EVO platform, whose architecture basically does not resemble anything that we could
call a classic amplifier, even if we enrich it with additional digital inputs and network functions. This
is a proprietary system that is a combination of technologies developed by French engineers. The
manufacturer's website is full of three-letter abbreviations, the most important of which is undoubt-
edly ADH (Analog Digital Hybrid). According to the original assumption, the designers combined
analog and digital amplification, but focused only on using the best features of each. The system has
been developed practically since 2003. He took real shape four years later. In 2009, the company
showed the first D-Premier model, whose serial production started in 2010. From a technical point of
view, the ADH system is a combination of a digital-to-analog converter, a digital potentiometer and
an amplifier consisting of sections working in class A and D. In conjunction with the project aimed
at miniaturization, this means that the signal path can be shortened to a few, or several centimeters.
The whole has little to do with traditional integrals. Rather, it resembles a collision of a Class D
amplifier with a laptop created for players. With each new generation of Expert Pro systems, Devialet
introduces several improvements. In this model the most important of them is the Core Infinity chip
using a Quadcore ARM processor clocked at 1 GHz, 1 GB DDR3 RAM and 4 GB flash memory. It
is supported by two 400-MHz DSP SHARC processors and six RISC processors (1 x 16 MHz, 4 x 40
Mhz and 1 x 64 MHz). Other technologies worth mentioning include the SAM (Speaker Active
Matching) system, the Magic Wire converter and Devialet AIR streaming. The gramophone input is
handled by the RAM (Record Active Matching) system. This is a precise phono preamplifier that can
be tuned to the cartridge used. The module supports as many as thirteen different curves. It is worth
noting, however, that signal processing takes place in the digital domain, after its conversion. When
it comes to the parameters of the tested device, some are downright shocking. Expert 140 Pro offers
140 W per channel at 6 Ω. It may not be anything unusual, but the distortion at maximum power does
not exceed 0.0005%, the signal to noise ratio is 130 dB, and the output impedance is only 0.001 Ω.
Hence, the attenuation factor is 8,000 (at eight ohms load). The frequency response is given in two
ranges, both of which start with "DC". With a standard deviation of -3 dB, its upper limit is 95 kHz,
while at -0.1 dB we get 30 kHz.

Verdict

Expert 140 Pro is a device that does not have to fight for the title of leader in its class. His rivals can
be counted on the fingers of one hand, and if we are looking for such a combination of design, func-
tionality, high-quality workmanship and sound, I do not know whether looking for other devices has
any sense. However, Devialet gives us something more than an alternative solution for music lovers
who are not interested in completing the stereo system from separate elements. At first, I thought so,
but after several minutes of listening test I changed my mind. The French persistently call their audi-
ophile systems, and you know what? There is no exaggeration. Expert 140 Pro sounds so convincing,
dynamic, neutral and precise that it is impossible to discuss it. It controls the speakers like a transistor
integrated weighing several dozen kilograms. Even in the company of demanding speakers it does
not give up. He adds almost nothing, putting justice in the hands of musicians and record producers.
I am seriously wondering if for the same money I would be able to put together a system offering this
class of sound. If I had to bet someone, and there would be a lot of money at stake, I would probably
have to be sick. The spice of the whole matter is added by the fact that the described model is much
cheaper than its predecessor, at the same time having higher power and offering several new features.
In the world of audio equipment, such things practically do not happen. Exactly ... Or maybe Devialet
is out of this world? I am seriously wondering if for the same money I would be able to put together
a system offering this class of sound. If I had to bet someone, and there would be a lot of money at
stake, I would probably have to be sick. The spice of the whole matter is added by the fact that the
described model is much cheaper than its predecessor, at the same time having higher power and
offering several new features. In the world of audio equipment, such things practically do not happen.
Exactly ... Or maybe Devialet is out of this world? I am seriously wondering if for the same money I
would be able to put together a system offering this class of sound. If I had to bet someone, and there
would be a lot of money at stake, I would probably have to be sick. The spice of the whole matter is
added by the fact that the described model is much cheaper than its predecessor, at the same time
having higher power and offering several new features. In the world of audio equipment, such things
practically do not happen. Exactly ... Or maybe Devialet is out of this world? In the world of audio
equipment, such things practically do not happen. Exactly ... Or maybe Devialet is out of this world?
In the world of audio equipment, such things practically do not happen. Exactly ... Or maybe Devialet
is out of this world?
Technical data

Output power: 2 x 140 W / 6 Ω

Analog inputs: 1 x RCA
Phono input: MM / MC
Digital sockets: 2 x coaxial, 2 x optical, 1 x USB
Connectivity: LAN, Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Spotify Connect, Roon , Devialet AIR
Playback formats: PCM 32 bit / 192 kHz, DSD64
Dimensions (W / S / G): 4 / 38.3 / 38.3 cm
Weight: 5.6 kg
Price: PLN 22 399

Configuration

Equilibrium Ether Ceramique , Pylon Audio Sapphire 31 StereoLife Edition , Clearaudio Concept,
Marantz ND8006 , Astell & Kern AK70 , Cardas Clear Reflection , Equilibrium Pure Ultimate, Enerr
One 6S DCB, Enerr Transcenda Ultra, Enerr Transcenda Light, Enerr Tablette 6S, Norstone Esse.

Equipment for the test was provided by Top Hi-Fi & Video Design showrooms. The article uses
photos provided by Devialet and taken by the editors of the StereoLife portal.
Tonal balance

Dynamics

Resolution

Timbre

Speed

Cohesion

musicality

The width of the stereo scene

Stereo stage depth

Production quality
Functionality

Price

Prize

https://www.stereolife.pl/archiwum/testy-lista/systemy-stereo-lista/3853-devialet-expert-140-pro