Devialet Expert 220 Pro review – can this amplifier competes equally with High End today?

The innovative integrated amplifier Devialet D-Premier was first presented at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show, after the device earned a standing ovation from both the specialized press and audiophiles. The compact slim model demonstrated excellent control of loudspeakers and level of detail. 14 years have passed since then – but the successors of the device, such as Devialet Expert 220 Pro, continue to be produced by the French brand. Now we will review this device and try to understand whether it is so competent against similar modern High End solutions (after all, in Europe Expert 220 Pro is presented for a solid €7,990).

Although Devialet is currently focusing on the Phantom active compact speakers and Gemini TWS-headphones, the Devialet Expert 220 Pro amplifiers are still on the market and are being updated - for example, the company recently added a new graphite color solution. At first glance, it seems that we have a regular class D amplifier in front of us - but there is a surprise waiting for us.

Devialet has developed an ADH-class amplification circuit (low-power class A supported by a voltage follower and containing deep negative feedback) specifically for the amplifier line. The circuit is not new - Quad 405, the famous power amplifier with current damping, one of the classic solutions for a powerful transistor amplifier with low output impedance and low distortion. Devialet has significantly updated the circuit - now class D for the buffer amplifier matching the output impedance of the cascade in class A and the load is responsible for minimal heat dissipation and high efficiency of the device, reaching 85%.

The approach also has its disadvantages - all digital amplifiers are sensitive to power supply interference, and for the solution, the primary and secondary windings of the power transformer with a ferrite core were used. Made in the form of flat turns, by the surface mounting method directly on a multilayer printed circuit board. This radically reduced the parasitic capacitance and microprocessor power management made it possible to instantly track the values of the input and output voltage and adjust the value of the energy output. Another feature of the Devialet Expert 220 Pro is that the transistors in the design are switched on with a 90-degree voltage phase rotation. There is no internal cable wiring in principle – surface mounting is used.

In addition to ADH, Devialet Expert 220 Pro boasts a SAM module with the company's measured loudspeakers, as well as a proprietary digital-to-analog converter DAC Magic Wire and a phono preamplifier (MM/MC). The device is Roon Ready certified, can operate via UPnP, supports Airplay and Spotify Connect. Input signal parameters are up to 32bits / 192kHz PCM (USB) or up to 1bit / 3.072000MHz DSD64 (USB, Coaxial), operation is possible both via Wi-Fi and via Ethernet or via traditional analog RCA or digital coaxial or optical interfaces.

In the luxurious box with Devialet Expert 220 Pro you will find a remote control, 2x3 AAA batteries LR03 1.5V, SD card (used to transfer the configuration generated in the online configurator to the device), power cord, microfiber cloth, a pair of gloves, user manual and warranty booklet (2 years).

We spent quite a long time with Devialet Expert 220 Pro, connecting the device as a single "command center" for Magico Q3, Wilson Audio Sasha DAW and Klipsch La Scala acoustics. As a signal source, we used Wi-Fi streaming "over the air" from a laptop with Roon Core - this scenario ensured the highest possible quality.

Of course, if we compare Devialet Expert 220 Pro with Lamm Industries ML2.2, we do not achieve the same solidity of sound images, and comparison with darTZeel Audio NHB-108 does not provide such crystal clarity. However, Devialet Expert 220 Pro performs extremely confidently and clearly jumps above its head in its price group – pumping air into the listening area like a die-hard warrior. The amplifier's credo is large sound images, musicians in full growth and a truly sweeping sound. Despite this approach, the proper sharpness of nuances and high detail are preserved when delivering any material.

Metallica Master of Puppets is a rather difficult test for any system – and in this case, Devialet Expert 220 Pro does not fall flat on its face, perfectly drawing the rhythm of the recording and forming quite lively guitar parts. The system lacks a little "meat" and the feeling of a sound wall, but the size of the stage compensates for this.

The device performs equally confidently on Neil Young Tonight's the Night – creating a full-fledged sense of presence and carefully working with timbres. There is not a hint of the digital nature of the delivery – brilliant performance.

On Ludvig Van Beethoven Ode an die Freiheit Leonard Bernstein we can hear shortcomings in the form of imperfect processing of microdynamic contrasts, but the general nature of the presentation allows you to fully enjoy the work and feel all its power.

Devialet Expert 220 Pro really good performs on Diana Krall The Look of Love - female vocals are colored with all kind of emotions and the timbre authenticity of the recording and textural richness do not cause any complaints.

To summarize, we can say that Devialet Expert 220 Pro today performs on equal terms in the league of devices up to $ 15,000 - 20,000 price, which preserves the title of a very effective audio solution for the device.