The DEVIALET D-Premier is an extraordinary audio device with a beauty on the outside that is mirrored on the inside. It is a fusion of bleeding-edge technology and freethinking innovation, culminating in perfectly realised form and function. The Devialet D-Premier embodies high-end product design and engineering at its finest, delivering a uniquely desirable audio concept.
HIGH-FIDELITY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
The D-Premier forms the hub of a high-performance audio system. It combines a preamplifier, stereo power amplifier and DAC (digital-to-analogue converter) in a single, slimline case – just 32mm thick.
Quite simply, the D-Premier represents the greatest breakthrough in high-resolution audio technology this Millennium. It is slim, elegant, flexible and energy-efficient, built for the future as well as the present, and delivers a musical experience that is simply incomparable. For high-performance audio, this is the next evolutionary leap.
EXTRAORDINARY DESIGN
The D-Premier’s casing is fashioned from a single aluminium casting, polished to a high shine. It may be positioned horizontally on a shelf or mounted on a wall – a world away from the dull, rectangular boxes of traditional high-performance hi-fi systems.
The D-Premier’s mirror finish allows it to truly reflect its surroundings, mimicking and blending with all manner of décor. Its appearance is striking without being showy; refreshingly original without shouting ‘look at me!’ It is discreet, minimalist and elegant, a genuine work of audio art that anyone would be proud to own.
In line with the D-Premier’s stunning aesthetic, there are no controls on the unit itself; only on the equally stunning radio-linked remote control device, which is also fashioned from an aluminium block and features a single, large rotary control surrounded by the minimum number of buttons. To further aid the D-Premier’s aesthetic appeal, cable connections are hidden under a removable aluminium section, and the display window orientates automatically according to position.
UNIQUE TECHNOLOGY
The D-Premier is the first product to feature a new form of amplification called ADH® (Analogue/Digital Hybrid), specially developed by Devialet. It is this technology that enables the D-Premier to be so slim, yet deliver so much power. It is also the reason why no other amplifier can match the D-Premier’s exceptional quality of sound. ADH® combines Class A operation – long recognised to be the most desirable form of solid-state amplification, in terms of pure sound quality – with Class D, operating in parallel. Class D amplification is often described as 'digital', because it is based on switching technology.
DIGITAL STREAMS & ANALOGUE DREAMS
In addition to ADH® amplification, the D-Premier incorporates a very high quality DAC (digital-to-analogue converter) right at its heart. Digital audio data – for example, audio files from a computer or a digital feed from a CD player, DVD player or Blu-ray player – is converted to analogue within the D-Premier. The resultant signal is then amplified using ADH® technology, ready to drive the speakers.
The quality of the D-Premier’s DAC and its immediate proximity to the amp section, all within a single chassis, ensures far better sound from any digital audio signal than is possible with conventional amplifiers.
However, the D-Premier isn’t only suited to digital audio sources – it’s just as good with analogue sources, like turntables, for example. The D-Premier converts an analogue audio source to digital, applying an advanced digital volume control before converting the signal back to analogue. No extraneous signal processing is used, and the signal path is as clean and pure in the digital domain as it is when the signal is analogue.
The D-Premier’s ‘digital heart’ gives it a significant advantage over conventional amplifiers, in terms of both performance and functionality.
BEST OF BOTH WORDS
Although pure Class A amplifiers sound great, they are usually comparatively large, consume lots of power, run very hot and aren’t particularly powerful (in terms of current delivery). Class D amplification, meanwhile, can deliver lashings of current from a relatively compact, cool-running box. But while resolution can be excellent, Class D is often criticised for sounding ‘cold’ and weak in terms of bass depth and quality.
By combining Class A and Class D in a manner never before achieved, Devialet has made an amplifier that delivers a tremendous 240 watts per channel, yet the character of the sound you hear is pure Class A. In simple terms, Class D provides the muscle, ensuring the D-Premier can drive any speaker on the planet and sounds awesomely dynamic, while Class A delivers exemplary sonic accuracy and refinement.
PEERLESS PERFORMANCE
The technology inside the D-Premier has a singular goal: to deliver the best sound quality that money can buy. The resulting delicacy, detail, resolution and sheer ‘musicality’ has to be heard to be believed; you will hear sounds and nuances in familiar recordings that you didn’t know were there, as the D-Premier fuses exquisite fine detail with vivid expression.
Described by world-renowned audio journal Hi-Fi News as “breathtaking in its originality and scope”, the D-Premier’s unique ADH® core brings ultimate sonic clarity to the home. Never before has recorded music sounded so crystal-clear, so tangible, so palpably real; we call this sound Live & Lossless®, because nothing is missing from the original performance in the studio or concert hall. The character of the instruments, the timbre of the voices, the atmosphere of the recording space – all are delivered with captivating clarity.
Independent laboratory tests confirm the D-Premier’s groundbreaking sonic abilities. As an amplifier, it delivers lower signal distortion and a better signal-to-noise ratio than any other amp component currently available, proving beyond doubt its status as a new audio benchmark. Whatever you listen to, from the raw energy of rock or dance music to the delicacy of a piano concerto, the D-Premier brings it to life like nothing else on Earth.
FLEXIBLE AND FUTURE-PROOF
The D-Premier is designed to be simple to operate, yet deliver the flexibility to grow with its user. The supplied remote control device is both elegant and tactile, ensuring day-to-day operation is simplicity itself. However, beneath the D-Premier's polished exterior lies a sophisticated interface that may be tailored to suit the requirements of each individual owner.
Nestling among the sockets secreted beneath the removable connectivity panel is an SD card slot. Users may adjust a wide range of parameters via PC or Mac, and transfer the data to the D-Premier via SD card. Devialet also provides software updates online, which may be downloaded and similarly transferred. In this way, each D-Premier continues to evolve long after the initial purchase.
CONNECTING WITH WI-FI
With the future always in mind, we designed the D-Premier to be Wi-Fi-ready. But because this is a Devialet product, it is not enough to simply offer wireless streaming; the technology has to be capable of lossless sound quality in keeping with the D-Premier's exemplary audio performance.
Following an extensive period of painstaking development, Devialet's Wi-Fi module will be available in spring 2011. It delivers distortion-free, asynchronous audio streaming (up to 24-bit/192kHz), using the D-Premier as the master clock to synchronise the data with extreme precision.
Every D-Premier ever built is compatible with the Wi-Fi module and already contains the necessary antenna. The module simply plugs into the D-Premier internally, and will be available to existing owners as a free upgrade. For music lovers, the D-Premier's Wi-Fi functionality delivers the finest high-definition wireless audio streaming solution in the world. Nothing else comes close.
CONNECTING WITH CABLES
Ten inputs are provided for digital and analogue connections, including optical, coaxial, XLR and HDMI. These inputs are configurable – for example, you can designate an input to receive either digital or analogue signals, or turn an input into an output. Other user-customisable features include the amplifier's power output, which may be adjusted to suit individual speakers up to a maximum of 240 watts per channel, and a range of signal processing parameters allowing the sound to be fine-tuned.
The D-Premier may be incorporated into many types of system. It is the perfect high-performance instrument for all forms of digital audio, both now and in the future, and the best possible way to stream high-resolution audio files. Equally, it is the ideal tool for turntable users, incorporating a programmable phono stage that brings new levels of resolution, optimisation and control to vinyl enthusiasts. It can be a revelation in a home cinema environment, too – thanks to its dual HDMI sockets, a Blu-ray player may be incorporated with ease, along with a subwoofer if required.
Whatever your requirements, installation is a breeze. Simply connect your source components and your speakers, and the D-Premier is ready to perform.
COOL, RELIABLE, AND ENERGY EFFICIENT
In addition to its extraordinary sound quality, Devialet’s ADH® core technology is the secret behind the D-Premier’s slimline, cool-running physique. It is also exceptionally energy efficient compared to other high-end forms of amplification, so it costs less to run. If no input is sensed, it drops automatically into a five-watt standby mode. And unlike many high-end amplifiers, it requires very little warm-up time to sound at its best – optimum performance is reached within seconds of switching it on. In these energy-conscious times, the D-Premier’s ‘green’ credentials are second to none.
FIVE YEARS WARRANTY
Reliability is also a key attribute. The D-Premier is built to last, with its solid aluminium casework and painstaking internal construction. Inside the case are 2,500 components, all fully assembled onto circuit boards without a single welded wire. We’re so confident about reliability, we supply a five-year warranty with every D-Premier.
D-PREMIER - IN BRIEF
• D-Premier is the hub of an high-performance audio system
• Unique design – slimline, wall-mountable, fashioned from a single aluminium casting and polished to a high shine
• Combines top-quality DAC (digital-to-analogue converter), stereo preamplifierand stereo power amplifier in a single chassis
• Revolutionary best-of-both-worlds ADH® (Analogue/Digital Hybrid) technology provides tremendous current delivery and exceptional sonic accuracy
• Very low power consumption compared to conventional high-end amplifiers
• In terms of measured performance, the D-Premier delivers the lowest signal distortion and best signal-to-noise ratio of any amp component currently available – genuinely, a new audio benchmark
• Highly configurable and upgradeable architecture
• Simple user interface with an elegant remote control device; radio-linked, enabling operation from another room
• High-Definition Wi-Fi – stream all your digital audio files to the D-Premier wirelessly and losslessly (available from spring 2011)
• Designed in Paris, built in Normandy
Devialet Website
