Devialet Astra Review. HiFi Integrated Perfection?
By Steve Huff
Today I will be writing about the latest all in one amplifier from French brand Devialet called the Astra. The Astra is a fully featured modern day integrated amp of sorts that is high end, sleek, modern, unique, efficient and has all you need for an instant high end HiFi experience. Just add speakers. Devialet has been around a long time but this Astra… how good is it REALLY?
My Video review of the Astra
I cannot believe it has been 11 years since I reviewed the much older Devialet 200 right here on this website. Back then I fell in love with the shiny all in one modern looking box that many in the audio community felt was nothing more than a lifestyle product. When I reviewed the 200, and purchased it, I fell for the zero distortion sound, the bass quality as well as the slight feel of warmth all while remaining clear and clean. I also loved the simplicity of an all in one, or “integrated amp” as we call them. I loved the dynamics and the overall energy that the 200 brought as well.
The remote that shipped with the Devialet 200 back then was on the next level from anything else I have seen at the time and maybe even today. In fact Devialet was way ahead of its time back then. Overall as a system that 200 was just a well polished highly enjoyable all in one that housed a powerful amp section, gorgeous DAC and preamp to boot. The streaming function was not the best but back then streaming was not as “streamlined” as it is today.
The Devialet 200 had a new retail price of $9,650 over a decade ago. Today the Astra is about double that, over a decade later, with new features and advances.
This photo is from 2014 when I had the Devialet 200 (not expert 200) in my old room when we lived in AZ. I wasn’t active in audio reviews so much at that time, just enjoyed what I had. The new Astra has for sure made some improvements since then! One thing remains, I still use the same cables, Nordost Valhalla.
After the 200 I reviewed (and owned) from 2014 Devialet went on to release other models over the years. Finally the Expert line came in and had a long run for the brand. There are many fans of this specific lineup of amplifier, “The Expert”. With the recent Expert line it was possible to get to 1000 watts per channel depending on the configuration and if one went with dual Devialet amps or stayed single. Essentially doubling them up (buying two) turns the Devialet setup into crazy power mono block amplifiers. Today I see the Expert 1000 being sold used for around $15k when the original retail was somewhere around $35k.
I do know that the older models like the 200 and Expert line were more similar than different and the Astra continues on with the similarities. A single box that houses a high end preamp, streamer, phono stage, DAC, amp section and with an amazing remote that is now even better.
I am now writing as I listen to the all new Astra from Devialet, and I have the Opera De Paris version here in real 23K Gold Leaf. Yes indeed, this model is for those who like not only great sound and a great experience but for those who also dig some luxury thrown in. Some will think the Gold Leaf is silly because it does nothing to add to the sound quality. I get that, for sure, but I also know there are some who like gear that not only performs to a high level but looks the part as well.
Sure, the Light Bronze version is very nice as well but the Gold Leaf adds a touch of that luxurious vibe for those who love that sort of thing. When people see it in my system they ask me how this look was done as it looks so different and unique from any amp I have ever had in my space. I have never seen an amp look like this and I find the Gold Leaf Opera De Paris version to bring the WOW factor, but is it worth $5k extra? I will let you decide that one as it’s all about personal preference with this kind of thing.
The Astra in Gold Leaf will be sexy to some, gaudy to others. I happen to like it but you guys know me, I am a huge fan of anything unique and different.
Within this review I will not be able to do the comparison many seek, the Asra vs the Expert, but I will do my best to describe the experience of the Astra on its own. I will also describe what is new as well as how it works and sounds.
I will compare the Astra to a set of USA made mono amps by ModWright that are now in my reference review system with my O Audio Icon 12 speakers. The ModWright amp is biased into Class A to 15-20 watts and the LS99 Tubed Pre uses three tubes and yea, this setup sounds like tubes with great power behind them. I also have on hand an all Class D set of separates from LAIV, the GaNM and their Preamp as well. I will also compare briefly to the Luxman 509Z I recently reviewed here seeing that the Luxman is an integrated amp but without streamer or DAC included.
The beauty of the Astra is that it houses everything within that somewhat compact enclosure including a fine streamer and truly wonderful DAC. Nothing extra is needed, just speaker cables for the speakers.
The Astra in Light Bronze.
The Light Bronze Astra comes in at $20k retail (USD) and $25k retail (USD) in the 23K Gold Leaf edition, close to the same costs as the separates I spoke of above when all is figured in to the price (streamer, dac, cables, etc). In reality, the Astra is a high end audio system in a box but sometimes with these kind of boxes… compromises are usually made. I wondered if that would be the case here with the Astra.
I can say that it’s pretty liberating indeed to be free of so many boxes, cables and cheap remotes for once. The setup looks so clean, so pure… but none of this means squat if it doesn’t sound as good as it looks. I dig great build, great design, great looks and great sound so let’s see how the Astra does here.
This all in one box does offer massive convenience, a beautiful art deco inspired design (whether you go for the Bronze or Gold Leaf edition) as well as sound quality that would surprise many who live in the “I will never go to one box” world. Well, technically you can go for TWO boxes with the Astra, (same as with the past designs) to double up on power and refinement.
The Dual Astra brings more power and refinement. I only had one to test ; ) This is modern, sleek and pretty amazing tech to have everything we need all built in to these boxes.
First Things First. What is the Astra all about?
The Astra is a full fledged high end HiFi system, an all in one that is all about ease of use and convenience but it also brings some special things along with it. This French made beauty sits up there with some of the finest all in one boxes I have ever heard, regardless of cost or brand, and I am speaking of sound quality and build/design quality as well. This is not just a lifestyle product but a full fledged serious high end HiFi solution.
After some time with the Astra it has clicked within me that not much has changed within the experience of using a Devialet amp from what I remember about that 200 over a decade ago. Easy and hassle free. It does indeed now have an even cooler and better remote, which is pretty nice indeed as I never thought the OG could be improved. For me this is just one of the things that helps to make this entire system special.
The Renote is hefty, solid and offers up new buttons on the face like forward, back, pause and play as well as a power button to turn it all off. My fingerprints seem to stick to the silky volume wheel but are easily cleaned off.
This is how you do a remote and the new one is still hefty, solid and has that big dial you turn to up or lower the volume. This new updated remote has a screen in the center and buttons within the screen. The display shows volume, fast forward and pause signs. There are buttons on all 4 corners for pause, power, and skip back or forward. I love this remote and have never ever in life experienced a better remote than this one for an integrated amplifier or audio product of any kind. It connects via bluetooth so will work with the Astra and Phantom line, but not the Expert line. There is a nice solid on off switch on the back of the remote and a USB-C input as it can be charged via USB-C.
The actual Astra unit itself seems smaller from my memory of the 200 as well. It’s sleeker, more modern looking and I enjoy the design more so than the previous version but of course your thoughts and opinion on this may vary. This is a gorgeous piece of audio gear.
The top plate in the rear is no longer removable for easy cable swaps but the connectors are closer to the back than before. With the connections being a bit recessed it does take some getting used when plugging things in but I didn’t have an issue doing so at all. Once connected you do not see the cables as they stay hidden with the help of that top plate. Very nice indeed and this keeps everything looking sleek and clean.
Here is an up close look at the Gold Leaf
I see the Astra as a modern day fully loaded Integrated Amp without compromise. This is one sleek, thin and powerful high end integrated amp and it is the slickest I have ever experienced. It is one of those things that “just works” when you plug it all in. There is no muss, no fuss and no need to worry about synergy between amp, preamp or DAC. It’s all been optimized for best sound quality and raw performance. I will say it sounded best plugged into the wall vs a power conditioner so for me, I only needed one power cable for the whole system.
This got me to thinking…I only need one good power cable. It sounds better without the power conditioner. It doesn’t need interconnects unless attaching a turntable. The money one can save here is remarkable.
The Master power button and bluetooth button is on the side. The unit uses bluetooth to connect the remote.
Don’t Do This but Maybe Do THIS Instead.
I have a buddy who is somewhat new to the hobby (about one year in) but he recently grew tired of the whole audio hobby and sold all of the gear he purchased because of… frustration. He spent a lot on gear, trying to get it all to sound right but in the end he wasn’t happy with what he ended up with. I will say that he did not ask me for my advice before he jumped nor that of a dealer. Buying amps, preamps, DAC’s, streamers, and speakers is not easy to do because yes indeed, synergy is a thing. Mix the wrong front end with your speakers and it could be bad or yes, maybe even awesome, but you do roll the dice and take a gamble when buying online, without audition.
This is where a good dealer helps but some do just buy online and go in blind. They just hope for the best. I do not recommend this my friends. It may lead to frustration and a dislike of this hobby.
This is what the Astra is made for, who it is made for. Those who do not want to buy several boxes and/or those who do not want to take a gamble of buying the wrong “pieces”. It’s also for those who are tired of shuffling big boxes around with countless cables and power conditioning boxes yet still want high end sound.
What is really so cool about the Astra?
Well, all of the work has been done for you already. No matching required when it comes to DAC, Streamer, or Preamp and as for speakers, Devialet has what they call “SAM” which will tune your speakers to the Astra in real time from your listening seat! There are 1200 speaker models in the configurator that will in effect tune your speakers to the Astra. I will talk more about SAM within this review as well.
The Icon 12 with Devialet Astra is a stunning match. In fact, the Astra sounds better with the Icon 12 than even the Nagra set I had here. The Synergy is fantastic.
Some will see this box and feel there is no way it could compete with products from Luxman, McIntosh or even T+A who sells a $24k integrated amp called the PA3100HV. That is one I also reviewed here, and it still sits as the #1 integrated amp I have experienced for build and sound quality (up until the Astra arrived), with the Luxman 509Z right with it, inching up to the big T+A in many ways. Can the Astra compete here? The price says it should but sometimes price doesn’t dictate all-out sound quality, though sometimes it really does. It depends.
Comparisons By the Numbers…
The Luxman 509Z system is in the $20k range when I include my streamer, DAC and IC’s.
The T+A would be around $33k in the same setup with my streamer, DAC, cables, etc.
My Ref system power, the USA Made ModWright Separates (with streamer and DAC) come in at around $25k.
The Astra is $20k so it sits in the same price ballpark. It hangs with and bests some of these setups in finesse and refinement but each have their own vibe, pros and character really. What you prefer would depend on what you look for in sound as there is no wrong or right here, just personal preference. I will say that Astra is no lesser than the others in any way, which is pretty incredible.
The DAC inside the Devialet is something very cool indeed. The “MAGIC WIRE” DAC is described like this:
“This technology focuses on achieving the shortest signal path between the DAC and the speaker output connectors. This short path helps minimize noise, thermal distortion, and signal degradation, ensuring a high-fidelity sound”
I will say right now that the Astra is also 100% dead silent in operation. You will never hear a loud buzzing as there are no transformers here to get saturated with DC. You will never hear hiss from your speakers as I heard with a $13k Integrated a while back. I heard zero hiss or noise with the Devialet so if noisy amps bug you, know this one is silent as it gets 100%. It also gets a little warm when playing for a while but will never get hot.
Also…
“The Devialet Magic Wire architecture utilizes a Texas Instruments PCM1792 chip. This DAC is then combined with a unique gain circuit that Devialet calls Magic Wire. This implementation, according to Devialet, results in a 6dB improvement in total harmonic distortion and a noise floor 2.5dB lower than their previous generation hardware.”
The Burr-Brown DAC here sounds glorious even if it sounds old school with the name “Texas Instruments”. There is something here I normally do not hear with modern day DACs in most setups. It has slight warmth yet an organic detail retrieval style yet it has snap and superb treble airiness with some of the most precise separation I have heard. It’s a very nice listen indeed and also superb at spatial reproduction and reverb trails.
I would say that the Magic Wire DAC sounds more in line with a $5-$7K modern day dedicated DAC. It is excellent in what it does, and I could find no faults with its performance. It’s been perfectly tuned to the Astra pre and amp section so when this is done, sound quality can be spectacular.
Imagine Class A finesse with Class D Power, this is the Astra. A melding of two vibes to eliminate the downsides of each. This is indeed what the Astra brings to the table. Oh, did I mention the awesome remote? Lol, yes I did but it deserves another mention.
SPECS OF THE ASTRA, and WHAT IS NEW vs the EXPERT line?
Ok let us start with the power section.
The power on tap here is 300 WPC into 4 OHMS and 150 WPC into 8 OHMS. I notice Devialet never shows the 8 OHM rating in their marketing materials as yea, that 300 WPC blurb sounds better for a $20k integrated amp. With this said, the ModWright separates are 100 WPC with the first 15-20 watts in Class A. The Luxman brings 220 WPC into 4 OHMS and 120 WPC into 8 ohms so a little less power vs the Astra.
Power wise the Astra has been effortless with any speaker I have paired with it here so I never felt the need for more power for my 13X18 naturally treated room. This will depend on your room size and how easy it is to drive your speakers though 300 WPC into 4 OHMS is a heck of a lot of power. In my day, the early to late 1980’s, 100 WPC was the gold standard and meant you had a serious system!
My room is small to mid size and I tested the Astra with speakers that are 92 DB efficient (O Audio Icon 12), 97 DB efficient (PAP Duet 15) and 85DB efficient (Buchardt E50). Oh, this amp can also do 1000 watt peaks when called upon. Wow. Add a 2nd Astra and that goes to 2000 watt peaks with dual configuration. With this said, the Expert 440, the older model can bring 4000 watts peak in dual configuration, meaning you have to buy 2 of them and connect them as mono amps.
It sounded glorious with all speakers I have used with it. Detailed and clean with the E50’s. Sweet and with beautiful imaging, timbre and dramatic soul with the mighty Icon 12. Big, bold, dynamic and thrilling with the Duet 15.
Is the Astra Class A or Class D?
BOTH! Yes indeed the Astra uses a Class A pre with Class D power and this is called ADH (Analog Digital Hybrid).
“Yes, the Devialet Astra integrated amplifier utilizes a class A preamp as part of its Analog Digital Hybrid (ADH) technology. This ADH technology, which combines analog and digital amplification, includes a class A preamp for its linearity and refinement. The Astra also features a class D power amplifier for power and compactness, all within a single device.”
After over 100 hours of run in and then 60 hours of pure listening time on the Astra I can say that I hear some of that Class A character here. This amp also doesn’t sound like most Class D amps I have heard in recent times, but does remind me a little of the 200 from long ago, and this is a good thing as the Astra sounds remarkable. There is a big powerful sound with clean but solidified body, an ever so slight warmth (though not nearly as much as my tube setup) and very dramatic huge dynamics with some sounds jetting out to startle you in your seat, depending on the music. Turn it up, that’s ok. You will not get distortion but make sure your speakers can handle the juice. As you go louder, the sound stays clean, composed and massive.
It’s pretty amazing what this box can do and while I enjoy my separate boxes and fine tuning my system, I also can appreciate and enjoy a product like the Astra as it is spooky good in what it can do. There is a nice open clarity along with a solidly to the tight bass here, but the Astra is not a warm gooey amp, nor does it sound like tubes. It’s got some big energy, can light up details without any harshness or hardness at all. It’s never brittle but rather refined in how it produces sound. I will dig more into the sound with comparisons down below but this doesn’t sound like any of the other setups I have here. This is not bad, nor good, just different, but man does this Astra have some IMPACT! Dramatic and Dynamic both.
Continuing on with the specs, what about inputs and outs?
The Astra also has a fantastic phono stage here, and it’s again, quite remarkable and sounds better than any built in phono pre I have ever heard. I remember being very impressed with the older Devialet 200 phono stage. Here with the Astra it seems even better. You can set this up for virtually any cartridge you desire (just pick your cartridge in the app and the Astra will set everything up perfectly for your cart) and it will sound amazing, moving magnet or moving coil. Yes, this does take your analog signal and turn it to digital but I have not heard a better phono pre built into an amp or with a separate box. Then again, I have never invested more than $5k in a phono preamp so take that for what it is worth.
You can do a lot with the phono stage here using the Devialet customizer, which is available in the app or on a webpage where it connects your devialet and allows you to change the phono input settings with ease. Heck, you can even change them to just be a normal analog in, or even digital inputs. It’s crazy and super convenient as it can be tailored to your own preferences. I am not big into vinyl these days but do keep a U Turn Orbit Special on hand for testing things such as this It’s basic (outfitted only with an Ortofon blue) but I never heard this table sound better than I have with the Astra. It has made me bring out some old records again and enjoy them. This is an amp that will make you want to listen to vinyl. It sounds awesome.
There are also coaxial inputs so you can attach a seperate streamer if you didn’t want to use the one on board of the Astra, which is also superb. I did test this with my dedicated Nagra streamer and while the Nagra brought a little more of that organic flow, it was very minimal here, and wasn’t really an improvement vs just a change. I would use the Astra streamer that is built right in if I owned this piece. Never had any glitch or connection issues while testing Tidal and Spotify connect. It’s also ROON Ready. There are also optical and USB-C inputs here. There is an ethernet input and you can also use WiFi here which is dual band. I have this one hard wired to Ethernet.
There is also a redesigned software architectire vs the Expert line which uses the iMX8 processor and a new version of the Devilaet operating system called DOS3. According to Devilaet “this robust combination ensures smooth compatibility and enables effortless integration with a wide array of streaming protocols, including AirPlay, Google Cast Built-in, Roon Ready, Spotify Connect, UPnP, and Tidal Connect.”
Yes, the Astra now is compatible with Tidal connect. It also has airplay, google cast built in, Spotify Connect, UPnP, Bluetooth 5.3 and is ready for ROON as usual.
OK let’s get to the sound.
When the Astra arrived for review a few weeks ago I wasn’t in a hurry to open it up because I was still reviewing the Pitt and Giblin SuperWax Mini speakers. Once that was finished with that review I placed the ModWright separates back in to get used to the sound of my main system again, before jumping into something different, so I could compare.
The LS99 Preamp from ModWright is a full tube unit and the KWA 99 amps are mono blocks that put out 100 WPC, with the first bits (15-20) in Class A. I was also using a $994 Laiv Harmony DAC, which is still slated to be my DAC of the year due to it’s low price and high performance. With my XLR Valhalla cables, Nagra Steramer and LAIV Micro DAC this combo comes in at around $25k, or the same price as the Astra Gold Leaf version, $5k more than the Light Bronze version. Many more boxes (5 of them) instead of one. Two more sets of cables needed as well (two sets of interconnects to serve digital).
The ModWright stack, when it comes to sound, has beauty, warmth, big bass as well as a 3D sparkle from the treble that keeps it all alive and energetic sounding. It’s a bit “fat” sounding with my Icon 12 speakers and just right with the Duet 15 but details are not obscured. Its sound is human, organic and rich but I can hear the tube character from the LS99. I dig it.
The ModWright gear has been a fine match to my Reference speakers, the O Audio Icon 12 as I like a big rich sound and this setup delivers just that but I had to hear the Devialet and the time had come to hook it up.
How would the Astra do when compared?
I placed the Astra in and moved all other electronics to a different room. All I had in from the start was the Icon 12 speakers with the Astra and it brought such a clean look to the room, I loved it. By the way, the Astra gets a little bit warm when in use, even when listening for hours. It will never heat your house of make your electric bill climb as some amps do as it is also pretty efficient. I didn’t need any interconnects, just speaker cables.
I started with Tidal connect as this is the first Devilaet amp to offer this feature.
I cued up “Here comes McBride” from my public Tidal playlist, which you can find HERE. This instrumental song from Rony Verbeist is quite unique in the way it throws instruments at us within the soundstage. I have heard this sound very good and I have heard it sound crazy good.
With the $25k retail ModWright Stack it sounds big, very fleshed out, tube like and full bodied with the Icon 12 yet everything is still separated within the stage nicely, though not etched or with super defined edges.
With the Astra the sounds and feels seem more dynamic and a bit more clean and snappy but there is also some warmth, humanity, refinement and soul here when I expected it to be more strident. Nope, the Astra was sounding downright magical with the Icon 12 speakers, adding a layer of refinement that I normally hear in only very high end pieces. Then again, the Astra is one of those I would put in the “very high end” category so it fits.
The sound of the Astra brings a little more depth and layering to the sound. There is density to the bass though not as much as the tubes bring into the mids. The bass is strong, clean and with impact. Soundstage is taller with the Astra and while I lose the tube sweetness of the ModWright stack I am presented with a bit more cleanliness and a cleaner outline within the imaging. The stage is not forward or into the room but instead shows more depth behind the speakers, has some height and keeps voices dead center about even with the speakers. Spatial 3D reproduction within the soundstage when paired with the Icon 12 is remarkable.
There is none of the “sweet electric glow” of the ModWright but instead a more to the point presentation, which by the way, stays very musical and enjoyable. Low volume, say at 1am, the tube setup has a bit more flesh and body vs the Astra but the Astra brings the details out in a more spatial way. No coloration here at all from the Astra.
If you like dynamics without coloration, distortion or saturation and love hard hitting bass the Astra is a must hear.
During this track there are all kinds of instruments at play and they come out in more of a 3D space of width with the Astra vs the MW stack but the tubes do the 3D thing as well, just differently and in a darker shade of light. These things can startle at times on the Astra, if listening at mid to loud levels especially but even at low volume the Astra is a champ and doesn’t get dry or lean.
So no magic fairy dust here with the Astra, just a “straight wire with gain” sort of sound but with a little humanity and flesh thrown in. Both sound rather amazing and as I switched back and forth, with some music I preferred the ModWright and with other music I like the Astra better.
I tried some old 80’s rock/metal recordings that I know sound thin on some setups like “Aces High” from Iron Maiden. The Astra recreated the recording exactly as it was meant to be heard, and while it still had the thinner sound, the details were amazing here and like I never heard this track. By the time I hit track two, “Two Minutes to Midnight” I was enjoying this new level of separation I was hearing with this album. Everything was laid out just right with the Astra at the helm. With the MW there was quite bit more body, fullness but the details were not as open and separated as the Astra. Also, the Astra had a cleaner sound as well.
I am starting to see a pattern here with the Astra and that is one of convenience, simplicity and yet it always brought true high end sound quality. There was no compromise here with the sound but rather it really surprised me. I am not sure what Devialet did here but yea, this sounds remarkable and much more spatial, impactful and remarkable than I remember the old 200 sounding yet it has a similar character.
The Astra also has features that allow complete customization and synergy with your speakers (SAM). This all adds value to the Astra and makes me wonder if keeping separate boxes is really worth it anymore for my personal enjoyment. In the end I still adore my audio boxes but I cannot deny what is happening here with the Devialet, and will not delve into audio review politics. I have to be honest and am.
Moving on to an immersive song from Hanging Valleys called “Behind the Backs of Houses”. This one is a mellow slow burn and as I sit at night I often thrown on this short album and sometimes I listen in full. It mellows me out and takes stress away from my brain. With the ModWright stack the sound is large, full bodied and a bit warm but very sweet. Three dimensions…immersive.
I didn’t think the French box could pull it off in a similar way so when I sat down to hear this with the Astra Opera De Paris I was very pleased. The bass here with the Astra is a bit tighter and more controlled but yet it still brings some solidity and a little glow, just a cleaner, clearer version. I hear layers to the music here as well, front to back. It’s nice. The MW is more romantic with the Icon 12 speakers and the Astra is more open and haunting.
Going into some male vocals I brought up “Caravan” from Andrew Bird off of his amazing sounding “Sunday Morning Put On” album. This one starts out with some big drums that sound absolutely massive and dynamic with the Astra. The Drums have the right kind of impact and sound like real drums in the room but they are not so clean that the sound gets analytical as the Astra never crosses that line into soulless sound. As clean as this sounds there is some humanity here, a little warmth in the mids yet not so much it muddies it up.
Again, imaging is spot on with instruments left and right, in and out, back and forward. The vocals are also dead center as they should be and sit about inline with the Speakers. Everything sounds so good and there are some incredible 3D moments here within this song.
While I cannot say the Astra bests the ModWright stack for sound, I cannot say the ModWright bests the Astra. For me, the “best” doesn’t exist in audio for all, only for our specific personal needs or wants. Some would prefer the more tube like full bodied tube sound of the MW and others would prefer the cleaner and all out purity of sound from the Astra. My Icon 12 speakers lean warm in my smaller room (they are big speakers), so the Astra gets them up and singing with more excitement and drive so it is in reality a super match to the Icon 12’s, without question.
A stunning mate for Icon 12 and after so much back and forth, the Astra may be the finest match to the Icon 12’s that I have heard to date.
Let’s not forget about S.A.M.
Devialet still has SAM and it is easier than ever to activate on the Astra. No more SD cards needed for configuration (past amps needed this) as it is all done in real time from the Devialet app or online. SAM is how you can tune the Astra to your speakers just by activating them within the App or online config page.
There are now 1200+ speakers in the Devialet SAM lineup which means that if you have speakers in this list, you can activate SAM. I know of many who say SAM does wonders and it is a way that Devialet continues to actively bring synergy with your setup. Unfortunately because my speakers here are so new (The Icon 12, Buchardt, PAP Duet 15 Horn) there was no SAM selection for either of them. Even so, this is one feature that Devialet is known for and it’s awesome to see on the Astra, now with an easier way of setting it up.
THE APP
The Devialet app used with the Astra is nice, easy to use and has all of the settings you need at your fingertips. You can also enter the configuration for your Astra here and setup the outputs, inputs and all of that jazz. It’s so easy to set up the Phono Inputs as just a line in or even Coaxial inputs. That’s another beauty here, everything can be customized right from your listening seat. Easy as 1-2-3.
More Astra Ramblings, Personal Feelings.
When the Astra first arrived I was in love with its beautiful design and I personally think the Gold Leaf is cool because it is unlike anything else out there that I have seen. I am one who thinks the Gold Leaf looks gorgeous in the flesh. Not everyone will like this, and some will feel it is a gimmick or waste, I get it! The process is done in France by hand and it takes two weeks as a coating is applied after the leaf. This is the reason is costs more than the Light Bronze version.
With this said, it’s up to the buyer to feel if the $5k increase is worth it for them. The Gold Leaf version is the same as the Bronze in all ways besides the finish. Heck, the light Bronze is just as much of a looker.
The Astra was designed in Paris and made in France. It’s gorgeous and the fit and finish are truly modern and exquisite. In its own way it sits with the Luxman 509Z in attention to detail and pride of ownership, just in its own slim and zen like way. The Astra does have a display up top, a small circular type that displays the volume. Other than that, no flash or meters, which I admit is a nice change. As I sit and marvel at the sound of the Astra I look up and see one slim beautiful box. I can’t believe it does all of this so well.
The bottom of the remote has the on and off switch and four rubber feet.
As for sound quality, how does it compete against others I have heard?
Well, it stands toe to toe with the best I have heard in the integrated amp world and is not better or worse, just different in the presentation. The Luxman 509Z is more lit up in the treble but with a little more meat in the mids. The Astra has an infectious musical flavor that keeps me moving. I really like the Magic Wire DAC in the Astra which for me would tip the scale to the Astra but the Luxman is gorgeous as well. A different look, vibe and flow.
The fact that the Astra is all in one, and with full synergy, does show in its performance. The ModWright LS99 and KWA 99 are some of the finest gear I have had in this year. They are remarkable in build and sound. The ModWright sounds a bit romantic, a bit electric and also is very rich and dense in the bass but still delivers gorgeous details that sparkle and shine.
In reality, the Devialet Astra to me sounds a bit like they say it does. A Class A pre-amp mated to a Class D amp. There is a solid sound from top to bottom here that focuses on hearing everything in the recording without adding any coloration. The Astra never crosses into analytical territory as in dry, lean or forward.
The Astra just sounds so right and I feel it is due to this bit of Class A sparkle with some of that smooth Class D vibe. It has no distortion, no coloration and no saturation. It’s not as “blood, sweat and tears” as the tubes but the tubes cannot reach the impact, balls and drive of the Astra.
As I said, the Astra reminds me of a high performance race car with a stellar pit crew running it. The tubes are more like a walk on the beach at midnight as the cool ocean breeze caresses your face as you stare at the moon.
I can say that the Astra is another piece of HiFi that I wish I could own or keep here for a while as it really is a perfect mate to the O Audio Icon 12 speakers, best match up I have heard (even bests the Nagra gear with the Icon 12). I like this one a lot. The Devialet Astra is gorgeous to look at, is a joy to use and sounds downright fantastic due to how everything has been perfectly implemented here for performance.
The warranty is for two years but I would have loved it even more if the Astra had a 5 year warranty at this price level. C’Mon Devialet, give us a 5 year warranty here. The price you ask warrants this. Even so, these do seem built last as many have had their Devialet amps for years, even over a decade, and they still sound and work great. They have proven to be dependable. In fact, I still text with the guy in AZ who bought my old 200 and last I heard, he was still using it. I sold it to him a decade ago.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
The Astra is for those who want an instant High End HiFi system without any hassle or compromise. No hype needed here as the Astra speaks for itself once you experience it. The Astra is a winner and a stunner but man does this stuff cost a fortune! It’s a fantasy kind of HiFi product really. The Astra serves up a wide and deep tall stage, with superb separation of instruments. It does this while hitting the heartstrings rather than annoy the ears.
I did also test the class D LAIV GaNM Mono amps and the HPA Pre against the Astra for comparison sake. The LAIV was just a little bit softer, a little bit smoother and sounded great as well with a more tube like smoothness. It didn’t have the all out convenience of the Astra and when I add in my cables, streamer and DAC, the cost of the LAIV comes out to around $17k. Close to the Astra but again, five boxes vs one. Convenience, design, ease of use and cool factor do matter to many audio lovers and with the Astra from Devialet we do not have to compromise to get all of these things. This is what is so special about the Astra. Tidal Connect streams without lags or issues and sounds insanely good with the Astra. This is also ready for ROON and can stream using many other services like Spotify Connect, Airplay, Apple Music, Google Cast and more. Add a CD transport to the digital input and take advantage of the Magic Wire DAC. If I owned the Astra, I would consider this myself. I would also go back to vinyl as the phono stage here is so damn good.
Is there a tradeoff for using one box vs 5?
No, not with the Astra. None that I found. At all. I tried.
When taken as a whole the Devialet Astra is a grand slam knockout of a HiFi Piece. I myself would love to own one of these just for the remote alone, lol. I can easily and 100% highly recommend the Devialet Astra if you are looking for an all in one with everything needed included, and I mean everything..without having to compromise on anything. The Magic Wire DAC is remarkable and will sound as good in a decade as it does now. The streamer works and sounds as good as my $5k dedicated box and the amp section has all the power most will ever need.
The Astra Opera De Paris pleased my senses and soul in so many ways it will really be hard to see it go. This is another HiFi piece that sits on that shelf I call “Special” and there is nothing else quite like it on the market today. I started out this review by asking if the Astra is “HiFi Integrated Perfection” and yea, I really do see it as just this. It’s a stunning match to my reference speakers and so easy to use, update and configure. The design is sleek and beautiful, the build is solid and the sound really does bring some of the best of Class A (Preamp Sweetness) and Class D (Raw Power) to the table. The fact that there is no coloration or distortion, and the sound is as refined as can be I simply have zero complaints here. Maybe resale value in 5 years will be average, but that is par for the course with almost all HiFi as audio is not a financial investment but an investment in what you love, your well being and happiness.
I wish I had something to complain about here but there is not. The price is equivalent to the separates I have here as well as some previous integrated set ups and the Astra gives nothing up to them in any way. In fact I find the Astra to sound better with my Icon 12 speakers than my recent stint with the Nagra HD line, which is crazy to say, but synergy is at work here. The Astra is a HiFi Masterpiece and these are the words that I will complete this written review with.
Read more about the Devialet Astra HERE
Site Sponsor The Music Room is a Devialet Dealer and is taking PreOrders on the Astra NOW
Be the first to comment