Astras abound – even Opel has its mundane, four-wheeled version. However, Devialet returns to the Latin root of “star,” invoking ‘ad astra’, the “path to the stars." It’s an ancient human dream: to reach the edges of the Universe. Here, though, the universe is audio, and the Astra emerges as a supernova poised to illuminate the digital firmament.
I spent a few weeks with this new celestial body, and what follows is a tale of sound, science, and a dash of French extravagance.
The Legacy of the ADH Revolution
It was 2010 when I first laid ears on the Devialet D-Premier – a milestone that unleashed the ADH (Analog Digital Hybrid) technology upon the world, a stroke of genius from Pierre-Emmanuel Calmel, who has since parted ways with the brand.
In a nutshell, ADH is an unlikely yet blissful union: Class A (the maestro of voltage) dances an intimate tango with Class D (the queen of current), delivering hefty power with near-zero distortion. For the uninitiated, picture a sonic ménage à trois: Class A amps whisk the speakers off to a French gourmet dinner while Class D pays the bill without blinking.
Technically, each ADH module is a masterpiece: one Class A amplifier per channel, flanked by four digital modules per signal phase – two Class A and eight Class D in a harmonious ensemble. The “D” units supply 99.9% of the current, acting as “boosters” that propel the Class A without ever meddling in the signal path. The outcome is miraculous: Class D efficiency (85%) meets the soulful musicality of Class A.
High-Precision Engineering
The Class A amp focuses solely on voltage, leaving current almost untouched, slashing distortion to jaw-dropping lows. In high-frequency transients – the Achilles’ heel of Class D modules due to their sluggish response times – the analog module shines, pumping out up to 5 amps in fleeting bursts of energy.
Here’s a delightful twist: want proof that the Class A amp is the heart feeding the speakers? Yank out the DAMP card (with its eight digital amps), and the D-Premier keeps singing, now as a low-power Class A unit. Without the Class D brawn, though, the 200 W at 8 ohms vanish, and the modules slip into protection mode to avoid melting in exhaustion. A word of caution: don’t try this at home alone.
The Devialet’s output impedance is a wonder: 0.001 ohm, ensuring a sky-high damping factor, consistent across all frequencies. Calmel swore the impedance hinged only on the resistance of the terminals. The sole limit to driving low-impedance loads (2 or even 1 ohm) lies in the maximum current (30 A) and the RMS power supply (around 500 W).
From D-Premier to Astra: A Stellar Way
When you connect an analog source to the Astra—be it a turntable via the phono input (MM/MC) or another device through a line input—the Astra digitizes that signal right at the entry point using a high-quality analog-to-digital converter (ADC). In the Astra’s case, this conversion occurs at 24-bit/96kHz, just as it did in the D-Premier, though it’s likely been upgraded to support higher resolutions, keeping pace with the output DAC’s compatibility up to 32-bit/384kHz.
Once digitized, the signal is processed in the digital domain. This is where features like SAM (Speaker Active Matching), which tailors the signal to the speakers’ characteristics, or RAM (Record Active Matching), which fine-tunes the phono input, come into play. This digital processing enables Devialet to apply corrections, equalization, and other magical artistry with surgical precision. Only then is the signal dispatched to the "Magic Wire"—the stage where the DAC converts it back to analog format, just before amplification, travelling less than 5 centimeters to preserve its integrity pristine.
Astra: Power and Elegance Redefined
The Astra keeps the ADH flame alive but ups the ante. Differences from the D-Premier and Expert aren’t just skin-deep – though those forebears are equally rated at 150 W per channel into 8 ohms or 300 W into 4 ohms with a few power variants. Like its predecessors, the Astra can be bridged, pairing two units as monoblocks to double the power of a lone Astra – a “Solo” morphs into a “Dual” that’ll leave you and your wallet breathless (€32.000).
With their mirrored chrome finish, the D-Premier and Expert were a treat for narcissistic audiophiles and fingerprint magnets, forever begging for a microfiber cloth. They looked like silver ingots fresh from a Swiss vault, though, let’s be honest, they had a nouveau-riche swagger, shouting “look at me and see yourself in the mirror!” louder than “listen to me!” The Astra flips the script: it ditches the glitzy sheen for understated chic – smooth lines, matte finishes (light bronze), and a silhouette that could’ve been carved by a Le Corbusier disciple. It’s lighter (shedding a few pounds), more compact, and sports a discreet yet elegant OLED display – a functional gem controlled by a remote that resembles a UFO. There’s even a gold-dipped Opera (Paris) edition for an extra 4000 euros. The French still dream of Versailles and the Empire.
Sideline: As I pen these words – on the day Macron lands in Portugal under a downpour, hawking Caesar artillery systems – I’m basking in the Astra’s glow. Weapons? No, thanks. I’d rather they brought us more Astras. I’ve got an official letter recognizing my sacrifice to the nation as a soldier; I’d rather my grandkids don’t get one too!
The Expert had a nouveau-riche swagger, shouting “look at me and see yourself in the mirror!” louder than “listen to me!”
A Refined Essence
Everything the D-Premier and Expert offered is here: the phono stage, the DAC, SAM (Speaker Active Matching), and more. However, Astra pushes further with a built-in Roon Ready streamer compatible with Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect. Add Wi-Fi 6 (dual-band), Bluetooth 5.3 with top-tier codecs (like aptX HD), digital inputs (Ethernet, optical, coaxial, USB-C), and a preamp output for subwoofers or ambitious external amp setups. The Expert’s Core Infinity now feels like a 1970s AM radio by comparison.
The Science of Sound
The Astra energy efficiency is stellar. The trick? Redesigned Class D modules with faster switching and thermal control that keeps it from doubling as a sardine grill. The DAC leaps to PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz and DSD256 (via USB-C or network), outpacing the Expert Pro’s 24-bit/192kHz and DSD64. Total harmonic distortion (THD+N) drops to 0.00025% at 10 W (versus 0.0005% on the Expert) – a nuance for audiophiles with bat-like ears.
With a signal-to-noise ratio of 130 dB (up from 120 dB on the Expert) and a frequency response from 2 Hz to 40 kHz (-3 dB), the Astra stretches beyond human hearing—a comforting extravagance, even if wasted on mere mortals.
The French Revolution
The Astra doesn’t reinvent the wheel (or the guillotine) like the D-Premier or Expert Pro did in their day; instead, it takes the legacy and gives it an haute-couture makeover. It’s a technical marvel – more power, less noise, future-proof connectivity, and a DAC worthy of a standing ovation. Aesthetically, it opts for discretion over flash – a relief for anyone tired of buffing the Experts like family silver.
Worth the plunge? If you’re satisfied with your Expert Pro, you might not need to upgrade unless streaming or a futuristic design entices you. However, for those entering Devialet’s universe now, the Astra is a golden ticket to 21st-century sound. It costs an arm and a leg, yes, but it carries that je ne sais quoi that turns every musical note into a three-Michelin-star tasting menu.
My affair with Astra
Being an audio critic is a dream job for any audiophile. I don’t have to shell out €16,000 to “have an affair” with a Devialet Astra, though, like a Shakespearean candle, the loan burns briefly before flickering out. As the Bard put it about life: Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow…
Soon, the Astra will return to Imacustica, and I’ll move on to the next contender already waiting in the wings. If I had to buy every piece of gear I test, I’d have gone bankrupt long ago. But this is the only way I can preview the listening experience a potential buyer might have.
Astra is a Cartier watch for those who can afford it.
The Astra isn’t for the orthodox audiophile, the kind who worships at the altar of tubes. And yes, you could snag a decent Class D amp made in China for less than a thousand euros. But just because a plastic Swatch can tell the time doesn’t mean it’s the same as strapping a Cartier to your wrist. Astra is a Cartier watch for those who can afford it.
The Astra is a luxury object, a thing of desire that brings high technology and high fidelity into the home with class—never imposing its presence too loudly or guzzling excessive power. Most prospective buyers will use it solely as a streamer/amp, tethered to their phone via AirPlay, Bluetooth, Google Cast, Roon ARC, or USB-C. That’s how I kicked things off myself. The sound is the kind you leave playing for hours— as seductive as Françoise Hardy.
The remote is the Astra’s Mini-Me, Bluetooth-powered and stripped to essentials. Spinning its wheel between your fingers is a tactile delight, its reassuring weight lending a sense of solidity. It’s not meant to be handheld; it sits on the table or desk without bulging —unless you fancy using it as a defence weapon…
Alternatively, you should—and frankly, must—install the control app on your phone or desktop (the latter being more functional). Beyond volume tweaks, it lets you select sources (digital or analogue) and music services (Spotify, Tidal, etc.). In the desktop app, every input is customizable: a phono input can morph into a line-level one, and an input can flip to a preamp or subwoofer output. There’s even a rudimentary equalizer, tweaking only treble and bass.
But dive into the advanced configurator, and you unlock the SAM technology, which tailors the output signal to your speakers’ characteristics, picking by brand from a catalogue of 1,200 models. Or there’s RAM, letting you fine-tune the phono input on the fly. My pair of vintage SF Concertinos wasn’t listed, so I opted for the size-equivalent Minima Amator. The difference with and without SAM is subtle but audible—a gentle “filling out” of mid-bass and bass harmonics.
Back when SAM configs came on SSD drives, I ran a curious experiment at Imacustica with Paulo Soares, captured on video (see below for a revisit). Note: You may also read the full experience report in Related Articles below 'Play It Again Sam'.
Devialet 250 and Wilson Audio Sophia III (without SAM)
Devialet 250 and Wilson Audio Sophia III (without SAM)
L’Astra est un astre qui chante l’infini, un rêve d’or dans le silence noir
As I recall, the Astra’s sound broadly echoes the D-Premier and Expert. Yet I detect refinements: tighter, deeper bass control; a “luminescence” in the treble that, at high levels, no longer feels piercing but softened; a slightly laid-back image; and a soundstage with greater depth and width. The Astra plays the diplomat—smoother, more refined—whereas the Expert could occasionally bare its teeth with a touch of acidity. The DNA, though, is unmistakably shared.
And to close, in the poetic words inspired by Jacques Brel: "L’Astra est un astre qui chante l’infini, un rêve d’or dans le silence noir"—"The Astra is a star that sings the infinite, a golden dream in the black silence."
Listen to Astra at IMACUSTICA – it’s like tasting a fine French wine without having to pay for the bottle…