The power and sound quality of modern televisions is able to satisfy most consumers, however, in recent years auxiliary speakers have become a regular presence on the windows and a must-have product to bring the sound experience in the living room closer to the cinema experience..
Imacustica invited PÚBLICO to discover the first loudspeakers by French Devialet. It’s called Dione, and before it fills our ears, it fills us with numbers: the large black mass of 1.2 meters long has no less than 17 sound ports (“drivers”) and its cost is 2,290 euros. It’s packed with features, including a myriad of connections (among them Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 and Airplay) and technology that “reads” the living room, a kind of audio radar that digitally adapts the distribution of sound according to the configuration of the space and the position in which it is installed Column – above the furniture or on the wall. Dione plays Dolby Atmos (surround 5.1.2), as well as adaptive volume control, which coordinates volume levels according to the content.
But Devialet wanted to do this Amplifiers More than just a TV supplement. The fact that you can play anything on it from your cell phone makes Dione a better equipped speaker than most conventional systems or stereos. However, it was built for TV and that’s where it stands out, producing “full” sound that comes from everywhere and tends to pull in the lower frequencies. Music performance, while good, cannot be compared to a dedicated system. That was in another room.
Aesthetics and hi-fi
The Phantom Columns weren’t Devialet’s first invention, but they were a showcase for him. These columns of strange lines (some call them “alien”) is a premium high definition product that is unique in design, build quality and technology. They are, in almost everything, several levels above the common “small” columns.
Full Range Features high-performance sound in all frequency ranges, with a special focus on bass. It can be configured to taste or according to the music style via the dedicated mobile application.
The Phantom I (or simply, Phantom, because it was the first French brand) is the jewel in the crown, especially when paired with a stereo. The distribution, balance, and overall sound quality of the pair are superb. The sounds are crystal clear and stand out easily, without everything else getting lost or fading into the background. After listening in stereo, it is “hard” to hear only one sound again. Available in capacities of 103 dB (2090 EUR per unit) and 108 dB (3090 EUR per unit).
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The latest speaker in the range is smaller and therefore more affordable. He received the name Phantom II and is also available in two models: 95 dB (1090 euros) and 98 dB (1390 euros). The audio has a Phantom I matrix, but lower power levels.
The Phantom II is smaller, but not portable: the design and construction are compact and the absence of the battery naturally requires it to be connected to a power source. They are therefore not “entry” columns, although they are ready to work in all sections, ie in the open air.
The Phantom aren’t speakers for every budget (far from that), but they are exceptional for the way they express aesthetic daring and high fidelity.
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The beginning was not a pillar
Founded in 2007, French Devialet was built from the ground up as a luxury brand for music lovers. The product of design and technology, he began by creating a blaster that combines efficiency and power.
The Expert Pro line (from 4,990 euros) is the result of ten years of development, which have resulted in more than one and a half hundred technological patents – and dozens of awards. It combines the elements of a preamp, amp, and DAC switching into a neat, compact body. It is technically understood to be one of the most advanced amplifiers in the world – see technical specifications here.
We had the opportunity to listen to the Devialet Expert 440 Pro Dual (14,900 euros) connected to a pair of SabrinaX speakers from Wilson Audio (26,900 euros), a well-thought-out combination that most audiophiles say is at least good. he did. Others will say it’s perfect.
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hard to say. The value order of these hi-fi groups is always subjective and closely related to the importance assigned by each group. Just like we heard This system worth one and a half million euros, extraordinary values do not change the listening experience. If I could, I would have stayed there all day.