Devialet is a brand of audio products from France that attracts attention not only for its design but also for its solid audio quality. I've always hoped that one day I could own at least one of their speakers, even though deep down I knew it was beyond my means.
Despite not being able to have one, I was recently able to test out their new product, the Devialet Mania. It is a mobile speaker shaped like a ball with a price of RM5490. Is it reasonable to spend thousands of ringgit on a portable speaker? The answer is at the end of this review.
Specifications And Design
Devialet Mania
Types of Portable Speakers
Audio Driver 2x 38W class-D woofer
4x 25W class-D aluminum active speakers
Active Stereo Calibration, ACS
Speaker Active Matching, SAM
Cross-Stereo Architecture
Microphone 4x microphone
4x ARM Cortex-A53 chips
Operating System Devialet Operating System 2 (DOS 2)
3200mAh battery
10 hours continuously
3 hours of charging
Bluetooth 5.0 tethering
AirPlay 2
Spotify Connect
USB-C PD charging
Wireless Dock
Android, iOS app support
Physical Button Controls
IPX4 waterproof capability
Selling Price RM4490 (Speaker)
RM5490 (Speaker + Charging Dock)
It's been a while that we haven't tested portable speakers. Lately it's all been soundbars or desk speakers only. When the Devialet Mania arrived at the our lab, I was excited to be able to use this speaker even for a short period of time.
Mania comes with a design that looks beautiful, unique and different from most other mobile speakers. It is circular in shape with a built-in handle at the top. It looks quite retro-futuristic which reminds us of The Matrix of Leadership placed in Optimus Prime's chest.
The finish on this speaker is fabric as a whole in a compact, heavy and sturdy build. It also has a chrome finish that makes Mania look more pleasing to the eye. It also looks suitable to be used as a decoration on the shelf, table or next to the computer because of its stylish design.
Although Mania is a portable speaker, it weighs 2.3 kg. To me it's too heavy for a portable speaker but with the built in handle it's still easy to move from room to room. For example, in the office, I can move from the desk to the studio as if carrying a small bag. But in my opinion it is not suitable to be taken for a walk outside like on vacation because it feels bad if there is damage.
This part of the plastic handle strap continues to the entire side of the Mania's body. On the right side there is a button for play/pause, adjust the audio volume and four LED lights to show the battery level and connection. On the left side is the power button, Bluetooth button, Devialet button to see battery status, microphone switch and USB-C port. Finally, at the bottom there is a magnetic wireless charging component for use with the Mania Station which is sold separately.
The speaker also has IPX4 waterproof protection and has four built-in microphones. This microphone is not just for answering phone calls or summoning a digital assistant, but also for using the ACS feature, which is active stereo calibration that can change the audio quality based on the environment.
Not only that, mania also supports the SAM feature which is Speaker Active Matching which takes advantage of the class-D audio drivers used and features a cross-stereo architecture that provides an immersive and comprehensive 360-degree listening experience no matter where the user and the speaker are - as long as distance is 1 meter.
Inside has six drivers, namely 2x 38W woofers and 4x 25W aluminum active speakers. This speaker also supports WiFi connection, Bluetooth 5.0, AirPlay 2 and Spotify connect.
Audio Quality
For a speaker that costs RM4490, high expectations are placed because the audio quality needs to be on par with the price. At first use the audio quality of the Devialet Mania sounded ordinary and I did not understand why it was sold at such a price. But after using it for about two weeks and using the interesting features to adjust the audio, it is a speaker with some interesting features.
Examples are the ACS feature that can actively calibrate the audio according to the environment as well as the cross-stereo feature that provides immersive audio regardless of whether I'm in front of or behind the speakers. It's just that this smart feature is only supported in rooms with small spaces because the 95dB audio that Mania can produce can only be reached within 1 meter. If outside this range this interesting experience may not be enjoyed.
Bass/Lows
First of all is the bass. Mania has a bass that thumps really hard and punchy. It's pretty deep and has a nice beat. The bass on this speaker is also not empty and has definition to enjoy the music more solemnly and may also stomp your feet to start dancing. Arguably all types of audio and music rely heavily on this bass to make it sound good.
Vocals/Mids
After listening to some music from artists like Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and many others – I found it to be almost balanced between male and female singers. It overplays only slightly on male voices because of the deeper voice that goes with the bass. The female voice on the majority of my favorite songs has a good performance, only the sad and soft songs – the voice can sink a little. Don't worry because it can be adjusted via the calibrator in the Devialet app.
High Tone/Highs
The high tone produced by the Devialet Mania I can say it reaches a level that I am satisfied with. It's nice and not too sharp, and doesn't stop. It's just that due to the bass-focused speakers, some users may not be able to hear these good highs compared to more experienced users. I also need to be in the studio and try to listen more carefully to understand every detail and more expert colleagues need to guide me what I should look for to appreciate more.
Battery
Devialet said Mania has a battery life of up to 10 hours through the 3200mAh battery used. In my use at the office there is no problem for it to last up to a week as it is too loud and disturbing to other officemates to use for longer periods.
Recharging using the USB-C PD system is not fast as it takes almost three hours to fully charge. This is like charging using micro USB. The battery isn't so gigantic that it takes the same amount of time as watching an Avatar movie to drain.
The Mania Station which is sold at a price of RM449 is another disappointing accessory because it has to be purchased separately. But with the Mania Station, the speaker can be easily lifted and moved without having to unplug the USB-C cable.
Applications And Controls
For control, the physical buttons provided are quite useful. It's nice to press and operates smoothly. In fact, if I just want to watch a movie, or want to listen to music for a short time, I just rely entirely on these buttons. It's just a bit strange why the Devialet button is needed and only works for one function which is to activate the LED light to see the battery level. A feature like this can only be included in one button like the power button. This may be for their identity.
The microphone switch on the Mania is to turn it off so it won't always listen, especially if using Alexa. But this switch should not be turned off because it is for the earlier ACS feature which uses all four microphones to calibrate the audio according to the surrounding conditions. If the microphone is not active, the audio quality on Mania is mediocre.
Another control option is to use Spotify Connect if the user subscribes to this audio streaming platform. When in use, the buttons on the speaker can easily control play/pause music. It's just a shame there's no physical button to change the music being heard. Connection via Bluetooth 5.0 like any wireless speaker can be done as well. A bonus is AirPlay 2 support which is not often given to a portable speaker.
The Devialet app for Android and iOS is one of the most user-friendly audio product apps I've ever used. I don't even need the manual and can continue using it without any issues. One application can control all Devialet products, there is a clear battery status if the LED lights are confusing, there is a built-in gauge, ACS switch and tips for the user.
What's In The Box?
Here's what you'll get with every purchase of the Devialet Mania base set;
1x Devialet Mania.
1x USB-C Cable.
1x Charger Plug and adapter.
1x Speaker bag.
1x Guide.
Conclusion
The Devialet Mania is a portable speaker that is not aimed at everyone. The selling price of RM4490 for the black or gray model and RM5490 for the golden color which includes one Mania Station is very expensive. It's hard for me to justify buying it unless you're an aristocrat or a celebrity who has excess money to spend.
Even so, for the audio drivers used, the included features and a very satisfying listening experience – the Devialet Mania is the most interesting portable speaker I've used during my time . Loud bass, good vocals and a user-friendly application make me understand why the price is so expensive.
I also probably wouldn't recommend this speaker to family members or friends, because the price is ridiculous. Another alternative, for compact speakers and pretty great audio is the Sonos Move which is also released by a company with good sound pedigree, good class-D speakers, premium audio experience, portable and waterproof. The difference is that the Sonos Move is made of a metal material that is more durable and doesn't get dirty easily. It is also sold at a "more expensive" price of RM2500 a piece.
Pro
Minimalist design and looks luxurious.
Razer Chroma support that livens up the table.
A user-friendly and youth-controlled application.
IPX4 waterproof capability.
Cons
Unbeatable audio quality for the price.
Connectivity options are limited to Bluetooth and USB-C only.
The sale price is too high.
Slow charging.