The $790 Devialet Mania is the company’s first portable speaker
The French high-end consumer audio brand unveil their first Bluetooth speaker, with a familiar aesthetic design and eye-watering price tag.
Devialet, the manufacturer behind high-end home speakers, soundbars and earbuds, are dipping their toes in portable speakers with the new Mania high fidelity smart speaker.
It’s hefty price tag is justified by premium design and premium audio. Using four aluminium full-range driver, two woofers and four microphones, alongside “real-time acoustic mapping technology” and “ASC – Active Stereo Calibration”, Devialet Mania can produce a large, 360-degree stereo soundstage in any space.
Connectivity is wireless-only, supporting wifi, Bluetooth, Spotify Connect and AirPlay 2 to link two Devialet speakers together. Alexa is supported, while a physical switch can mute the microphone to disable the voice assistant and acoustic mapping. Buttons surround the middle of the device, including power, Bluetooth pairing, play/pause, volume up and volume down.
The Devialet Mania uses the same DOS2 software as the Phantom and Dione speakers, which makes set-up a breeze using the Devialet app, which also offers customization, personalized EQ levels and software updates. Battery life is good for ten hours of wireless streaming.
The exterior looks as unique as their existing speaker lineup. The speaker comes in at 176 x 193 x 139 mm, weighing 2.3kg, with an IPX4 water resistance rating protecting it from poolside splashes. The top of the speaker includes a handle for easy carrying. At home, an optional $80 Devialet Mania Station docks and wirelessly charges the speaker, while keeping the music playing. The Light Grey and Deep Black woven skin options cost $790, while an “Opéra de Paris” option is Light Grey with gold-plated accents for an extra $200. At $990, you also get a complimentary charging station.