Devialet Mania Review: Bottom-Heavy, But Powerful

For all that Mania appears a barely un-Devialet product so far as seems to be and specification are involved, although, the corporate’s ethos comes strongly again into focus when the speaker begins doing its factor. Connected to an Apple iPhone 13 through AirPlay 2, and with music starting from John Coltrane’s “My Favourite Things” to Nation of Language’s “This Fractured Mind,” through “Don’t Leave Me Alone With Her” by Sparks enjoying, the Mania may actually solely be a Devialet product. And in fairly a couple of methods, this can be a good factor.

Certainly the outright scale and the low-frequency presence of the Mania is outstanding. This is a reasonably small speaker, however it creates a big and coherent soundstage. And, as is the case with all Devialet merchandise in our expertise, it generates extra bass than appears possible. It’s managed fairly effectively, with not an excessive amount of blurring into or out of bass sounds, and when the music calls for it the Mania can hit implacably laborious. There are some listeners for whom “bass” is shorthand for “excitement,” they usually’re those at whom the Mania is squarely aimed.

Big Bottom

The authority the speaker has over its personal low-frequency output means the Mania can specific rhythms with a good bit of confidence. Only probably the most testing patterns or tempos could cause it to journey over its personal bass exercise, and even then solely a bit of. There’s appreciable dynamic headroom out there right here, too, and consequently the Devialet can change from “loud” to “louder” to “louder still” with none issues in anyway. The concept that the Mania would possibly begin this course of at “quiet” is fanciful, although. 

The drive for all-around stereo sound is fairly profitable too. Once the Mania has had an opportunity to evaluate its place relative to any boundaries, it’s able to assured, constant sound that provides a good diploma of separation. The level supply is all the time apparent, after all, however the Devialet has a wider and but better-focused presentation than many wi-fi audio system at this kind of cash. And once you take it open air, the place boundaries could also be so distant as to be irrelevant, the assertive nature of the Mania’s sound means it may make its sonic presence felt with out issue.

Problems, reminiscent of they’re, stem from the identical supply as so lots of the positives: bass, and the emphasis on it. Throughout the frequency vary, the Mania is an in depth pay attention with loads of pertinent observations to make about exercise within the midrange and within the treble space. It shapes info above the low frequencies with simply as a lot positivity because it does the low frequencies themselves—however its perspective is one among tolerance moderately than engagement. Everything—by which we imply every part—performs second fiddle to That Bass, and so it follows that the Mania’s general sound is bottom-heavy and unnatural.

For some folks, after all, this will likely be simply high-quality. But for listeners who’re curious about realism, within the precise literal constancy of the sound they’re listening to, the Devialet’s wonky rendition of their favourite music appears unlikely within the excessive to show passable. 

Mind you, only a few are the battery-powered audio system that may fill an area with sound even when that house seems to be fairly a big backyard—so it’s not as if Devialet Mania possession is with out its benefits.