Are You Crazy Enough To Spend $790 On The Devialet Mania Portable Wireless Speaker?

Devialet builds some truly innovative products like the Phantom loudspeakers, Gemini earbuds, and Dione soundbar. We love their attention to detail when it comes to industrial design and they have certainly attracted the attention of a new generation of listeners.

All of those things are very positive for the high-end industry because the French manufacturer has forced the rest of the industry to rethink their boring designs that look like everything else. The KEF LS60 prove my point in every possible way. The new Devialet Mania is most certainly different and innovative but I’m not sure how many are willing to spend $790 USD on a portable wireless loudspeaker — or the $990 Devialet Mania Opéra de Paris version with 24-karat gold trim.

Having visited their flagship store in Paris, I applaud their approach to retail and their obvious commitment to selling an experience. Because that’s what a better audio system is supposed to be — an experience like no other.

Devialet clearly understand that consumers have a myriad of options in 2022 when it comes to wireless audio systems and that creating that “experience” is a real point of differentiation.

The Mania is designed to be carried around with you and very similar to the DALI KATCH G2 includes an integrated carrying handle. Both the Mania and KATCH G2 utilize drivers on both sides of the enclosure and have integrated controls that make them very easy to operate.

There is a considerable price difference between the two products and it will interesting to hear how they compare both indoors and outside in the backyard or on the beach.

Pure Sound In Motion

With the Devialet Mania, their rather iconic aesthetic has morphed into portable speaker form. The design integrates a handle for ease of movement, an IPX4 splash-resistant rating for resilience, and their first built-in battery for up to 10 hours of wireless streaming.

There is an external charging base called the Devialet Mania Station ($80 USD) that is an add-on wireless charging dock so you can charge up your Devialet Mania portable speaker. The wireless charging station taps a proprietary pin-copper track connection, so you can charge up without being tied down. It requires 3 hours of charging time to achieve a full charge of the Mania.

The Devialet Mania boasts visible push-push woofers and a co-spherical design. A luxurious woven skin covers its exoskeleton, which in turn protects the technology inside the sphere.

Devialet Mania runs on DOS2, the same software ecosystem as Devialet Phantom and Devialet Dione. And that means set-up and customization are seamless in the Devialet App: Enjoy improved sound quality via Wi-Fi, set up your device with Alexa, receive software updates, and you can set your own EQ levels through the app as well.

One very unique aspect of the design is how the Devialet Mania adapts to your environment; real-time acoustic mapping technology, ASC – Active Stereo Calibration, taps four-room calibrating microphones and embedded intelligence capabilities to allow Devialet Mania to automatically evolve the audio rendering based on its surroundings.

Thanks to Devialet Mania’s dual streaming capabilities, you have the choice between Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. When indoors, you can connect via Wi-Fi to use Spotify Connect and Airplay 2 (for Apple users). And when you take Devialet Mania outdoors, Bluetooth auto-activates.

Specifications

• Loudspeakers: 4 Aluminium full-range drivers + 2 woofers
• Frequency response (bandwidth): 30Hz – 20kHz
• Maximum Sound Level: 95 dB SPL at 1 meter
• Battery Life: 10 hours
• Water Resistant: IPX4 rated to withstand splashes
• Voice enabled: Alexa built-in (includes microphone)
• Processor:
  • 4 x ARM Cortex-A53
  • 1.4Ghz processor
• Total amplification power:
  • 2 x 38W class D for woofers
  • 4 x 25W class D for full-range speakers
• Power Supply:
  • 3200mAh in-built battery USB-C PD 12V 2.5A
  • Power Consumption: <2W (in standby) <0.5W (in off mode)
• Dimensions:
  • 176 mm x 193 mm x 139 mm
  • (6.9″ W x 7.6″ H x 5.5″ D)
• Weight: 2.3 kg

What’s in the box?

• 1x Devialet Mania 
• 1x USB-C power cable and power unit 
• 1x User guide 
• 1x Speaker bag

For more information: devialet.com/en-us/portable-speakers/

Where to buy: $790 at Amazon | AudioAdvice

$990 at AudioAdvice (pre-order Opera de Paris version).