For all that the Mania seems to be something unrelated to the Devialet in terms of its appearance and appearance, however, the company’s thoughts come back to mind when the speaker starts to do its thing. Connected to the Apple iPhone 13 via AirPlay 2, and music from John Coltrane’s “My Favorite things” to Nation of Language’s “Mind Fractured Mind” of “Don’t Leave Me Alone” by Sparks playing, Mania can actually be a Devialet drug. And in several ways, this is a good thing.
Certainly the sheer size and frequency of Mania is astounding. This is a small speaker, but it produces a loud and coherent sound. And, as with all Devialet products we’ve come across, it produces more bass than it seems possible. It’s well controlled, with no distortion in or out of the bass, and when the music calls for the Mania to hit hard. There is a certain audience for whom the word “bass” is synonymous with “fun,” and that’s who Mania is aimed at.
Under the Great
Image: Devialet
The control the speaker has over its low frequency output means the Mania is able to express music with confidence. Only the most experimental techniques or tempos can make it pass its events, and even then only slightly. There is a larger head volume available as well, so the Devialet can switch from “loud” to “loud” to “very loud” without any problems. The idea that Mania could start this process on “quiet” is speculative, however.
The surround sound stereo is also good. If Mania had the opportunity to evaluate its position according to any limits, it could have a confident, consistent voice that provides the necessary separation. Point sources are always obvious, of course, but the Devialet has a larger display and better stability than most wireless speakers for this price. And when you take it outside, where the boundaries can be far and wide, the boldness of the Mania’s sound means it can make its sonic presence feel effortless.
The problems, such as they are, come from the same source as most of the good: the bass, and the emphasis on it. On the frequency, Mania listens to the details and multi-screen to create the scene in the center and in the surrounding area. It creates awareness above the lower frequencies with positivity as it does with the lower frequencies alone—but the attitude is one of tolerance rather than engagement. All – what we mean everything-He plays second fiddle to That Bass, so it follows that all of Mania’s vocals are heavy and unnatural.
For some people, this will be fine. But for listeners who are interested in the authenticity, the true fidelity of the voice they are listening to, Devialet’s musical interpretations of their favorite songs seem too impossible to prove convincing.
You know, few are battery-powered speakers that can fill a room with sound even if the place is a large garden – so it’s not like owning a Devialet Mania doesn’t have its perks.
