Devialet raises $106 million

[Mike]

In Germany they are cutting at least certain dealers out of the Phantom distribution, in order to sell direct online.

To me that sounds an awful lot like aiming for the mass market.


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That's probably not a bad idea. It's an entirely different market, entirely different customer IMO.

 

[Mike]

Apparently they are. Here in Singapore Devialet speakers have been installed on boats by adventurous owners. I believe they are sealed but doubt they are IP rated.

The point I was trying to make is that the type of customer who's at a minimum curious about the Phantom, is more than likely not going to pony up for the Phantom. They can't bridge the gap between the $300 Bose and the $2000 Phantom. The people that can afford the Phantom, will want one for a second system, kitchen, etc.

 

[Mike]

Norman and I have talked off line and it will be indeed interesting to see what kind of competition the Phantom faces over the next year or two.

 

[Kuoppis]

They are also used for background music at Harrods in London, scattered around the store. I kind of like the design, fits the environment.


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[Kuoppis]

The people that can afford the Phantom, will want one for a second system, kitchen, etc.

Living room system for background music with guests. Good WAF.


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[Mike]

Living room system for background music with guests. Good WAF.


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My wife likes our Phantom. She can quickly switch over to it from her phone and be listening to her playlist from Tidal.

I sell a few to people wanting them for their office.

 

[wisnon]

Living room system for background music with guests. Good WAF.


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True, an expensive lifestyle play for the more well heeled...or as furniture for the right decor. At 3K to $5K a pair, it is not mass market.

Major worry for the will be the Wireless active KEF LS50 at $2200 a pair...throw on a great Magellan sub for $800 and for $3K, you have something with genuine audiophile pretentions for a bit more than half of what the Gold Phantom sells for. http://tbisound.com/dsp_products_subwmagvisu.asp


I though that the Phantoms would be a shoe in for nightclubs, given that you can wirelessly connect up to 32 of them in the Dialog network. Silver can do max 105db (EU legal maximum) and Gold can do 108db. They would be cheaper than a Pro setup as the bulk pricing and DIYsetup ability should cut the cost in 2 or 3. HOWEVER in speaking with 2 pro-audio gurus from 2 famous companies you would all know, they said the Wireless would not be commercially stable enuff and wired would get messy (costs savings severely eaten into) and the other thing is the actual sound pressure. In a club setting they would definitely NOT pressurize the salons enuff, no matter what the dbs are in the specs. I have to defer to 2 independent voices of reason.

 

[wisnon]

My wife likes our Phantom. She can quickly switch over to it from her phone and be listening to her playlist from Tidal.

I sell a few to people wanting them for their office.

I can easily see them in a chic mod decor Manhatten penthouse, for example.

 

[Kuoppis]

Yes, that's the Harrods type of setting.

In my case my wife asked me not to stack rectangular metal boxes in the living room and to get something very modern. Fits the bill.


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[wisnon]

:woot::yahoo1::congrats:

 

[wisnon]

La concurrence: https://www.amazon.com/KEF-LS50-Wir...2?ie=UTF8&qid=1481047961&sr=8-2&keywords=ls50

 

[Kuoppis]

Like the Kefs, but I guess those would have been too traditional shape for the missus.


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[wisnon]

If you can, then get the Gold. SQ is up a notch over the Siver.

 

[Smile]

Yes, and that is precisely the reason why Devialet has raised the money. They essentially want to do four things:


1. Innovate. They want to take technology we are seeing in Phantom, miniaturise and de-cost it without impacting sound quality and market the resulting product(s) with a price tag which is more palatable for the common man.


2. Double their R&D team from current 60 headcount to around 120 by mid-2017 to drive innovation and product development.


3. Get into new markets – by delivering higher quality sound for consumer devices such as televisions, mobile phones, laptops and car audio.


4. Significantly expand their retail presence with their own Devialet branded retail storefronts

Four years later, has any of this come to pass?
What's up with Devialet?
They continue upgrading their 'audiophile' integrateds.

 

[NekoAudio]

Devialet's business has been growing in their Phantom line, and through some partnerships.

 

[bernardl]

They are also releasing very innovative ear buds.

 

[NekoAudio]

There's a 2-page ad for Devialet's Expert Pro in the latest issue of Stereophile.