Devialet Astra: Elevating sound with French artistry

At the launch of the Devialet Astra, Chief Executive Officer Jacques Demont described it as a way to "honor the past and build the future." He believes this phrase perfectly connects the new Devialet Astra with the brand's story.

"I have always been impressed by our customers and what our company has developed. As I mentioned this morning, my first experience with the product was just amazing, and I still remember it vividly. It's exactly the same for our customers. We need to keep up with the evolution of customer demands because it's no longer the same in our sector," Jacques Demont told Tatler Thailand.

"But I think everywhere, consumer habits are really different. And I think it is my job as CEO to set the direction for the future. This is what we are trying to build now with Kamel Ouadi, our new CMO, especially for Millennials and Generation Z, because they have different needs. I think our products need to be much more technical and linked to AI and connectivity. For me, this is just the beginning of the story. My ambition is for our products to do everything, now with specialization, analyzing the space, immersive sound, all these kinds of new technologies. This is the future of our company, and that is what we showcase in the Devialet Astra."

Meanwhile, Kamel Ouadi, Chief Marketing Officer of Devialet, remarked, "The idea with this launch is to bring back the Astra to the world. We are revisiting our heritage and bringing it into the future. We reconnect what makes us so special with the world of today, and this is why it’s so marvelous. Along the way, we are also upgrading many things. We challenge ourselves on the design, we recharge ourselves. On the technical side, we have many more possibilities, enabling the customer experience to be much smoother and easier. Because with the technology designed 15 years ago, today everything is in the cloud. So, I think every luxury brand needs to understand its roots, and the magic is making it relevant for the world of today."

A Statement of High Technology

Devialet is dedicated to delivering vibrant sound emotions to listeners, similar to the experience of a live performance. The sensation that makes our bodies move and our hearts beat in rhythm. Devialet's engineering team aims to create sound with precise detail and deep emotional connection.

For over 15 years, nearly 100 engineers and designers from various fields in Paris have pushed the boundaries of audio development. To date, they have obtained over 250 patents for Devialet's innovations across all aspects of sound, including audio engineering, electronics, signal processing, mechanics, and new manufacturing processes. These patented technologies make Devialet unique and create a distinctive sound for their products, meticulously crafted to deliver a diverse listening experience.

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Fifteen years ago, Devialet designers revolutionized the world of high-end amplifiers with the launch of the D-Premier, featuring cutting-edge ADH technology. This legacy is continued and refined in the Devialet Astra, which embraces a minimalist design inspired by Art Deco, known for its fusion of advanced techniques with emotional lines. Devialet's engineers and designers collaborated to create an amplifier with simplicity and seamlessness at its core.

​​“The object had to participate in the emotion of the music.” said Emmanuel Nardin, co-founder and Chief Design Officer of Devialet. “What makes the Devialet Astra so unique is not just its unmatched performance. It's the combination of this with a design of great simplicity, inspired by the timeless aesthetics of the Art deco movement. This simplicity is the result of meticulous attention to detail, with engineers and designers tirelessly redefining the standards for design."

Cutting-Edge Mastery

As previously mentioned, the Devialet Astra is packed with cutting-edge technologies, including the renowned ADH (Analog Digital Hybrid), which is Devialet’s legacy technology. This technology controls linearity (the relationship between the amount of input and output) and the detailed analog amplification (Class A), combined with the power and compactness of digital amplification (Class D). Additionally, the optimized power distribution and thermal management allow it to achieve highly precise and detailed high frequencies, making the amplifier capable of supporting Hi-Res audio

Additionally, the SAM (Speaker Active Matching) technology optimizes the audio signal to match the specific characteristics of passive speakers, preserving the unique sound signature of each speaker in real-time. By analyzing data from up to 1,200 passive speakers, this cutting-edge technology ensures smooth signal processing, tailoring the recorded audio to align with the speaker’s sound pressure. The result is an even more powerful and dynamic bass response.

Two other noteworthy technologies are RAM (Record Active Matching) and DAC - Magic Wire. RAM ensures precise EQ adjustments, as well as a fully adjustable phono stage to match the unique characteristics of turntables. Meanwhile, DAC - Magic Wire integrates the digital-to-analog converter (DAC) into the heart of the ADH amplifier. This innovative technology reduces the analog signal path to just 5 centimeters, minimizing signal loss and ensuring superior audio quality.

Tailored Perfection

The Devialet Astra offers customization tailored to your music listening preferences, settings, and tastes, utilizing the new Devialet DOS3 operating system. This system is designed to support all current and future Devialet products, integrating them into a unified ecosystem and interface. Additionally, the Devialet Astra supports connections with AirPlay, Google Cast, Roon Ready, Spotify Connect, Tidal, and UPnP, along with the latest wireless technologies like WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3, ensuring versatile and stable usage.

Moreover, it offers easy configuration to match every audiophile's preferences, from input selection, volume control, phono stage settings, stereo balance adjustment, dual-band equalizer, power settings, and even screen brightness. This application acts as a control hub, accessible from your smartphone or tablet, and can be updated as Devialet rolls out new versions.

Devialet Opéra National de Paris, a True Audio Masterpiece

Seven years ago, Devialet partnered with Opéra National de Paris, sharing a vision of excellence and dedication to preserving France's musical and historical heritage. This collaboration between culture and advanced technology continues to flourish, exemplified by the creation of the special Devialet Opéra de Paris collection. Among these is the Devialet Astra, meticulously crafted by gilders from Les Ateliers Gohard, using 23-karat gold leaf applied by hand. The result is a product of extraordinary elegance and timeless beauty, allowing you to experience the powerful sound of the opera within your home.

Jacques Demont concluded by discussing Devialet's market expansion plans, particularly in Asia: "Our company focuses on three key regions. First and foremost is China, followed by the United States, and then the United Arab Emirates. We have recently opened our first boutiques in Taiwan and Central Chidlom, Bangkok, Thailand. We see immense growth potential in these markets. People love technology, love French brands, look at the success of French brands in China. I know it might be challenging at first, but it’s always like that, but we must grow in these regions. It’s not just about opening stores; it’s about creating an exceptional experience at every Devialet store, allowing customers to truly experience the sound quality. That’s why it’s essential for us to have listening rooms in all Devialet stores."

Kamel Ouadi added, "Devialet is a luxury brand, but more importantly, it is an experiential brand. For music lovers, they want to feel the sound. We see the bridge between the soul of an artist and the heart of a music lover. We are in this incredible place where we provide the best sound in the world, connecting with every kind of music lover all over the globe."

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