24-Nov-2018, 20:08
(This post was last modified: 24-Nov-2018, 20:15 by Hifi_swlon.)
Popped into Westfield’s White City this week - which I normally try and avoid - and walked past the Devialet ‘store’ so thought I’d check out the Reactor.
The shop was tiny - I remember it being bigger maybe they’ve moved or redesigned - like 5 people were in there and it was hard to enter the glass box with three staff. Someone was already listening to a Silver and there was a queue so I lasted as long as I could with a 2 year old (about 5 mins!) and left without hearing.
I was left with one main impression:
In that shop anyway, Devialet offer a terrible retail experience! A room unlikely to even remotely show off the hardware, cramped, and a bit intimidating with three staff right on top of you. Nothing was setup remotely stereo, you just had to hover by whatever was playing. Ok, it doesn’t have to be audiophile but the Golds are a few thousand each and a pair of reactors is £2000, they should make an effort to show them off. No experts were on display whereas previously they had one. Maybe there was a demo room behind I’m not sure v
The man crammed by the door was telling a member of staff his three Golds all had to be returned faulty (I didn’t catch the detail) and were replaced. He praised customer service but was disappointed in them build wise.
Couldn’t gauge the single Silver at all, it honestly could have been any speaker playing.
I hoped to learn about timescales for stereo but all the staff were nodding their heads as if enjoying the music and didn’t seem that interested so I didn’t bother.
I really wonder how many they sell from their stores. Way less than they could with a better environment’s my guess. Or maybe they’re just for ‘show’ for brand awareness. Taking an apple store type concept and minimising it for Phantoms is not a recipe for success IMO.
The Reactor was of interest but based on that experience I’ll wait until they’re in a hifi shop to listen.
The shop was tiny - I remember it being bigger maybe they’ve moved or redesigned - like 5 people were in there and it was hard to enter the glass box with three staff. Someone was already listening to a Silver and there was a queue so I lasted as long as I could with a 2 year old (about 5 mins!) and left without hearing.
I was left with one main impression:
In that shop anyway, Devialet offer a terrible retail experience! A room unlikely to even remotely show off the hardware, cramped, and a bit intimidating with three staff right on top of you. Nothing was setup remotely stereo, you just had to hover by whatever was playing. Ok, it doesn’t have to be audiophile but the Golds are a few thousand each and a pair of reactors is £2000, they should make an effort to show them off. No experts were on display whereas previously they had one. Maybe there was a demo room behind I’m not sure v
The man crammed by the door was telling a member of staff his three Golds all had to be returned faulty (I didn’t catch the detail) and were replaced. He praised customer service but was disappointed in them build wise.
Couldn’t gauge the single Silver at all, it honestly could have been any speaker playing.
I hoped to learn about timescales for stereo but all the staff were nodding their heads as if enjoying the music and didn’t seem that interested so I didn’t bother.
I really wonder how many they sell from their stores. Way less than they could with a better environment’s my guess. Or maybe they’re just for ‘show’ for brand awareness. Taking an apple store type concept and minimising it for Phantoms is not a recipe for success IMO.
The Reactor was of interest but based on that experience I’ll wait until they’re in a hifi shop to listen.
>>> 1st Place Award: Devialet, last decades most disappointing technology purchase. <<<
