Does Devialet produce "alive" music?

[Damon]

As many of us I do have lots of audiophile test recordings and I did not get realistic live present vocals/voices on any of them. Somehow, the instruments sound more real and present, like drums, guitars, but not vocals. 

I'm in sort of a detached phase about hifi and music, so that is colouring my mood here, but I think part of the problem, or a factor here, is the 'test record' approach. If all we do is put on one test cut after another, we end up not listening to the music. And all our listening becomes critical and searching and ... desperate somehow. I know because I've done it. I have friends who do nothing but this. There is no possible route to any kind of satisfaction this way. IMHO, of course. Certainly it drives my wife crazy. 10 seconds of this one, fuss with the cables, 10 seconds of the same song, then 20 seconds of something else. Fuss around, break something, find something else to adjust, knock over wine glass, change power cables, find new 'test cut'. Ack. See new avatar pic. That is what happens.

A few weeks ago, I went to a system demo of Wilson audio, with DCS and new Audio Research amps etc. The cabling alone was probably $30K in a system that I'd guess was bumping $220,000.00. Was it amazing? Well, yes, but not in a 'knock you off your feet' sort of way. Big, smooth, deep; all good things. A knowledgeable friend, with a wonderful system, commented that it sounded 'a bit boring'. Was it 'alive' or lifelike? Yes, and no. It was wonderful reproduction, but it did not sound like a piano, or Diana or somebody else's double bass was in the room. It just reproduced the recording, and did a great job of it. A big room, filled with people and sound.

As others have said, the recording quality, and mastering, is so important. An mp3 at 320 whatever units they use can sound great. If a system makes every recording sound the same, then it is not giving you the truth. But that may also be a great way to listen if you get more enjoyment.