Talk:Devialet

Hi, I’m a Devialet employee and I’ve noticed that this page not only has some problems that are noted in the warning box at the top of the article, but is also in need of some updates. I have suggestions for fixing those problems, so the box can be removed, and help bring the page up-to-date. Thanks.

1. Please change the name of the present “Company History” section to “History”. This is in keeping with the standard format for companies. .

2. The first paragraph of the present “Company History” section has unreliable sourcing, instances of inappropriate or confusing language and excessive detail.

Current version (for reference):

Devialet initially got its start in 2004 when co-founder and engineer, Pierre-Emmanuel Calmel, invented his Analog Digital Hybrid (ADH) technology (which is now in every Devialet product). Calmel offered the technology to his then-employer Nortel, but, when they declined, he quit his job to focus on making a working prototype. Three years later he had developed an amplifier prototype using the technology. Calmel was later joined by Quentin Sannié, Emmanuel Nardin when he launched Devialet in Paris in 2007.^[1][2] Sannié served as the company's CEO^[3] with Calmel as CTO.^[4]

Suggested revision:

In 2004, engineer Pierre-Emmanuel Calmel, invented the Analog Digital Hybrid (ADH) audio technology that is the basis of Devialet’s products. Three years later, in 2007, he developed an amplifier prototype using the ADH technology, and founded Devialet along with Quentin Sannié and Emmanuel Nardin.^[1][2] At the company’s founding, Sannié served as CEO^[3] and Calmel as CTO.^[4]

3. The second paragraph in the current “Company History” section has excessive details and awkward phrasing.

Current version (for reference):

It was in 2010 that the company introduced its first product, an amplifier called "D-Premier."^[5] In 2010 and 2011, the company raised €2.9 million ($4.1 million) in funding from around 80 individual investors. In November 2012, it was announced that the company had raised an additional €15 million ($19 million) from an investor group led by Xavier Niel (Free), Jacques-Antoine Granjon (Vente-privee.com), Bernard Arnault (LVMH), and others.^[6]

Suggested revision:

Devialet introduced its first product to market, an amplifier called "D-Premier," in 2010.^[5] Between 2010 and 2012, Devialet raised over €17 million in funds from a variety of investors.^[6]

4. The fourth paragraph of the current “Company History” section contains promotional language and excessive details.

Current version (for reference):

In June 2016, the company released an upgraded "Gold Phantom" speaker with 4,500 watts of power that was capable of producing sound volumes of up to 108 decibels.^[7] Later that year, it announced an "Immersive Theater System" that would make use of several Gold Phantoms.^[8] Devialet continued updating their line of amplifiers (now known as "Expert"), and in late 2016 it introduced the Expert PRO amplifier as a high-end option.^[9] The company also opened an outlet store in New York City.^[10] In November 2016, Devialet raised €100 million ($106 million) in a funding round led by Ginko Ventures, Foxconn, Jay-Z's Roc Nation, Andy Rubin's Playground Global, Groupe Renault, the Sharp Corporation, and Korelya Capital among others.^[11]

Suggested revision:

Devialet released two new products in 2016: the "Gold Phantom" speaker capable of producing sound volumes of up to 108 decibels^[7] and the Expert PRO amplifier.^[9] In November 2016, Devialet raised €100 million in a funding round led by Foxconn,^[11] Jay-Z's Roc Nation, and other investors.^[12]

Since it’s paywalled, here’s the relevant passage from the Fortune piece:

That visceral reaction to powerful and precise sound—and the full-bodied, emotional experience that often goes with it—has earned the brand a coterie of loyal acolytes including musician will.i.am, French President Emmanuel Macron, and investors like Android founder Andy Rubin and rapper Jay-Z, who were among the supporters that pumped $106 million into the company’s 2016 Series C round.

5. The fifth paragraph of the current “Company History” section contains promotional language and excessive details, including references to products that better belong in the Products section. Also, the sentence about the Paris Opera was previously unsourced, so a new reliable source was added.

Current version (for reference):

In July 2017, Devialet announced a partnership with the British-based media company Sky, to create a sound system called the "Sky Soundbox."^[13] In October, it entered into a 10-year agreement with the Paris Opera to build a "sound discovery room" in the Palais Garnier. In November 2017, the company released an upgraded version of the original Phantom.^[14] The following month, it announced another partnership, this time with Renault to create a car audio system. It also demonstrated a prototype system in Renault's Symbioz concept car.^[15]

Suggested revision:

In July 2017, Devialet entered into a partnership with the British-based media company Sky to create a soundbar designed for televisions called the "Sky Soundbox."^[16][13] In October, it entered into a 10-year agreement with the Paris Opera to build a "sound discovery room" in the Palais Garnier.^[17] The company also entered into a partnership with Renault to build car audio systems and demonstrated a prototype version for Renault's SYMBIOZ concept car in December 2017.^[16][15]

6. The sixth and final paragraph of the current “Company History” section contains promotional language, excessive details and moves products that are better suited to the Products section. Also eliminates a marginal, jointly developed product from the article.

Current version (for reference):

In March 2018, Quentin Sannié stepped down as the company's CEO and was replaced by Frank Lebouchard, a move that had been planned months in advance.^[3] In October of that year, it announced the Phantom Reactor speaker.^[18] As of 2018, the company maintains 160 patents for its technologies.^[19] In November 2019, Devialet partners with Huawei and unveiled a new specifically designed speaker, the Sound X. ^[20] In January 2020, Devialet and Belkin jointly released hi-fi smart speaker/wireless phone charger, named the SOUNDFORM ELITE.^[21]

Suggested revision:

Quentin Sannié, who had been the CEO of Devialet from its foundation, stepped down from the role in March 2018 and was replaced by Frank Lebouchard.^[3]

7. The Products section has multiple issues. The suggested replacement eliminates promotional content; moves products previously in “Company History” to here; contains a few updates concerning new products widely covered in the press. It also contains a new “Audio Technologies” subsection that relocates existing content about audio technology. While technical, these systems are widely covered in the press and are related to multiple linked technical Wikipedia articles since the subject is of interest to a large number of audiophiles).

Products

Devialet produces a range of wireless speakers called "Phantom" along with a range of amplifiers known as "Expert Pro."^[2] The Phantom line is separated into two ranges, Phantom Premier and Phantom Reactor.^[18][14][22] The company also produces Gemini earbud wireless headphones^[23] and the company’s home cinema soundbar sound system, the Dione.^[24]

In 2017 Devialet and Sky jointly produced a soundbar.^[25] In February 2019, Devialet and Free jointly released a TV set-top box with Devialet speakers.^[26] In January 2020, Devialet introduced the Soundform Elite speaker/phone charger designed with Belkin.^[27]

Audio Technologies

Devialet devices use several audio technologies developed by the company. Analog Digital Hybrid (ADH)^[14] combines elements of analog amps (Class-A) and digital amps (Class-D), allowing for larger wattage and decibel peaks. Heart Bass Implosion (HBI) is a technology that provides broader coverage of low-frequency sounds^[28] and mimics the properties of a subwoofer.^[29] Speaker Active Matching (SAM) is a signal processing mechanism that analyzes and adjusts sounds in real-time to "reproduce the exact acoustic pressure recorded by the microphone." Active Co-Spherical Engine (ACE) refers to the spherical shape of some Devialet devices (namely, the Phantom speakers) is an acoustic architecture designed to deliver sound in every direction.^[28]

8. Please remove the warning label at the top of this article. The changes proposed above should remove the major problems noted in that box.

Thanks for considering this proposal. Beautreillis6698 (talk) 14:14, 19 July 2022 (UTC) Beautreillis6698 (talk) 14:14, 19 July 2022 (UTC)

@Beautreillis6698: Thanks for respecting WP:COI and taking the time to remove the promotional language. I'll remove the flag for now.

The History section has a history of different products, and then the Products section also has a history of different products. I'm not sure if there's a better way to organize that.

The audio technology terms like "Heart Bass Implosion" sound like marketing nonsense to me, but I guess it's neutral enough to say "this is how they market their tech". (My employer does the same thing...) — Omegatron (talk) 20:34, 24 September 2022 (UTC)