Sound And Vision

The future of sound goes beyond the listening experience, says Jacques Demont, CEO of pioneering French audio engineering house, Devialet.

- Alvin Wong

THE SOUND QUALITY was never in doubt. Inside the unambiguously named Listening Room at Devialet’s new flagship store at Grand Hyatt Singapore—a cosy, cushioned space lined with the French company’s top-shelf speakers, channelling audio signals through its latest Astra integrated amplifier—I put Daft Punk’s Get Lucky through its paces, followed by Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins, played on a Stradivarius for extra effect.

The music, even to untrained ears, sounded exceptionally crisp and balanced. The mix of high and low frequencies was just right, and the three-dimensional soundscapes (‘sound staging’ in audiophile-speak) were deeply immersive. Close your eyes and you could tune in to any instrument you wished—it would be there, teasing out intricate melodies that invite you to really listen and enjoy the music.