- Devialet launches two Phantom Ultimate models, and a special edition too
- All the streaming: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay, Spotify, Tidal, Roon and more
- Up to 1,100W of hi-res audio
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French audio specialist Devialet has launched two new models of its famed Phantom speaker, which it says represents “the pinnacle of luxury audio engineering”.
The new models are the flagship Ultimate 108dB, which is $3,800 (about £2,800 / AU$5,700), and the more affordable (relatively speaking) Ultimate 98dB, which is $1,900 (£1,400 / AU$2,850). There’s also an even more luxurious $4,300 / $2,400 Opéra de Paris edition of each Ultimate speaker that’s accented with 22-karat gold leaf.
Both models have a slightly different design to the original Phantom: the woofer core cover is absent, and there’s a new tweeter grille with an optimized aperture. Devialet says that alone took six months of research and “countless iterations”.
We’re used to interesting design from Devialet, but what’s really interesting about the new Phantoms compared to the old models, or the best wireless speakers in general, is what’s inside.
The Phantoms and the Opéra are here
The Phantom speakers come with an avalanche of acronyms: ADH, SAM, HBI and AVL.
ADH is short for analog digital hybrid, and it combines Class A and Class D amplification with an improved algorithm to bring the best of both worlds, offering frequencies up to 35kHz on the Ultimate 108dB.
SAM stands for speaker active matching, which monitors the drivers in real time to optimize audio reproduction.
My favorite is the faintly frightening-sounding HBI, which is heart bass implosion: it’s “a suite of multiphysics innovations” that drops the low end down to an exceptionally low 14Hz.
And finally AVL, adaptive volume level, first appeared in the Devialet Dione soundbar and automatically adjusts volume based on content type.
They’re all handled by a new MXP i.MX 8M processor that Devialet says delivers “advanced audio processing with enhanced energy efficiency and optimized performance.”
In terms of specs, you’re looking at a frequency range of 14Hz to 35kHz and 1,100W of amplification in the Ultimate 108dB and 18Hz to 25kHz with 400W in the Ultimate 98dB. Both models have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, UPnP and are Roon Ready.
The Phantom Ultimate 98dB is available now and the 108dB is available for pre-order.
