An All In One Statement From Devialet
The Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98dB is one of the most complete single object hi-fi experiences you can bring into a room. It is a fully active wireless speaker, which means the amplification, the DAC and the streaming are all built into that unmistakable sculpted enclosure. There is no separate amplifier to buy, no outboard DAC to shop for and no streamer to connect. You unbox it, place it, connect it to your network and you are listening.
What makes that possible is Devialet's ADH, the Analog Digital Hybrid amplification the French company is known for. Rather than choosing between the warmth of analog and the efficiency of digital, ADH combines them inside the Phantom. The result is a great deal of clean power packed into a compact, self-contained design.
The Technology Inside
ADH Amplification and the Sealed Enclosure
The Phantom Ultimate 98dB uses a sealed, pressurized enclosure. That construction is central to how the speaker plays low frequencies with authority from something so compact. The front aluminum-dome driver handles the midrange and treble, while twin lateral aluminum bass drivers create Devialet's signature Heart Bass Implosion, or HBI. Those side-firing woofers move in perfect opposition, canceling vibration while pressurizing the room with bass. This is why a Phantom can produce such physical low end without walking across the shelf.
Speaker Active Matching (SAM)
Because Devialet designs both the drivers and the amplification together, the Phantom uses Speaker Active Matching, or SAM, to keep the signal true to the recording. The rated frequency response reaches from about 18Hz to 25kHz, and the speaker delivers up to 98dB SPL at one meter. That combination of deep extension and useful output is a big part of the Phantom's appeal in real rooms.
Streaming and Connectivity Built In
Streaming is native. The Phantom Ultimate 98dB supports AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Roon Ready and UPnP over Wi-Fi, plus Bluetooth for quick casual listening. There is also an optical and analog input if you want to connect a source directly. Everything is managed through the Devialet app, where you can run the speaker as a mono unit, as a stereo pair or as part of a multiroom system.
Sound Character and Ideal Room
The Phantom Ultimate 98dB is finished in a premium matte and is voiced to be full bodied, clean and surprisingly large sounding for its footprint. A single unit fills small to medium rooms comfortably, making it a natural fit for a living room, a study, a bedroom or an open kitchen space where you want serious music reproduction without a rack of components and a tangle of cables.
If you crave a wider soundstage and true left and right separation, a stereo pair transforms the experience. Two Phantoms create a spacious, immersive image that belies how tidy the setup remains. Many listeners start with one and add a second later, which the Devialet app makes straightforward.
Where It Sits in the Range
Within the Phantom Ultimate line, the 98dB model is the more compact, room-friendly choice. Its sibling, the Devialet Phantom Ultimate 108dB, steps up to greater output with up to 108dB SPL, higher rated power and a titanium tweeter, which suits larger rooms or listeners who want maximum headroom and volume. Neither is simply better than the other; the 98dB is about elegant, high-performance sound in a size that works almost anywhere, while the 108dB is built to pressurize bigger spaces with more sheer level. If your room is small to medium and you want a beautifully complete active speaker, the 98dB is often the ideal landing spot.
Setup and Accessories
Placement matters with the Phantom, and Devialet makes accessories sized specifically to this model. The Tree Phantom Ultimate 98dB floor stand raises the speaker to an ideal listening height and gives it a striking, purpose-built presence in the room. If you prefer to mount to a wall, the Gecko Phantom Ultimate 98dB is the matched wall mount that keeps the installation clean and secure. Both are matched to the 98dB, so they fit precisely.
For tactile control on the couch, the Devialet Phantom Remote lets you adjust volume, play and pause and manage sources without reaching for your phone. It is a small addition that makes daily listening more enjoyable.
One important note: the Phantom Ultimate 98dB never needs a separate amplifier, DAC or streamer. It is complete on its own. The stands and remote are the accessories that finish the setup, and a second Phantom is the natural upgrade path for stereo.
How It Compares to Other Active Speakers
If you are weighing your options, it helps to think in terms of design goal and use case rather than ranking. The Phantom Ultimate 98dB is a single-object, room-pressurizing statement with Devialet ADH amplification and the distinctive HBI bass system. For those who want a traditional stereo pair with a more conventional bookshelf form, the Klipsch The Fives II, Klipsch The Sevens II and larger Klipsch The Nines II Powered Speakers offer the horn-loaded Klipsch character across a range of sizes. If your priority is a compact streaming stereo pair, the Cambridge Audio L/R M and the more advanced Cambridge Audio L/R X deliver active stereo streaming in a two-speaker layout. The Phantom's distinction is that iconic sealed-enclosure design, the omnidirectional-feeling bass and the ability to start with one unit and grow into a stereo or multiroom system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98dB sit in the range?
Within the Phantom Ultimate line, the 98dB model is the more compact, room-friendly choice. Its sibling, the Devialet Phantom Ultimate 108dB , steps up to greater output with up to 108dB SPL, higher rated power and a titanium tweeter, which suits larger rooms or listeners who want maximum headroom and volume.
How does the Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98dB compare to the alternatives?
If you are weighing your options, it helps to think in terms of design goal and use case rather than ranking. The Phantom Ultimate 98dB is a single-object, room-pressurizing statement with Devialet ADH amplification and the distinctive HBI bass system.
Come Listen
AEA is an authorized Devialet dealer with a showroom in Timonium, Maryland. Demo units rotate, so if you would like to hear the Phantom Ultimate 98dB, compare it with a stereo pair or talk through the right stand and setup for your room, please contact us to arrange a listen or for help choosing.