New Devialet Phantom Ultimate - listening impressions

[Johnnydev]

The 108db Ultimate sound truly phenomenal.

Compared to the previous series, these are truly high-end.

If you need room correction or to accommodate different tastes, this is fully customizable with the 6-band equalizer and the cinema/music/podcast options.

In one word: they are incredibly amazing!

Do you know if they support DIRAC room correction natively?  I've found that my phantoms really open up with DIRAC active in my rooms.

 No sorry, i’can’t help you

[ogs]

@njaiswal , @booshtukka  I asked Devialet Support about Ultimates. In the answer they said future "custom" versions will be based on the two Ultimate models, maybe during -26 (my speculation). The current Phantom II Custom has native Dante support so if the Ultimate Customs gets the same input module as the current Phantom II Custom, Dante should be supported.

@Johnnydev  is there any sign of a "Optical Direct" setting in the Ultimate app?

Thanks for checking ogs.  I'm not a big fan the customs because thats all they can do... so if my needs change then I can't convert the phantoms back to "normal" use... I guess the problem is integrating the Dante hardware on the speaker... that takes up real estate on the board so it may make sense for them to offer a custom version.  

Hopefully I can hear a pair the next time I'm in NYC...

The problem would be that the "normal" Phantoms does not have AES/EBU input and none of the Ultimates have analog inputs so this would not work for integrators.There is probably a good reason for Devialet to put Dante, AES/EBU / analog inputs on the Custom.

[struts]

Just running in my new pair of Phantom Ultimate 108dBs in Light Pearl on Tree stands.  Like many here I have been on the Phantom journey since the beginning.  I started with a pair of the original Phantom Classics (plus Dialog, remember them?) upon their first release in Jan 2015, then upgraded to Golds with the "Upgrade to Gold" campaign in Oct 2017, and those served me well for the intervening 7 years.  All three generations have served as a second system for my open plan kitchen/dining room and as such have proven to be by far the most used system in the house and the only one that is used by everyone.

Early days, as the speakers are still no doubt burning in, but some first impressions (I sold my Golds before taking delivery of my Ultimates so didn't get a chance to compare back-to-back):

• System set-up with the new app was problem-free but fixing the speakers to the Tree stands was extremely fiddly and required patience.  I can readily imagine people inadvertently damaging the woofer domes (or worse) while trying to mount them as they are round, slippery and very heavy relative to the stands.  I ended up sitting on a sofa with the speaker in my lap with the tweeter pointing down between my legs and the bottom facing away from me while my son held the tree in position and I gingerly held back the spring clip and tried to get the lugs to enagage.  Would probably be worth a Youtube video!  Once fixed however they are very stable and all is good.
  
• I am connecting over Wifi on a dedicated Wifi network (now switched to run at 5GHz, the Golds were 2.4GHz-only) and locked to the nearest access point which is 3m from and line-of-sight to both speakers.  System has proven rock solid on Spotify Connect (now at CD-resolution, yay!), as were the Golds.  The acid test will be stability with Roon/RAAT as this was problematic on the Golds with frequent dropouts and dropped streams.  Haven't had time to test that or higher resolution files yet.
  
• The new finish is really nice and the new (for me) "squashed" hand cream remote is much nicer than the old "tall" one.
  
• The rear buttons are a much easier push than the old ones with a nice tactile click and start-up from stand-by much quicker making Automatic Switch-off a viable setting now.  The family found waking the Golds so difficult (long press on a really stiff and indistinct button) and temperamental (sometimes only one would wake) that I abandoned it and went back to always on.
  
• Most importantly I like what I hear.  First impression is that the sound is smoother and more relaxing than the Golds but with a better resolution of fine detail such as timbre and decay tails.  However a caveat: the Ultimates are positioned on the long wall on Tree stands firing across the room towards the kitchen whereas the Golds sat on window sills on the short wall firing down the length of the room.  The latter positioning was probably far from ideal so undoubtedly not a fair comparison.
  

So, first impressions are positive.  Let's see how I feel after a couple of hundred hours of burn in.

[Johnnydev]

Placing the Phantom on the step isn't difficult.
Place the tree normally on the ground.
Place the Phantom in the correct position on the tree with your hands on the front and back of the bottom of the Phantom without touching the woofers. Pull the locking mechanism back, and the Phantom will lower into place on the tree. Release the locking mechanism, and it will be locked onto the tree.

To get optimal (high-end) sound from your Phantoms, it's definitely recommended to follow Devialet's instructions.
Placing them on a windowsill or something similar will never maximize their (high-end) potential. 

For optimal Phantom Ultimate 108 dB positioning, place speakers on stands 45-90 cm high and keep the area in front of them clear. Position the speakers 1.5 to 2.5 meters apart and angled 25 to 30 degrees inward toward your listening area, which should be 1.5 to 2.5 meters away from the speakers. Maintain a distance of at least 15 cm from the sides of the speakers to the sides to avoid interference with the woofers. 

To get even more (high-end) potential from your pantom’s, it's important that your streamer, modem, and switch provide the clearest and clean possible signal. I've put a lot of effort into this, and with fantastic results.

De phantoms ultimate 108db give’s then a much better sound quality!

[Dvlt PhD]

I actually really like the color.

At first glance, you'd hardly notice any difference with the black version. But when you see them side by side, you really see the green tint, and it softens the black a bit. Very chic.

In bright light, you can see the green more, but luckily, with my set, it doesn't show up as with some of the online photos; otherwise, I wouldn't have bought them

Thanks   Your feedback helps a lot.

[Dvlt PhD]

The 108db Ultimate sound truly phenomenal.

Compared to the previous series, these are truly high-end.

If you need room correction or to accommodate different tastes, this is fully customizable with the 6-band equalizer and the cinema/music/podcast options.

In one word: they are incredibly amazing!

Wow… that’s good to hear. Thanks!

[Tubby]

@Johnnydev

I have a pair of Gold 108db - is the difference for rock music, bands like Oasis and Foo Fighters - much better? I found the 108db gave me ear fatigue with rock music but was fantastic for dance music.

Also has anyone tried them as a TV speaker?

[Johnnydev]

@Johnnydev

I have a pair of Gold 108db - is the difference for rock music, bands like Oasis and Foo Fighters - much better? I found the 108db gave me ear fatigue with rock music but was fantastic for dance music.

Also has anyone tried them as a TV speaker?

For me the ultimates are better and more accurate across the entire frequency range.
If something isn’t to your liking in your living room, you can subtly adjust it with the 6 band equalizer.
Even at low volume settings the music sounds full and complete! 
I can’t judge whether it’s suitable for your ears