Phantom Ultimate 98 vs Phantom 1 103

[McG]

I have a choice of buying the new Ultimate 98's minus 15% or a pair of 2022 used 103's which look in perfect condition. Going in a smaller room. The 103's will end up being about $500 cheaper. What do you guys think? I currently have a pair of Silvers.

[Johnnydev]

I have a choice of buying the new Ultimate 98's minus 15% or a pair of 2022 used 103's which look in perfect condition. Going in a smaller room. The 103's will end up being about $500 cheaper. What do you guys think? I currently have a pair of Silvers.

If I where you i would go for the 98db ultimate, they are completely adjustable to your own taste, and in mine opinion the surpass the 103db in terms of sound quality.

I was at a demo of the 98 and 108db ultimates, and next to me sat a man who owned the 103db. He was also there for that demo, but for the 108db ultimates.
After the demo, he traded in the 103db’s and went home with two 98db’s ultimates.

See:

https://audiofile.nl/devialet-phantom-ul...ep-forest/

https://audiofile.nl/devialet-phantom-ul...ep-forest/

[scotthar]

thats tricky but i think i would go with the ultimate 98s over anything but a pair of golds.  id look at it as - what source you want to use - and - the space you want to fill - for what purpose - how much room do you have to put them and what kind of space do they need to fill?  do you care about using an ARCH or Dialog or not. (or Multiroom)...

The Ultimate 98s are VERY VERY good but would not replace my Gold 108s for filling up the same room for focused music listening. 

though i do think i would replace my silvers with the 98s just because they are so much smaller if nothing else.  
but i use them differently, the silvers are for 'open space' - where the golds are in the media room listening position.
the 98s a 'ultimate' 'computer speakers' for me. i run the optical off the hdmi output eliminates the rest of that sandworm tunneling through a quagmire of devices.
the 98s are not quite in exactly the right position - and have found - position really makes all of the difference but.
unless i focus or check sometimes not sure which one is playing the golds or the ultimate 98.
however...
the golds are nice and full and the punches are full and relaxed 
where the ultimate 98s sound just a bit more compressed and forward. 
ive not put them side by side with the phantom i silver but looking forward to trying it. 
its going to be real close i think...