Dear all,
before jumping on me for daring to compare....i'd like a comparison vs. a comparable Sonos set-up, which would be two Play 5s (two of their biggest speakers paired together) and their Sub (which sounds very good). The price of that set-up is basically exactly the same of getting one Phantom.
I'm pretty sure Sonos wins hands-down on software, ease of use, etc. so i'm actually asking for sound quality opinion. I am actually worried about the software side that i think i would control the Devialet through the Sonos app, using the Devialet as a speaker. I'm not positive at all about the Spark app, it can take years for a company to reach an adequate technical level on that stuff.
The question for me is, how would you think they'd compare? Im considering the Phantom for my 50 square meter living room, right now i have an old and basic set-up. Devialet is honestly a bit over-the-top on pr and marketing jargon, and i'd like some real world opinions.
I am very educated in music but i am NOT an audiophile, for me high quality streamed music from on line services is more than fine.
I obviously will try to hear by myself as soon as possible...but i'm not yet giving into the 45 days trial as i know myself...
(02-Oct-2015, 18:35)Vannibombonato Wrote: [ -> ]I have 14 Sonos units in my house, I am also a beta tester for them and tested the newest Sonos Play:5 that was announced this week and have it sitting in my office next to a pair of Phantom's that I also own. I have not done an exhaustive test with two Play:5's and a sub but I have done limited testing switching back and forth between the new Sonos Play:5/Encore and my Phantom but I am happy to share my quick .02.
Basically the Phantom sounds A LOT BETTER. It has more dynamic range, overall sound stage clarity and amplification/power. All of this sound fidelity contrast between the two units is immediately obvious when playing the same source (in my case, a 320kb/s AAC stream through Spark client on Mac connected to everything via WiFi (not bluetooth).
Hands down, the Sonos wins all day long on software and all that it entails. Ease of use, versatility of services and sources, how polished the experience is. But the Phantom sounds better (as it should, it costs a lot more).
I still switch back and forth and use both my Sonos setup and my Phantom setup frequently throughout the day. I prefer the Sonos due to the number of services that I can stream from and it's rock solid reliability and ease of use. But I like the way that the Phantom's sound better so I also use them when I feel like it and have the opportunity to play them real loud.
>>
Dear all,
before jumping on me for daring to compare....i'd like a comparison vs. a comparable Sonos set-up, which would be two Play 5s (two of their biggest speakers paired together) and their Sub (which sounds very good). The price of that set-up is basically exactly the same of getting one Phantom.
I'm pretty sure Sonos wins hands-down on software, ease of use, etc. so i'm actually asking for sound quality opinion. I am actually worried about the software side that i think i would control the Devialet through the Sonos app, using the Devialet as a speaker. I'm not positive at all about the Spark app, it can take years for a company to reach an adequate technical level on that stuff.
The question for me is, how would you think they'd compare? Im considering the Phantom for my 50 square meter living room, right now i have an old and basic set-up. Devialet is honestly a bit over-the-top on pr and marketing jargon, and i'd like some real world opinions.
I am very educated in music but i am NOT an audiophile, for me high quality streamed music from on line services is more than fine.
I obviously will try to hear by myself as soon as possible...but i'm not yet giving into the 45 days trial as i know myself...
(02-Oct-2015, 18:35)Vannibombonato Wrote: [ -> ]Dear all,
before jumping on me for daring to compare....i'd like a comparison vs. a comparable Sonos set-up, which would be two Play 5s (two of their biggest speakers paired together) and their Sub (which sounds very good). The price of that set-up is basically exactly the same of getting one Phantom.
I'm pretty sure Sonos wins hands-down on software, ease of use, etc. so i'm actually asking for sound quality opinion. I am actually worried about the software side that i think i would control the Devialet through the Sonos app, using the Devialet as a speaker. I'm not positive at all about the Spark app, it can take years for a company to reach an adequate technical level on that stuff.
The question for me is, how would you think they'd compare? Im considering the Phantom for my 50 square meter living room, right now i have an old and basic set-up. Devialet is honestly a bit over-the-top on pr and marketing jargon, and i'd like some real world opinions.
I am very educated in music but i am NOT an audiophile, for me high quality streamed music from on line services is more than fine.
I obviously will try to hear by myself as soon as possible...but i'm not yet giving into the 45 days trial as i know myself...
Yeah don't go for the trial if you aren't sure
Because you will be when you get them :)
Who in their right mind wouldn't want 2 robots as their hifi??
Can't compare with Sonos sorry so shouldn't even be posting
Sad life that I lead!
(02-Oct-2015, 18:55)riozilla Wrote: [ -> ] (02-Oct-2015, 18:35)Vannibombonato Wrote: [ -> ]I have 14 Sonos units in my house, I am also a beta tester for them and tested the newest Sonos Play:5 that was announced this week and have it sitting in my office next to a pair of Phantom's that I also own. I have not done an exhaustive test with two Play:5's and a sub but I have done limited testing switching back and forth between the new Sonos Play:5/Encore and my Phantom but I am happy to share my quick .02.
Basically the Phantom sounds A LOT BETTER. It has more dynamic range, overall sound stage clarity and amplification/power. All of this sound fidelity contrast between the two units is immediately obvious when playing the same source (in my case, a 320kb/s AAC stream through Spark client on Mac connected to everything via WiFi (not bluetooth).
Hands down, the Sonos wins all day long on software and all that it entails. Ease of use, versatility of services and sources, how polished the experience is. But the Phantom sounds better (as it should, it costs a lot more).
I still switch back and forth and use both my Sonos setup and my Phantom setup frequently throughout the day. I prefer the Sonos due to the number of services that I can stream from and it's rock solid reliability and ease of use. But I like the way that the Phantom's sound better so I also use them when I feel like it and have the opportunity to play them real loud.
Thanks for sharing.
I understand you are making a comparison between the Phantom and ONE Play5, correct?
Because there is a world of difference in the Sonos performance when you insert their sub, and another smaller increase when the main speakers become 2.
Thanks a lot.
PS
Regarding software, i think i would absolutely just use a Sonos connect (already have it) and do everything via Sonos, treating the Phantom just as a zone.
Vannibombonato,
I have only heard the phantom briefly, but I have and use a Sonos Connect at home. I recently added a Connect:Amp to run the speakers in the kitchen (which were previously connected to my D120 through an impedance-matching multi-speaker connector box from QED).
With respect to Sonos, it is nowhere near the SQ of the Phantom, or the Expert series. I frankly am thinking of selling the amp and spending the money on a new multi-speaker swathing box. The class D Sonos amp is fine for some, but I find it pale; it lacks the dynamics and tonal colour of the D120 or Phantom.
And while the Sonos interface is good, as you know it is limited in the user interface that some services such as Deezer and Spotify license to Sonos, so you don't get the full functionality of some streaming services from within Sonos as you do get if you use the dedicated service app. It is just that the Application Programming Interface that Sonos has is not the 'full meal deal'. I have also found the Sonos connectivity to be less stellar than their advertising and reputation suggests.
Dialogue and Spark may be in the developing stages, but having heard the Phantom, I would rather live with the growing pains than the mediocre sound quality of Sonos.
Thanks for the reply, i think the only real solution is go find a store and listen to it.
I've actually found one in my city (Milan), but i'm worried it will be a listening done in controlled environment, and even Bose sounds great there....
I think it will end like this: i'll go, i'll like it, and i'll order one mid November. Then i'll make my return / not return decision right before Christmas, and guess what i'll do...my wife will kill me.
Because my real question is...do you actually need two of these things??? I certainly dont want to shell out 2k euros and find myself with a mono experience.
I recently received my 2 Silver phantoms and the dialog. I used just one of them for the first 3 days... mono experience. The sound was amazing - clarity, enveloping sound and depth in the sound stage was quite prominent. Though wherever i placed the phantom in the room, i could pinpoint where the sound was coming from. I set up the second one with the dialog today. All i can say is, if you are getting the phantom, get 2 of them. With the 2 phantoms in tandom, the way the phantoms disappear from the pic and let the sound float around is awesome. I absolutely enjoyed the entire evening listening to the phantoms in Stereo.
Well Vannibombonato, once you get it, the first few days you will have a hard time listening to music, the woofer dance of the phantoms are mesmerizingly hypnotic. You could use that aspect to ensure your wife lets you lead to a long and happy life which includes the ownership of the phantom(s).
I have used Sonos, in various forms for about 7 years. I have recently purchased two white Phantoms as an upgrade to my conventional system (amp and two floorstanders). The sound quality improvement is way beyond my expectation - it makes my S5 sound dull in comparison.
The Sonos software has been polished over many years and is solid and easy to use. The Phantom/Dialog/Spark software has been available for less than a year and is improving with each update. Hopefully it will become equal to that of Sonos after a few years.
Phantoms are able to play high resolution sound whereas it appears highly unlikely that Sonos will, in its present form, will be able to deal with any format beyond CD quality.
Summary: Sonos is good, well established and safe; Phantoms may be a bit of a risk, have great sound, and if everything works out for them, be the future of HiFi.
Hi
I Own three Sonos including 2 zp and one connect Amp. One of the zp is connected to a Rotel stereo Amp for the dining room and Kitchen...
I'm also a proud owner of 3 silver phantoms... Two as stereo and one mono in my study...
Believe me.. It is clearly unfair to try to compare Sonos and phantom ... They are playing in two different leagues.. The only common ground is the multi room capability ... That it... Nothing else ...
The Sonos Amp is just a class D amp... Phantom has an hybrid class A and D amp... The Speaker matching technology is already included in the phantom... The Bluetooth feature is a big plus...and the sound quality of the phantom is excellent...
Even when a source is played via the excellent Rotel Amp... The phantom will always sound better...
As soon as internet radio is implemented into the phantom .. My 9 years love story with Sonos will end.
Hope that help.
Ok,
Just demoed the phantoms and I now have a very clear opinion:
1- a complete Sonos system (2 play 5s + Sub) is better than a single phantom. Yes it's less hi-fi, no doubt about that but a single Phantom is mono and you just don't get proper stereo separation, and....
2- I heard a huge, huge difference when playing 2 Phantoms together. Now that was impressive, the difference vs 1 was absolutely crystal clear to my ears. By the way the test was 1 silver phantom vs 2 white ones.
Net, I think the right setup for good listening (vs ambiance) is 2 Phantoms, the regular ones: I honestly can't imagine a situation where you would want more volume in a normal, big house, disco partying included. By the time the 2 white phantoms reached around 90 in volume I was shouting in order to get heard.
It's a very impressive system, now a I just have to explain to my wife why we need it.