An Ode to Duo Phantom Reactor 900's

[supaDean]

One person’s audio gear journey.



I’ve had a love of music and gear for over 35 years. While I haven’t played with all makes of gear (an impossible thought), I have remained open to technology and put together many audio systems over the years. From monster receivers of the 70’s and 80’s, to separate stereo components, solid state to tubes, 2-channel stereo, 2.1 and 2.2 channel stereo, multi-channel audio, surround-sound home theatre, various types of EQ, DSP, and room correction, bookshelf to floor standing speakers, passive to active speakers, wired and wireless headphones. I’ve enjoyed 8-track, audio cassettes, quarter inch tape, vinyl, CD’s, digital audio in all resolutions and formats, dedicated music servers and internet streaming. Whew, you get the idea.

For the past few years I’ve reverted to my original love of stereo. I dis-assembled the home theatre. Sold off sets of speakers, subwoofers, components and cabling. Letting go of much-loved audio gear was somewhat difficult. As anyone who cares about audio fidelity, assembling an audio system that works in your listening environment takes research, experimentation, trial and error. Once you’re able to obtain a relatively flat EQ (which is often not an easy feat with passive gear), if the sound makes you happy, that's what matters. Enjoy the music!

We're in the golden age of audio. Audio playback gear is reasonably priced, and the same dollars spent now compared to 10-15 years ago nets you good value.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found myself appreciating minimalism. I like fewer components as much as I enjoy reclaiming the space big setups have taken up in my home.

For me today, a music server and some internet music streaming is where its at. Assemble amplification and speakers, and I’m good to go. This brings me to the Devialet Phantom Reactor 900. What Devialet has accomplished is astonishing. Their entire Phantom line is, in all honesty, astonishing.

I first heard the original, much larger Phantom Gold, at a dealer a few short years ago while researching something else. They were being hyped by the dealer as a loud bluetooth speaker, which was a complete disservice to them. I was so turned off I didn’t give Phantoms a second thought. Plus, I thought to myself, they were ugly as sin.

When the Phantom Reactor hit the market, I took notice. About a quarter the size and cost of the Phantom Gold, I purchased a pair of 900's for stereo playback. Their functionality and sound is remarkable. It would be too easy to say impressive “for their size”… they rival many a speaker / amplifier / DAC / streamer and the fact there is so much tech inside them, in such a small form factor, is remarkable. Love or hate their design, they’re a piece of art. Not everyone loves all art, and the same goes for the Phantom Reactor.

Do I ever enjoy listening to the new rig. Like most speakers in different listening spaces, Phantoms require digital and physical room correction, proper speaker placement, quality power source, in addition to being fed quality music files.

As I've said to sceptics: You have to hear and see them to believe it. A Phantom Reactor 900 weighs a mere 9.5 pounds. They’re so small. Huge sound. Full frequency response. Zero noise. They have the ability to play so loud your ears might bleed.

Never say never, but I don’t think I will go back to passive components. With a pair of Phantom Reactor 900's, I no longer need subwoofers for low end. I no longer need reams of cabling and assorted components sitting on shelves of audio racks. True, I can no longer mix and match audio components, but I’m completely happy with a music server full of digital audio files, the Reactor 900's, miniDSP SHD-Studio (preamp / digital room correction), and hi-res music streaming to discover more musical artists.