Redefining a Classic: The Phantom Ultimate
Devialet continues to push the boundaries of compact high-fidelity with the Phantom Ultimate, a refined evolution of the brand’s iconic spherical speaker. Decade after its debut, the Phantom remains a bold statement in both form and function. The Ultimate isn’t a radical redesign; it’s a calculated refinement—keeping the essence that made the Phantom a landmark, while sharpening the engineering to deliver more control, efficiency, and clarity.
A Philosophy of Constraints and Creativity
Chief product and technical officer Jean-Loup Afresne frames the project with a simple yet powerful idea: start from a blank page only when necessary. “The only limits our team has are the ones we put on ourselves,” he says. Rather than tearing down the earlier design, Devialet chose to preserve what must stay the same—its recognizable silhouette and core acoustic concept—while reworking the internal architecture to elevate performance. This approach mirrors the studio craft of a musician who keeps a signature instrument’s voice intact while expanding its expressive range.
What’s Improved Inside the Case
Under the familiar exterior, the Phantom Ultimate hosts a raft of upgrades aimed at efficiency, power handling, and sonic precision. The internal power supply was redesigned to run cooler and cleaner, allowing the speaker to deliver the same monumental output with less energy and heat. The hybrid amplification system, already a strength of the original, has been tuned to extend the bandwidth up to 35kHz, adding air and spatial cues that broaden the listener’s sense of stage and depth.
Advances aren’t limited to amplification. The digital signal processing has been refined for greater clarity and control, and a faster processor supports a more responsive user experience. The tweeter has been re-engineered to better harness the high-frequency details, contributing to a more articulate top end without harshness. In short, the Ultimate aims to preserve the beloved Phantom sound while giving it more authority and finesse in a crowded hi-fi landscape.
Connectivity and Everyday Use
Devialet recognizes that today’s listeners move across ecosystems with their music, playlists, and assistants. The Phantom Ultimate brings modern connectivity to the fore: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and compatibility with AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Roon Ready, and UPnP. This makes it easier than ever to integrate the speaker into a living room or studio environment, whether you’re streaming from a phone, computer, or networked speaker system. The result is not just louder sound but smarter, more reliable performance across services and devices.
The Sound of Confidence
Afresne emphasizes that the challenge was not simply to cram more tech into a small form factor, but to deliver a specific, musically compelling sound from within that compact device. The Phantom Ultimate’s design philosophy centers on maintaining the signature character that drew listeners to the original—an impactful, engaging sound with surprising fidelity for its size—while layering in improvements that bring greater depth, control, and realism to the listening experience.
In practice, this means an immersive, well-balanced presentation across genres—from intimate vocal tracks to expansive orchestral works. The Ultimate is designed to be both a critical listening tool for enthusiasts and a capable party speaker for casual gatherings, reflecting Devialet’s dual heritage of engineering rigor and user-centered design.
Finishes and Brand Continuity
The Phantom Ultimate is offered in a selection of finishes designed to complement different interiors. Pearl, deep green, and Opéra de Paris finishes provide options for those who want the speaker to be a visible design note as much as a sonic centerpiece. Afresne notes that the look remains true to the brand’s aesthetic while the internals push the performance envelope—a balancing act that has long defined Devialet’s approach to product development.
The launch of the Phantom Ultimate signals more than a new model; it marks a maturation of a concept. By preserving the elements that listeners already know and trust, while pushing the boundaries of efficiency, bandwidth, and connectivity, Devialet reinforces its position as a pioneer in compact high-fidelity sound. For those who crave sound that is both powerful and precise within a sleek, iconic silhouette, the Phantom Ultimate offers a compelling path forward.
