There are speakers that play music. And then there are speakers that become the music.
The Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98 dB belongs firmly in the second category. Whether you've been researching the best wireless speaker under ₹2,00,000, looking for a Sonos or B&W alternative, or simply want the finest single speaker money can buy in India — this review is for you.
At 8mm.in, we are authorized Devialet partners based in Raipur. We don't just sell this speaker — we live with it, demo it daily, and know exactly what it sounds like in a real room. Let's go deep.
What Is the Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98 dB?
The Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98 dB is a high-resolution, all-in-one wireless active speaker made in France by Devialet. It is the smaller sibling to the flagship 108 dB model, designed specifically for apartments and medium-sized rooms where you want reference-level sound without a full separates system.
At just ₹1,99,999 (available now at 8mm.in — down from ₹3,89,000), it replaces your amplifier, streamer, bookshelf speakers, and subwoofer in a single sculptural object.
Design: A Speaker That Commands the Room
The Phantom's iconic spherical body is not an aesthetic gimmick — it is acoustic science. A round enclosure ensures perfect 360-degree sound dispersion, filling every corner of a room with the same richness and clarity.
Built entirely in France, it is available in three finishes:
- Deep Forest — a matte, earthy dark green that disappears into sophisticated interiors
- Light Pearl — a luminous white that makes it a design centrepiece
- Opéra de Paris Edition — the same 98 dB performance, dressed with the Paris Opera logo and Moon Gold side plates hand-finished with gold leaf by the legendary Ateliers Gohard
The lateral woofers — two side-mounted aluminium dome drivers — visibly pulse as they move air. It is, quite simply, one of the most distinctive objects in consumer audio.
The Technologies Inside: What Makes It Different
Most speaker brands describe their products in vague superlatives. Devialet is different — every major innovation is backed by a registered patent and a three-letter acronym that the entire audio world has come to respect. Here is what powers the Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98 dB:
ADH® — Analog Digital Hybrid Amplification
This is Devialet's most celebrated breakthrough. The ADH circuit combines Class A analog amplification (for warmth, musicality, and correct voltage) with Class D digital amplification (for power, efficiency, and real-time current correction). The two work in parallel, each doing what it does best — resulting in zero measurable distortion even at maximum volume, and high-frequency response extending all the way to 35 kHz.
The new-generation ADH in the Phantom Ultimate features predictive control that anticipates speaker behaviour in real time, further reducing micro-distortions before they occur.
HBI® — Heart Bass Implosion
The Phantom's two side-firing aluminium woofers operate in a Push-Push configuration — they move in perfect synchrony, generating equal and opposite forces that cancel out unwanted cabinet vibrations. This is HBI, and it allows the speaker to produce infra-bass down to 18 Hz — frequencies you feel in your chest and stomach — from a cabinet with just three litres of internal volume per woofer.
To put that in context: most dedicated subwoofers cannot reach 18 Hz. The Phantom Ultimate 98 dB does it wirelessly, from a speaker small enough to sit on a bookshelf.
SAM® — Speaker Active Matching
SAM uses a continuously running DSP mathematical model of the speaker's physical behaviour — transient response, displacement limits, thermal characteristics — and adjusts the signal in real time to ensure perfect phase and amplitude reproduction. The result is bass that is not just loud, but accurate: tight, fast, and exactly where the artist placed it in the mix.
DOS3 — Devialet Operating System 3
Built on an NXP iMX8 processor, DOS3 is the software platform that ties everything together. It provides stable wireless connectivity, seamless stereo pairing between two Phantoms, and over-the-air updates that improve the speaker's performance without you touching it. A full 32-bit / 96 kHz signal path ensures high-resolution audio is preserved end to end.
AVL™ — Adaptive Volume Level
Borrowed from Devialet's Dione soundbar, AVL applies real-time dynamic equalization that automatically adjusts volume based on content type — music sounds full and balanced at low volume, and cinema audio stays dynamic without sudden jarring peaks.
Sound Quality: What Does It Actually Sound Like?
This is what every review must answer honestly.
The Phantom Ultimate 98 dB sounds larger than any speaker of its size has a right to. The bass is the first thing you notice — not one-note boom, but layered, textured, physical low-end that makes acoustic bass strings feel three-dimensional. Kick drums hit with a satisfying thud that you feel in your sternum.
The midrange is where voices and instruments live, and the Phantom handles it with composure and separation. Vocals are placed precisely in space. A string quartet sounds like a string quartet — individual instruments with their own air and decay, not a homogenised wash.
At the top end, the aluminium dome driver extends to 25 kHz (–6 dB), capturing the shimmer of cymbals and the air above acoustic instruments with natural ease.
With a stereo pair of Phantom Ultimates — both available at 8mm.in — the soundstage opens up dramatically. The ACE (Active Cospherical Engine) co-spherical driver design widens the stereo image in a way that makes you search for the speakers because the music seems to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.
The Devialet app offers three listening modes — Music, Cinema, and Podcast — plus a 6-band equalizer, Night Mode (which calms the woofers for late-night listening), and Loudness mode. This level of fine-tuning is genuinely useful and not found on most premium competitors.
Connectivity: Everything, Wirelessly
The Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98 dB covers every streaming protocol you will ever need:
- AirPlay / AirPlay 2 — lossless wireless from Apple devices
- Google Cast — high-quality streaming from Android and Chrome
- Bluetooth 5.2 — instant pairing, excellent range
- Spotify Connect — stream directly from Spotify without using your phone as a relay
- TIDAL Connect — lossless and HiRes TIDAL streaming, natively
- Roon Ready — for the audiophile library and DSP ecosystem
- UPnP / DLNA — for local network music servers
- Wi-Fi (dual-band) — robust and stable home networking
- Gigabit Ethernet — wired connection for absolute reliability
- Optical Mini-TOSLINK input — connect a TV, projector, Blu-ray player, or console directly
This is, without exaggeration, the most comprehensively connected speaker available at this price point. Nothing is missing.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Maximum SPL | 98 dB |
| Total Amplification | 400W |
| Frequency Response | 18 Hz – 25 kHz (±6 dB) |
| Signal Path | 32-bit / 96 kHz |
| Drivers | 1 full-range aluminium dome + 2 lateral aluminium dome woofers |
| Amplification | ADH® next-gen (Class A + Class D hybrid) |
| Bass Technology | HBI® Push-Push architecture |
| DSP | SAM® + DOS3 on NXP iMX8 processor |
| Streaming | AirPlay 2, Google Cast, BT 5.2, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Roon Ready, UPnP |
| Physical Input | Optical Mini-TOSLINK |
| Networking | Wi-Fi (dual-band), Gigabit Ethernet |
| Finishes | Deep Forest, Light Pearl, Opéra de Paris |
| Warranty (India) | 1 Year |
| Price (India) | ₹1,99,999 at 8mm.in |
Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98 dB vs 108 dB: Which Should You Buy?
A question we answer daily at 8mm.in. Here is the honest comparison:
The 98 dB model uses a two-way driver configuration with bass extension to 18 Hz. It is ideal for rooms up to approximately 25–30 square metres — a large living room, a bedroom, a dedicated listening space.
The 108 dB model goes deeper (to 14 Hz), louder, and adds Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3. It is designed for larger open-plan spaces, home theatre use, and listeners who want the absolute maximum the Phantom platform can deliver.
If your room is medium-sized and you prioritise compactness, the 98 dB is not a compromise — it is the right tool. If you have a large room or want the flagship experience, step up to the 108 dB.
Both are available at 8mm.in. Call or WhatsApp our team to discuss which suits your space.
Who Is the Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98 dB For?
This speaker is for you if:
- You want the best possible sound from a single compact speaker
- You live in an apartment or have a medium-sized room
- You care about design as much as audio performance
- You want to eliminate a rack of separates without sacrificing audiophile quality
- You stream music from Spotify, TIDAL, Apple Music, or a local server
- You want a speaker that will receive software updates and improve over time
It is probably not the right choice if your primary concern is portability or if your budget requires compromise.
Why Buy from 8mm.in?
We are India's authorized Devialet partner, both online and offline. When you purchase the Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98 dB from 8mm.in, you receive:
- Genuine product with valid Indian warranty (1 year)
- GST invoice — save up to 18% if you are a business buyer
- Free shipping across India
- EMI options starting from ₹0/month
- Price Match Policy — found it cheaper? We'll match it
- 7-day return and replacement policy
- Expert guidance from our in-house audio specialists (Mon–Sat, 10:30am–7:30pm)
- Flat ₹2,000 off with code ORDER2000
- Extra 3% off when you pay via bank transfer at checkout
You can also visit our experience centre in Raipur to hear the Phantom Ultimate in person before you buy.
Verdict
The Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98 dB is not trying to be the best wireless speaker under a certain budget. It is trying to be the best wireless speaker, full stop — and in a medium-sized room, it very nearly is.
The combination of ADH® amplification, HBI® infra-bass, SAM® precision, and the DOS3 platform produces a listening experience that simply does not exist in a package this small anywhere else. At ₹1,99,999 — nearly half its original launch price — it is a genuinely extraordinary value proposition for serious music listeners.
Buy the Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98 dB at 8mm.in →
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the price of the Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98 dB in India? The Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98 dB is currently priced at ₹1,99,999 at 8mm.in, reduced from its original price of ₹3,89,000.
Q: Does the Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98 dB support Bluetooth? Yes. It supports Bluetooth 5.2, along with AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Roon Ready, UPnP, Wi-Fi, and Gigabit Ethernet.
Q: Can I use two Phantom Ultimate 98 dB speakers as a stereo pair? Absolutely. Two Phantom Ultimates can be wirelessly paired into a true stereo system using Devialet's DOS3 platform, which maintains perfect synchronisation at 96 kHz / 24-bit resolution. The stereo pairing dramatically expands the soundstage and is one of the best two-speaker setups you can build.
Q: What is the difference between the 98 dB and 108 dB Phantom Ultimate? The 98 dB model is a two-way design with bass extension to 18 Hz and is ideal for medium rooms (up to ~30 sqm). The 108 dB model reaches a deeper 14 Hz, outputs more SPL, and adds Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3. Both share the same ADH®, HBI®, SAM®, and DOS3 technologies.
Q: How low does the Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98 dB go in bass? It extends down to 18 Hz — deeper than most dedicated subwoofers — thanks to the HBI® (Heart Bass Implosion) Push-Push woofer architecture.
Q: Does it have an optical input for TV connection? Yes. There is a rear optical Mini-TOSLINK input that allows connection to a TV, projector, Blu-ray player, or gaming console.
Q: What listening modes are available in the Devialet app? The app offers three preset modes — Music, Cinema, and Podcast — along with a 6-band equalizer, Loudness mode, Night Mode, and AVL (Adaptive Volume Level) for real-time dynamic adjustment.
Q: Is the Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98 dB available for home demo or in-store audition in India? Yes. Visit the 8mm experience centre in Shankar Nagar, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, or contact us on WhatsApp (+91 74407 90337) to arrange a demonstration. We also offer expert phone consultation Monday to Saturday, 10:30am–7:30pm.
Q: What warranty does the Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98 dB carry in India? It carries a 1-year manufacturer's warranty in India. As an authorized Devialet partner, 8mm.in assists with all warranty claims.
Q: Can I use the Phantom Ultimate 98 dB with Roon? Yes. The speaker is fully Roon Ready, allowing it to integrate with the Roon ecosystem for library management, DSP, and multi-room playback.
Written by Yug Gupta | Audio Specialist at 8mm.in
