French acoustic engineering company Devialet has launched its latest premium speaker, the Devialet Phantom Ultimate, in Malaysia, marking a decade of evolution since the original Phantom speaker disrupted the high-fidelity audio market in 2015.

The launch was celebrated with an exclusive showcase at Blossom A Glassmansion in Kuala Lumpur, where select guests experienced the new speaker’s capabilities firsthand. Jean-Loup Afresne, Devialet’s Chief Product and Technical Officer, and Martin Ku, Regional Director of Devialet Asia-Pacific, led the event, providing insights into the technology and design philosophy behind the Phantom Ultimate.

The original Devialet Phantom speaker, introduced in 2015 after three years of research and development and backed by 88 registered patents, established itself as a reference point in high-fidelity audio. The Phantom Ultimate represents the next generation of this lineage, engineered to reveal intricate details in music through high-resolution sound reproduction.

“Devialet is more ambitious than ever. With Devialet Phantom Ultimate, we reaffirm our status as a pioneer in the audio industry. This new era invites listeners to experience sound with unprecedented intensity, clarity, and depth. Behind this achievement lies engineering excellence—a true testament to our savoir-faire and expertise.”

Jacques Demont, CEO of Devialet

Developed by Devialet’s engineers and designers in Paris, the Phantom Ultimate delivers what the company describes as vivid, immersive, full-body sound designed to transform listening into a physical sensation. The speaker aims to bring live performances and studio recordings to life within home environments.

The Phantom Ultimate maintains the iconic elongated silhouette that has become synonymous with Devialet, while introducing refinements that emphasise purity and precision. Notably, the 108 dB model removes the woofer core cover, creating a more seamless visual profile—a change that required comprehensive reworking of the speaker’s central core and assembly process.

The tweeter grille has been redesigned through collaboration between engineers and designers, featuring cleaner lines and an optimised aperture. This refinement took six months of research and numerous iterations to balance aesthetic appeal with acoustic performance.

The Phantom Ultimate debuts in two new finishes: Deep Forest, featuring a dark, organic tone with black chrome detailing and subtle green reflections, and Light Pearl, inspired by bisque ceramics with an ultra-matte, off-white hue. A special Opéra de Paris edition, continuing Devialet’s partnership with the prestigious French institution since 2017, features 22-carat gold leaf applied by hand using traditional techniques.

The Phantom Ultimate incorporates several of Devialet’s proprietary technologies, protected by more than 250 patents across acoustic engineering, electronics, signal processing, and manufacturing.

The latest generation of ADH (Analog Digital Hybrid) technology combines Class A analog amplification with Class D digital amplification, achieving high frequencies up to 35 kHz on the 108 dB model with improved energy management and thermal dissipation.

SAM (Speaker Active Matching) technology adapts in real time to both transient and steady-state signals, enabling accurate reproduction of sound wave phase and amplitude. HBI (Heart Bass Implosion) enables ultra-low frequency emission down to 14 Hz in a compact form. AVL (Adaptive Volume Level), originally developed for the Devialet Dione soundbar, automatically adjusts volume based on content type.

The Phantom Ultimate features a new NXP i.MX 8M Nano processor integrated into a system-on-chip, providing advanced audio processing with enhanced energy efficiency.

The speaker runs on DOS3, the latest version of Devialet’s operating system, designed to support the company’s future product range with a unified interface. Connectivity options have been expanded to include AirPlay, Google Cast, Roon Ready, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, and UPnP streaming protocols.

The redesigned Devialet App offers intuitive control and personalised listening modes developed by Devialet engineers. Music Mode renders sound as the artist intended, Podcast Mode optimises vocal clarity, and Cinema Mode creates theatre-like immersion. A six-band equaliser allows precise frequency adjustment, while Bass Reducer and Loudness features provide additional customisation options.

The Phantom Ultimate 108 dB introduces a new generation of loudspeakers protected by four newly registered patents. It delivers high-resolution sound across a frequency range from 14 Hz to 35 kHz with 1,100 W of total amplification power and 32-bit/96 kHz audio processing. The model includes four touch controls and supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity.

The Phantom Ultimate 98 dB offers high-fidelity reproduction in a more compact form, with a frequency range from 18 Hz to 25 kHz and 400 W of amplification power. Its co-spherical wideband driver design expands the soundstage while maintaining faithful reproduction.

Both models can be configured as solo units, stereo pairs, or multi-room systems through AirPlay, Google Cast, and Roon Ready protocols. Each is available in Deep Forest, Light Pearl, and Opéra de Paris finishes.

The Devialet Phantom Ultimate is now available in Malaysia through devialet.com, the Devialet store at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, and authorised retailers. The Phantom Ultimate 98 dB is priced at RM8,090, while the 108 dB model retails at RM17,990. The Opéra de Paris editions are available at RM9,990 for the 98 dB model and RM20,990 for the 108 dB version.

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Photos courtesy of Devialet