Most wireless speakers ask you to make peace with compromise. You accept that the bass will thin out at volume. You accept that the midrange will smear when things get busy. You accept that convenience and sound quality exist on opposite ends of a trade-off and you pick your point somewhere in the middle.
The Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98 dB does not ask you to make peace with anything.
It is a wireless speaker that sounds like a speaker system. A complete one with genuine low-end authority, a midrange that handles complexity without flinching, and treble that extends far enough to resolve real detail. All of that from a single object. No separate amplifier, no subwoofer in the corner, no rack of components to manage.
At ₹1,99,999 from The Den India, it sits at a price point that reflects exactly what it is: not the most expensive option in the Phantom family, but the one that delivers the Phantom experience to the widest range of listeners and rooms. For most people who want the best wireless speaker available in India today, this is the one.
Here’s why.
What Is the Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98 dB?
The Phantom Ultimate 98 dB is the entry point into Devialet’s current Phantom Ultimate range though calling it an entry point slightly undersells what it actually is.
It is a fully self-contained wireless speaker. Everything needed to produce exceptional audio is inside the enclosure: three amplifiers, proprietary bass technology, Devialet’s ADH amplification system, and wireless connectivity for Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, and Bluetooth. You connect it to power and a network, open the Devialet Spark app, and it plays.
The 98 dB designation refers to its maximum continuous sound pressure level, a figure that puts it far beyond any conventional wireless speaker at its size and well into territory normally occupied by multi-component hi-fi systems. In a typical Indian home apartment or independent house 98 dB is more than enough to fill every room, including larger living spaces, with sound that has genuine physical presence.
It replaces the Phantom II 98 dB from the previous generation, improving on it in ways that are audible rather than merely measurable.
The Design – An Object Worth Looking At
The Phantom’s shape is the most recognisable speaker form in the world. The egg. The two lateral woofers that extend and retract visibly as the speaker plays. The central driver array behind a grille that gives away nothing about the complexity behind it.
The Phantom Ultimate 98 dB carries this design forward without alteration because there’s nothing to alter. Devialet arrived at this form through genuine acoustic engineering rather than aesthetic preference, and it continues to look like nothing else in any room it occupies.
At the Phantom Ultimate 98 dB’s size, it reads as substantial without being overwhelming. It’s large enough to communicate that it’s serious, compact enough to sit comfortably in a living room, bedroom, study, or kitchen without dominating the space in a way that requires architectural concessions.
It comes in three colourways: Deep Forest, Iconic White, and Matte Black. The Deep Forest is the newest addition to the range and arguably the most striking a deep, muted green that photographs beautifully and looks exceptional in both light and dark interiors. Iconic White is the classic choice: clean, sculptural, museum-quality. Matte Black is the one for rooms with a darker, more dramatic palette.
At full volume, you can watch the lateral woofers moving. That’s not incidental, it’s physics made visible. The excursion of those woofers at 98 dB of output is significant enough to see clearly from across the room. People who’ve never encountered a Phantom before almost always notice this first and find it difficult to stop watching.
💬 Pull Quote:
“The Phantom Ultimate 98 dB is one of the very few audio products that is genuinely as interesting to look at as it is to listen to.”
The Sound – Honest, Detailed, No Compromises
Let’s talk about what the Phantom Ultimate 98 dB actually sounds like not in specification language, but in the way it feels to listen to it.
-The bass arrives before you expect it The Phantom Ultimate 98 dB produces low frequencies that reach down to 16 Hz. That number matters less than the experience of it: bass on this speaker doesn’t just add weight to the music it adds atmosphere to the room. -You feel it in your chest at moderate volumes. At higher volumes, it becomes a physical event. This is Heart Bass Implosion technology doing its job twin lateral woofers in a push-push configuration that generates low-frequency pressure without the cabinet resonance and port noise of conventional designs.
-The midrange handles everything you throw at it Orchestral music. Dense electronic productions. Jazz with overlapping instruments. The Phantom Ultimate 98 dB’s midrange doesn’t simplify any of it. Individual voices and instruments remain distinct even in complex passages. There’s a warmth and presence to the midrange that makes acoustic recordings, vocals, piano, guitar sound immediate and real in a way that most wireless speakers at any price cannot match.
-The treble extends without fatiguing High frequencies on the Phantom Ultimate 98 dB are detailed and extended without the brightness or sharpness that affects many high-output speakers. You can listen at length without fatigue which is the most practical test of a speaker’s treble performance. It reveals the detail that’s in the recording without adding anything that isn’t there.
-The soundstage is disproportionate to the speaker’s size This is the thing that genuinely surprises first-time Phantom listeners. The sound doesn’t come from the speaker, it comes from the room. The soundstage extends well beyond the physical dimensions of the enclosure, creating a listening experience that feels spatial and enveloping rather than point-source. That’s the combination of Devialet’s ADH amplification and the Phantom’s acoustic design working together as intended.
The Technology – What Devialet Actually Built
The Phantom Ultimate 98 dB is not a great speaker because of premium components. It’s a great speaker because of proprietary technology developed by Devialet over more than a decade. Here’s what’s inside.
ADH – Analog Digital Hybrid Amplification Devialet’s founding technology. ADH combines Class D digital efficiency with Class A analogue character in a way that eliminates the trade-offs that normally define the choice between the two. The result is an amplifier that runs cool, converts power efficiently, and sounds like a pure analogue design. It is the core of every product Devialet has ever made and remains genuinely without equal in the industry.
SAM – Speaker Active Matching SAM is digital signal processing that models the Phantom’s specific acoustic behaviour and applies real-time correction to compensate for the physical limitations of the drivers. It is not equalisation, it is active compensation that eliminates distortion before it reaches the listener. The result is a speaker that performs beyond what its physical components should theoretically allow.
Heart Bass Implosion The twin lateral woofers operate in Devialet’s patented push-push configuration. Rather than moving in the same direction simultaneously (as in conventional stereo woofer designs), they move toward and away from the speaker’s centre simultaneously creating low-frequency pressure without the equal and opposite reaction that would cause cabinet resonance. It is a fundamentally different approach to bass reproduction and the reason the Phantom’s low-end sounds unlike any other compact speaker.
Three Amplifiers One per driver. Each driver in the Phantom Ultimate 98 dB is driven by its own dedicated amplifier, optimised specifically for that driver’s characteristics. This is the approach of high-end separate systems implemented within a single wireless enclosure.
Wireless and Wired Connectivity Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), AirPlay 2, Bluetooth 5.0, optical input, and Ethernet. The Phantom Ultimate 98 dB connects to virtually any source and integrates with any existing home network setup. It is also Roon Ready for those using Roon as a music management system.
Technical Specifications
Speaker Type – Wireless all-in-one speaker
Maximum SPL – 98 dB
Frequency Response – 16 Hz – 25 kHz
Total Harmonic Distortion – Less than 0.001% at 95 dB
Power Output – 3 × 200W (600W total)
Amplification – ADH (Analog Digital Hybrid)
Bass Technology – Heart Bass Implosion
Drivers – 2 × lateral woofers + 1 × full-range tweeter
Wireless Connectivity – Wi-Fi (2.4 / 5 GHz), AirPlay 2, Bluetooth 5.0
Wired Connectivity – Optical input, Ethernet (RJ45)
Streaming – Devialet Spark app, Roon Ready
Multi-room – Yes, via Devialet Spark
Stereo Pairing – Yes (two Phantom Ultimate 98 dB units)
Colourways – Deep Forest, Iconic White, Matte Black
Country of Manufacture – France
Price (India) – From ₹1,99,999
Phantom Ultimate 98 dB vs. Phantom Ultimate 108 dB- Which One Do You Actually Need?
This is the question that matters most for anyone seriously considering a Phantom Ultimate purchase. Here’s an honest answer.
Choose the 98 dB if… Your primary listening space is up to approximately 35 square metres. You listen at moderate to high volume levels in a domestic setting. You want the Phantom to experience the design, the technology, the sound quality without the premium of the flagship model. You’re placing the speaker in a bedroom, mid-sized living room, study, dining room, or open-plan kitchen-living space.
For most Indian homes apartments in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, or any other city the Phantom Ultimate 98 dB is the right choice. It will never sound strained in these spaces. It will never run out of headroom. It will never make you wish you’d bought more speakers.
Choose the 108 dB if… Your listening space is large above 35 square metres, or with high ceilings and open architecture that disperses sound. You listen at genuine reference levels and want the absolute maximum output the Phantom platform can deliver. You want the most powerful single wireless speaker available anywhere in the world, regardless of what that costs.
The honest summary The 98 dB costs ₹1,99,999. The 108 dB costs ₹4,08,999. The price difference is significant. For most rooms and most listeners, the 98 dB is not a compromise, it’s the correct speaker. The 108 dB is for specific situations where more output is genuinely needed.
Setting Up the Phantom Ultimate 98 dB
Setup is genuinely straightforward which matters, because a speaker this sophisticated should not require a technician to get working.
Physical placement Out of the box, the Phantom Ultimate 98 dB comes with feet for surface placement. For optimal acoustic performance and presentation, Devialet recommends using an official stand. The LEGS stand (₹27,000) positions the speaker at the ideal listening height for floor placement. The TREE stand (₹29,999) offers a slightly warmer aesthetic. The GECKO (₹19,999) mounts the speaker to a wall if floor space is a consideration.
Network and app setup The Devialet Spark app (iOS and Android) guides you through Wi-Fi setup in a few minutes. The app also handles EQ adjustments, volume limits, firmware updates, and multi-room configuration. It’s well-designed and does not require any technical knowledge to use effectively.
Stereo pairing Two Phantom Ultimate 98 dB units can be paired as a true stereo system through the Spark app. Channel assignment is handled in software. The result of two Phantoms, properly separated, playing left and right channels is a meaningfully different experience from a single-speaker setup and worth considering if your room and budget allow.
Source connections AirPlay 2 and the Spark app cover wireless streaming from all major services. The optical input handles a TV or external DAC. Ethernet provides a wired network connection for those who prefer it. Bluetooth handles casual listening from any device. The Phantom Ultimate 98 dB connects to essentially anything without requiring additional equipment
Who Is the Phantom Ultimate 98 dB For?
The music listener who is done compromising If you’ve spent years on wireless speakers that sounded good but never quite right, never quite full enough, never quite detailed enough, never quite there the Phantom Ultimate 98 dB is the speaker that ends that search. It is genuinely as good as a wireless speaker gets.
The design-conscious buyer If you want exceptional audio without a rack of equipment, without visible cables running to a subwoofer, without components that look like they belong in a recording studio the Phantom Ultimate 98 dB is for you. One speaker. One power cable. Done.
The apartment dweller with a serious audio budget Space constraints should not mean audio compromises. The Phantom Ultimate 98 dB delivers a full-sized listening experience from a single compact enclosure. For Mumbai, Delhi, or Bangalore apartments where space is genuinely at a premium, it is the most musically satisfying thing you can put in a living room.
The upgrade from a previous Phantom generation If you own a Phantom II 98 dB and have been considering an upgrade, the Phantom Ultimate 98 dB is a meaningful step forward, not a marginal refresh. The improvements in resolution, bass precision, and overall coherence are audible from the first listen.
Real Questions People Ask Before Buying
Is one Phantom Ultimate 98 dB enough for a large living room? For most living rooms in Indian homes up to approximately 35 square metres – yes, one is enough. The Phantom Ultimate 98 dB’s omnidirectional dispersion and 98 dB output fills spaces generously. For larger or more open spaces, consider two units in stereo or the Phantom Ultimate 108 dB.
Can I use it with my existing TV? Yes. The optical input on the Phantom Ultimate 98 dB connects directly to a TV’s optical output. For TVs without optical output, an HDMI ARC to optical converter works well. The Den team can advise on the right connection approach for your specific TV.
Does it work with Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal? Yes. AirPlay 2 supports Apple Music natively and works with Spotify Connect and Tidal. The Devialet Spark app also supports direct streaming. For high-resolution audio, Tidal Masters via AirPlay 2 or a Roon-based setup provides the best source quality.
Can I connect a turntable? Yes, with a phono preamplifier. The Phantom Ultimate 98 dB accepts optical input; a phono preamp with optical output, or an analogue-to-optical converter, bridges the gap between a turntable and the speaker.
How does it compare to a Sonos or Bose system at a lower price? Unfavourably to those systems in the sense that comparing the Phantom Ultimate 98 dB to a Sonos or Bose product is not a meaningful comparison. They occupy completely different categories of performance. A Sonos system is a convenience product that happens to play music. The Phantom Ultimate 98 dB is a high-end audio product that happens to be convenient. The difference in sound quality is not subtle.
Is the Phantom Ultimate 98 dB Roon Ready? Yes. The Phantom Ultimate 98 dB is Roon Ready certified, meaning it integrates fully with Roon’s music management and playback system. For serious music listeners who use Roon, this is a meaningful advantage over wireless speakers that require workarounds for Roon integration.
Can I expand it into a multi-room system later? Yes. The Phantom Ultimate 98 dB integrates with Devialet’s multi-room system via the Spark app. You can add additional Phantom speakers including a second Phantom Ultimate 98 dB for stereo at any point without changing your existing setup.
Final Verdict
The Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98 dB is the wireless speaker we’d recommend to anyone who is serious about sound and is making excuses for their audio setup.
It is not perfect for every situation if your room is very large, the 108 dB deserves consideration. But for the vast majority of listeners and spaces, the 98 dB delivers everything the Phantom platform promises: exceptional bass, a coherent and detailed midrange, extended treble, a soundstage that fills a room, and a design that makes it the most interesting object in any space it occupies.
At ₹1,99,999 it is a meaningful investment. It is also one of the few audio purchases you will make that requires no qualification, no asterisk, and no “but” at the end of the recommendation. It is simply the best wireless speaker available in India at its size and it has been, in successive generations, for over a decade.
The Phantom Ultimate 98 dB earns its price. Then it exceeds it.