The Nova is a great piece of kit, worth an audition. I love the simplicity. This amp is actually a tad WARM sounding and in no way was it COLD sounding. In short, the Phantom is a speaker which can easily compete with systems that are much more expensive and require complex setting up. The sound coming out of my speakers is heavenly with ALL types of music from horribly master 70s and 80s music to dance, metal, rock, jazz, vocal, ambient, and everything in between. BUT it did not come close to what I have in my office. No drivers license copy, nothing. Can not wait to get it upgraded to the Pro220 as it would appear to a great upgrade on an already great amp. Devialet may say the Phantom’s elegant design was a “happy accident, but their engineers knew going in that they wanted spherical speakers. I have the dual mono 400 and use it to drive a pair of Wilson-Benesch ACT 1 s – now that is a match made in Heaven! As a consequence it’s a much more room-friendly proposition. The Phantom line is separated into two ranges, Phantom Premier (with 3 models) and Phantom Reactor (with 3 models). Once you’ve got it working nicely in your new room, you will have something against which to judge the Nova, otherwise you will never know if you have gained anything in sound quality. It’s not bad, but it’s not really HIGH FI — the downstairs speakers aren’t really a good match. You’ll need to purchase an iPad or iPad mini as your remote control which you can pick up from Apple refurb for under $200. Devialet all the way. I can list a multitude of things that are wrong with this, as i said if you like a chrome color sound, this is fine. I have yet to hear it sound bad and I have had it hooked up to several speakers, bookshelf and floor standers. I am talking about the revolutionary Devialet 200. Manitou Bob. With this system you get an all in one that sounds like a $50k set of separates in many cases, as long as there is Synergy with your speakers. Whether it’s worth the cost depends on you. They had no idea who I was yet I walked in and they handed me a bag with a Devialet 200 in it. Yes, it’s expensive, but it sounds amazing. How is the devialet 200 compared to krell evo’s sound? That took 30 seconds! I can only imagine what the dual mono version sounds like but I do not need it as the 200 gives me all I need and then some. We would also mention that to a certain degree this would depend on the quality of the recording. Devialet Reactor 600. What really stands out from the Phantom is that the sound is very realistic. They can do ANY music with precision, even crappy 80’s Rock songs sound big, rich and full with amazing sonics. It is exceptionally clean sounding, big soundstage, super clear and detailed, but no trace of harshness or grain. As an entry level Devialet system, this can be a game changer in audio as the sound can compete favorably with any system with the same price level. No speaker wires, can be placed anywhere in the house and you can control up to 24 speakers from your phone using the Dialog controller. You are correct, and I did know that but for some reason did not write it like that Will correct it today. You are listening to components again, you know better. When I bought my Devialet I sold some interconnects and was able to bring in $3200 towards the purchase. Some can start to spend $30, 40, 50, 100K on their system and still be unhappy. . The n10 is supposed to be the bomb (when it comes out in June). Reading about the technology or the specs, while worth doing for background, just doesn't do it justice. The opposite of the Devialet. All were lacking in some way. Assuming I can achieve a satisfactory audition of the 1000 Pro, it is a simple matter of whether or not any perceived increase in sound quality is worth the £5000 cost. What was unlistenable on other systems is flat out INSANE on this one. So now as to this Devialet — it seems like it would solve a lot of issues in the main system. In any case, I hooked it up to my then Sonus Faber Amati Futura speakers and away I went. Enjoy. I’m going to keep this review open for my wife to read when it arrives…. I have heard it is quite loud, and I wonder what’s the point of having low output noise when you get one from the device itself? When one looks at the Deviant 200 and sees the $9k price tag they assume it is priced way too high. The integration of Tidal with the Aurender streamers is remarkable, Not to mention you can listen to your Tidal playlists anywhere you have Internet access (car, business trips, vacation, etc.). The Wireworld cables are fantastic, especially the USB. I have a question that I hope you can answer. I sold my existing one for $1400. You have to have the right firmware (7.1.3) and precise configuration. I have to agree with everything that you have said. Mine is the D400 (2 x D200). I auditioned the D170 (now D200) against an AR LS17/REF75 combo and after two hours concluded that the D170 was indeed better for my tastes in music (jazz, female vocal, etc). PM for the possibilities in Holland, Germany or the US. The Devialet 200 Review. Devialet Gold Phantom Conclusion. Then you install the ‘Spark’ app on your iPhone or iPad (most Android devices are also supported). It has replaced my Krell Evolution power amplifier. You have no clue then as I have listened to over 1 million worth of hifi in my home – from “to die for tube amps and pre amps” to something like this, and I have never had better sound than what I get from the Devialet 200. You can visit AZ HiFi on Facebook HERE and you can visit Esoteric Audio HERE. Listen and cherish your music with Phantom, you will never look back. If you want the latest and most exceptional wireless speaker on the market, then yes, I believe the Gold Phantom is … Hi steve i love your review, i bought dev200 2 months ago paired with sonus faber venere 2.5; i m in heaven ,very satisfied with the sound after a years of upgrade . Devialet. I love your review. With no distortion at high volumes, no saturation, no background noise – the Devialet Phantom truly lives up to its name as a master piece of audio technology. Have you considered bi wiring or bi amping the Vectors? Nice speakers and table! WHOA! When we reviewed Devialet’s remarkable Silver Phantom wireless speaker at the end of 2015, we made many and various observations. We have reviewed many speaker systems over time but the Devialet Phantom is really something different – it is easily one of the best Bluetooth speakers ever created and probably the most expensive on the market. When it came down to sound performance, we were initially surprised by the really good sound quality. The sources, DAC and power don’t really do them justice, and they serving dual purpose — music and audio for TV/multichannel. The Dynaudio Heritage Special Speaker Review. Unless you are into a monochromatic sound, the Devialet 200 does not play music and their Phantom series is an insult to Bose and Sonos. Then Devialet provided SAM for the Sonus Faber G Evos. Different sound signatures with the Vectors being more neutral and the SF’s being more huge and bigger sounding, better soundstage and imaging, etc. Would not categorize myself as an audiophile, but I have listened to a number of good amps and systems over the years and the Devialet is a class by itself. Disclaimer: I have only heard the Phantom at a dealer and at various shows. Focal Aria 926 Review – Are these speakers worth the price tag? But they are nearly 2X the cost. Have you done any special mods to your Mac Mini? They come in a strong and very nice designed box. All current Devialet devices are equipped with a variety of technologies, most notably, Analog Digital Hybrid (ADH). The one sonos uses is a commercial one and creates a lot of jitter on the digital out. Hi Steve, me again… One day maybe Glad you are enjoying it. Thanks again. The Sweetest Perfection. The sound bested my Audio Research VSi 75 tube amp and what it offered meant I could sell a DAC, CD player, Phono Stage and some cables to scrape up more cash to make a purchase if I decided to do so. They said “take it home and make sure it works before you buy it”. I will do.I’ll miss my Einstein but due to the heat from the valves and class a power amp stage it tools up a lot of shelf space. I have never experienced this before; even in the back room of an audio shops. What an upgrade!! Are you still enjoying them? IN fact, this piece is drop dead amazing with my Mac Mini streaming my files via a Nordost USB Cable. To be honest, your review is full of shit! My system will be the Rega RP40, and Harbeth C7ES3 speakers. It’s still working swimmingly and it’s for keeps. You are getting unmatched performance, and it delivers crystal clear sound as well, which makes it worth the investment. I will soon retire them as my Audio-Reno project progress (looking a Magico S1 MKII). Yup, not very long after the French founders pushed the first units off their workshop. iTunes or something else? I am getting the itch to add the other and make it a 400 dual mono. Simplicity. I am curious as to what you choose to use to listen to your hi res files from your Mac Mini. Well, it is true that this speaker is available at a high price; however, if we look at its quality, it is reasonably priced. A real bargain then? Nothing else in this price range will give me what it does and I feel I would have to spend $20k to beat it. The Devialet has a very special Phono Stage built in that takes your analog signal and converts it to digital but the results is the best I have heard Vinyl sound in my home in 20 years. People tell me I could probably use another Devi 200 to make it a true 400 watt monoblock setup but quite frankly it sounds so amazing that I can’t imagine the sound would improve that much and I have more SPL than I’ve had with any amp. THAT was trust and I am not sure I would do that if I ran a HiFi business with expensive items. The audio stream, if you use the Devialet software, is done digitally perfect straight to the Phantom system. 4. The Devialet Phantom has unbelievably natural sound reproduction, with extremely detailed midrange, crisp highs, stunning low-frequency reproduction and bass output. Please take my advice before your credibility in audio fades out, there is a world our there of speakers and amplifiers that can stream or play music from $2500.00, It is an old story a lot of audiophiles have already upgraded their Devialet system, Check this out http://forum.hificritic.com/yaf_postst3977findunread_Devialet-Review-in-HIFICRITIC.aspx#post26388. There has never been anything like this and the Wadia Intuition can not hold a candle to this piece, not even close (I had both in my system). But they trusted me and I took it home to test it out. My speakers are modest, the Gallo Ref. It looks like i’m going to have a meeting with a McIntosh/Focal dealer instead. I was so distracted by its beauty that I dragged my heels on registering my set on Devialet’s website. A part from 2 points:1-sometimes with some tracks the sound tends towards boomy Im looking at purchasing the Wilson Vectors. I no longer needed the interconnects as the Devialet does best with a simple digital cable or wireless connection. The Devialet is a paradigm shifter! I was living in Hong Kong back then and had read universal rave reviews about the amp. I use PMC speakers with mine and am also getting the best results I’ve heard in my home. That all depends on why you want this speaker. N. I happen to own a similar combo with a Devialet 250 and Wilson Benesch Vector, fed by a PS Ausio P10. In the Devialet amps, the current source is instead a class-D amplifier: The digital amp provides the oomph and the analog amp "corrects and completes" the signal, Devialet says. Usually, with me, if any kind of audio gear doesn’t cut it for ANY reason, it goes and is sold within 1-3 months. Web extra: It is worth noting that this was written for our issue 100, when the D-Premier was the only product in the range. Yamaha 3000 is awesome, when it worked. There is much disquiet about Devialet currently, but I have been trying to think about the upgrade as dispassionately as possible. Expensive, yes, but what a system!! Follow these basic rules and tweaks and you will be rewarded with a sound that transcends electronics and hi-fi! All you do just put your most beautiful words into every review and make them eye catching!! 3. One day when I size down I will probably go to a Phantom, whatever version they are on by then. . It woks with ANY type of cartridge. Even though its large proportions (37.5cm wide by 21cm deep) barely differ to that of a Sky Qbox, that depth does demand plenty of room on a rack in front of your telly. I took the tested the D-Premier in the dealer’s listening room and fixed the amp up with 4 different brands of standing speakers and found the German brand Canton’s Reference series to my liking. I don’t have the budget or the patience. There are so many details about this amp but they have been talked about in other reviews. . It looks like the Sopra 2 need some space. The remote is hefty, made of metal and has a huge round DIAL which takes me back to the analog days when we had bug round knobs on our audio gear. They have a sleek, modern white exterior that looks like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. Wonder if you could elaborate a little more on the transition to the Devialet 200, from your great AR vsi 75. Devialet AIR is an ambitious project to stream high resolution signals from source to system that is probably more trouble than its worth. And, after all, all music is ANALOG! 5. The French audio company Devialet was formed in 2007 and launched its first product the D-Premier to critical acclaim in 2009. Rich, detailed, a tad warm and fat, nice soundstage, good air and never ever analytical, even with analytical speakers. As I let it play on and as I tested familiar material I was wowed by this device. JBL Boombox vs JBL Partybox – Which is the better speaker? It woks with ANY type of cartridge. With 3 kids, the price of this dream is heavy. Avoid wireless unless absolutely necessary. The Devialet Phantom is probably the most expensive Bluetooth speaker on the market, and built for serious audiophiles with extra cash to spare. oh.. sorry.. just read your new reviews congrats Steve great reviews again unfortunately.. because I wanted to buy the Devialet 200 and the WB or the B&W 804 D3 (what do you think about the 804 D3) in the next couple of weeks. Putting on Leonard Cohens latest and playing “Show Me The Place” gave me goosebumps. All you need with this Devialet is a digital cable of some sort (USB, COAX, etc) or if you prefer, NO cables as the WiFi implementation is stellar. I also recently replaced my Mac Mini as a music server with an Aurender N100H streamer and that took the system to the next level. It’s quite tricky to set up to achieve optimum sound. I want for nothing in my system. It might be necessary to go to the Deviate 400 which gives 300 watts into 8 … Nope, not yet. It is better in all ways, and that is saying a lot. Easily beats the sound of my Mac Mini/Pure Music combo. Sorry about the redundant messages. Next you swipe some speaker icons in the Spark app according to your needs: 1 to the left, 1 to the right. The “…runs class A until a certain volume….. kicks in to class D…” is actually class A and class D run in parallel all the time and at all levels. They keep being blown off by Devialet! I’m running out of socks. I will tell everyone now that the combo of the Devialet and Vector speakers is a match made in heaven. The audio performance of the Devialet Phantom is something that you just have to experience once in a lifetime to believe that it actually exists. Focal Sopra 2, MA8000, MT5, MT450 and the McIntosh 150 DAC. Have you tried the same set-up as Jeff Fritz over at Ultra Audio (streaming to router which is connected to the Devialet via Ethernet?). I have tested it and it was awful for me. My Rega has built in interconnects, so I use those. Cold, harsh, flat and underpowered. It is also extremely sensitive to the music source material, so be sure to use high quality audio files to stream music or the speaker will expose the flaws in the audio material. No big money interconnects or DAC’s or Phono Stages. No way I can sell this Devialet unless I was getting out of HiFi altogether. The Devialet is as easy as counting to 10. So i need to mail devialet and probably shipped it to france!a part of that the amp is a joy! The Voigtlander 50 APO f/2 VM Lens (M Mount) Review (video). It feels well made, as does the neat and compact remote control, but we wouldn’t be tempted … But I am sure it is not designed for this. I am an audio expert as well. After lots of soul-searching, I have decided to go lower power tube/valve … DECware Zen amp, to be specific, accompanied by high efficiency speakers. As far as design is concerned, the answer is a resounding “no”. March 12, 2018 / Troy 'The GamesMaster' So If your a Sky Q user you can pick up a £799 Devialet Speaker for as cheap as £299. PERFECT for my tastes as I hate cold and sterile and thin. So, is the Devialet Gold Phantom worth the $3,000 price tag? Mirrorless Central – My reviews of all Mirrorless Cameras. None of that “blobby” base delivery of my old set. By Tucker Bowe. BAM! Can’t afford the Devialet 200 but I went for a pair of Devialet Phantom speakers. But yes, the Devialet is amazing and has freak synergy with the Vectors. If you have the opportunity, just try an additional 200 and see for yourself! The Sonus Faber speakers are also warm so it could be the speakers but I found there was a good synergy there between the two. The manufacturers claim that the Phantom emits the best sound in the world, with a unique physical impact. Fun part, it won’t set you back a lot of mony. The sound coming from this setup is rich, BIG, detailed, coherent, spacious, LARGE, sweet, REAL, and with pinpoint imaging..oh, and EFFORTLESS. running Bit perfect, Amarra or some other tools)?? So for that reason, I skipped. The fact that there are updates on a regular basis to improve the performance. My speakers came from AZ HiFi in Central Phoenix. We also liked the nice futuristic design which gave it a very sleek and modern aesthetic appeal. The easy and extra cost-free updatability of the amp, such as the move from 170-200, and the addition of SAM are also a huge benefit. If you've never heard a Devialet amplifier, it would be worth your while to do so. I’m new to the game as far as “big boy” hifi stuff. 2. Has soul, magic, air, depth, holographic imaging, and all I need and want. I love mine as well. With a Devialet as the main hub, just add speakers and a source and you are done. The year before it was an optical turntable. I am listening to mine as I type this and every day I am blown away buy it. Nothing sounds bad, nothing sounds artificial. It also cleans up your audio rack or space. …. Hi Steve, 2-i just find out that some smell of smoke came out from the amp, and found out that it is a common problem for dev200 only, and it s coming from the output power filter. http://www.aurender.com/page/audiophile. Thank you for doing such an excellent review! The Devialet runs in Class A until a certain volume is reached, then it kicks in to class D. I have found over any volume range from low to high the sound is MY perfect sound. When I left the business (I just wasn’t good at the business end of things,) I sold the Leica and Rollei gear, sticking with Olympus (I’ve since acquired some Oly rangefinder gear, as well as the odd piece of Konica and Nikon gear just for fun,) and I’ve moved from the relatively heavy Toyo to a Chamonix 45-2N. What sounds better now? A bit of background … I’m a recovered professional photographer; when I got started I shot Olympus OM, Rollei SL66 with Zeiss glass, Leica M3 with 21SA, 50DR and 90 Summicron. The Pros. Do you us iTunes or something else? Personally, I think as visual people we just need the balance of well reproduced music in our lives. The Devialet Phantom is a game changer and by far the most expensive Bluetooth speaker we have ever come across, period. They are phenomenal, and were designed by a genius well ahead of his time, but the Devialet amplifiers are on most definitely on the radar when I decide to upgrade and/or the TacT amps fail as they are no longer in business sadly. I have never heard some of my songs sound so good. My only gripe was that my demo unit had a different serial number series and hence I could not register to get online firmware updates. Is the manual to the Devialet user friendly? Well, it is basically because I purchased a new DAC/AMP/PHONO STAGE/CONTROL center and have been so blown away by it I wanted to wait months before I wrote about it because I had to know if it had the stamina to stay with me. Some notes from my experience of Devialet here in the UK. I am 100% thrilled with it even after many months of daily use. Guitars, drums, piano, strings – everything is just so realistic and naturally reproduced. I should know, I have done it and tested it. Dry, low power, stale, and flat. Cheers, Sergio, Loving the Devialet more than ever..it is pretty incredible in just about every way. Hi guys, At one level, this is quite a simple question. I think it is a tad underpriced for what it offers. I pickup my Devialet 120 last weekend and currently have it driving my 30 year old B&W Matrix 2 speaks. It’s all here in one beautifully made piece. Can you play a Cd with a computer using AIR and get bit perfect async playback? An added bonus is that with SAM (Speaker Amplifier Matching) processing applied via the Devialet my speakers (sonus faber Cremona M), benefit from what amounts to a turbo boost. Bought a D-Premier for $6k and upgraded it to the 250. For example; turn off all unused inputs, turn off DPM, turn off AIR if not being used and ensure you have clean and unrestrained power. I have never heard any system whatever its price, coming close to this level of sound quality. Well at long last I managed to hear a 200 and compared it to the naim gear I mentioned in an earlier post.Liked what I heard.All the detail of the naim but not so in your face and a lot less shelf space so I’ve got a 200 on order.Another plus point is my speakers aren’t samed but the newer version of them is and apparently it’s only the cabinet shape that’s different so I should be able to use the newer speakers Sam settings on mine. Phantom plays bigger than real life. Hi Steve, Last year Devialet get a free Dialog and Apple TV. I bought a 200 after reading your review and attending an open day here in the uk and boy I was amazed. Right now I’m living with mostly mid-fi gear, the only really nice piece I have are a pair of DCM Time Window 1a speakers, which I bought used for a song. Hi Steve Thanks for the review. I contacted Paris directly and their best advice was to send the amp back and they would update the innards physically to recalibrate it to what essentially would be a production-unit D-Premier. The smell is on and off, but it s there! This is our review of the Devialet Phantom Gold, the best wireless speaker that we have ever reviewed. The Sony 35 f/1.4 G Master Lens Review 2021. A lot of resolution, like listening to a megapixel audio file! The Phantom speakers look very futuristic. HiFi at its finest. Both are stellar pieces of Audio gear. It plays my files from my Mac Mini better than my $13k Audio Research CD9 did. Thanks again. I am seriously considering buying the Devialet 120 (or the 200), auditioned them at the dealer showroom (and really liked them), but not at home. With this amp it’s as if the speakers are nowhere to be seen. ChrisSU January 23, 2019, 7:42pm #6. This combo is the refined version of what I loved so much about my Line Magnetic/Sonus Faber combo. Since day one, we’ve been on a mission to bring the depth of emotion of high-fidelity sound to as many of you as we can. Are there any things you miss ? Firstly, I run Sonus Faber G Evos. Perhaps maybe worth noting that the Deviate 200 gives 'only' 150 watts into 8 ohms which may not be sufficient drive for some speakers and / or tastes in music. It is the opposite, and is pretty amazing how they achieved it. I no longer own the Sonus Faber speakers (too large for my room  – too much of a good thing) but have found a perfect match for the Devialet in Wilson Benesch Vector speakers. I am planning on looking at a Devialet later on so if the synergy is great it will definitely make my decision easier. Well, well, well Steve. Bruce you cast a lot of stones with your blanket statements. Chris, Switzerland. Can you please verify how loud is the amp when in standby mode? I thought it was going to be Analytical but it was neutral with a touch of warmth. These speakers must be wondering is behind they pushing to new highs. Congrats. Worthless. Will they be ok in a small listening room (20 m2)? Are you still in love with Devialet / Wilson Benesch? With Devialet, you subconsciously stop listening to the equipment; because you’re too mesmerized by the beauty of music! You don’t even know HiFi very well… Seriously, don’t put your self into extremely every time you write a review, save some space for your next review/bullshit! £5000 … The best $10k I’ve ever spent on anything. This piece begs for a wireless digital streaming solution. CARL. It seems my comment didn’t go through. Useful Articles, Featured Photographers and more! Yamaha YSP 5200. I've got three episodes to go and I can recommend it as well worth a shot. What I have now will be with me for many years, it is the 1st ever system that I am in no way tiring of or looking to enhance with cables or tricks. 2 Likes. No issues, no bass boom, nothing. Highs are excellent. Funny thing is that I’m shopping for new gear right now and I was thinking Line Magnetic… then again, I’ve always been interested in the Dev. I had no control over the type and format of music that was played over it. Did not like them as much as my Devialet with speakers (now my McIntosh and speakers which cost much much more than the phantoms of course) and therefore they were not for me but they are insanely cool and sound phenomenal for what they are and for what they cost. Yes, $9,000 is a deal. This Devialet sounds better than my old AR VSi 75 which was a $9000 tube amp. Ive tried the Phantom speakers for a couple days in my house. Then something magic will happen: when you touch each of the Phantoms, they start to make some ambient breathing sound and their ‘ears’ will move a little. Phantom Reactor looks very similar to the other Phantom speakers in Devialet’s range – just on a much smaller scale. Leonard was IN MY ROOM with the most eery and real vocals I have ever heard being reproduced in my room and sitting in my listening chair. its pretty disgusting! So thank you very much for costing me so much money! I’ve been trying to find a solution like this for some time. It was slim, and had the looks of an expensive item yet it was also simplistic. The all-white, vaguely ovoid cabinet is smoothly finis…