Devialet Phantom Gold

Jerry Seh

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Apr 16, 2013
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Having heard them, can't resists. So now had 2 of them flanking my lounge TV. If you think the Phantom Silver is incredible (it is), the Gold is really out of this world. At least, for small speakers ... I have not heard any that is better.
 

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http://en.devialet.com/gold-phantom-en-us/best-3-en-us
 
Thanks Daniel for helping to reverse the picture. I don't know how it ended up like that though. Cheers!
 
Are those the Golds or the Silvers?

Please take a side picture and also tell us more about the sound compared to the base and silver versions.

One complaint before was that the Mid and HF was not up to ultimate audiophile grade and the plan was intuited to be that they M/HF drivers would be upgraded in more upscale models. However, apart from a beef up of power it seems the tweeter switch from Alu to Titanium are the only major changes.

For me, the normal and silver versions were fun, "lifestyle" speakers.
 
Are those the Golds or the Silvers?

Please take a side picture and also tell us more about the sound compared to the base and silver versions.

One complaint before was that the Mid and HF was not up to ultimate audiophile grade and the plan was intuited to be that they M/HF drivers would be upgraded in more upscale models. However, apart from a beef up of power it seems the tweeter switch from Alu to Titanium are the only major changes.

For me, the normal and silver versions were fun, "lifestyle" speakers.

Hi Norman,

I am sorry I do not know how to post pictures AFTER the thread as I do not see any "attachment" icons. I am seeking Dan's help to do so (sent him a private mail). Please be patient as he will certainly help.

In answer to your questions;

1. The Gold can be differentiated just by looking at the Devialet logo on top of the speaker. Its of a different color than the standard Phantom or Silver.

2. I do not know for sure what the complaint is all about but for sure, the Gold is on another level altogether. If one does not have a system, this could be the most cost effective way to end one's itch. Serious, its so good that one just keep listening to the music. None of the usual criticisms can come forth. Of course, if one wants to nit pick, certainly, there is no end, no matter what's the costs, even the latest Kharma Enigma Veyron complete setup will not satisfy.

3. Sorry again, I am not technically inclined, but the 4.5k watts (as against the 3k watts of the Phantom Silver) and the new tweeter (and probably some other additional works done which was not disclosed?) made this a splendid speaker. Indeed you are right to say the Standard and the Silver are fun style speakers. But the Gold, they are audiophile stuff!

I hope Dan will post the pictures right after this reply. Be patient. Thanks & Cheers
 
Attachment icon is the third from right. You can use the basic uploader or the more Advanced one...just make sure you select the tab for file and not URL....if you have the foto on your computer.

It is not possible to see the logo in your photo, as the picture is too small, that is why I asked for a side photo or a more blown up one.

I met a top guy from Devialet at a party last Dec and will likely meet him again this year, as I already gooten a new invit for this year. I assume he will be there again. We chatted about the Phantom and I told him what we audioheads thought and he let me ramble on. I told him that it is clear to us that the white and silver are fun lifestyle speakers, DELIBERATELY crippled, to allow space for an audiophile version to come later. As while the bass is exciting (even if not technically correct - air pushing vs vibrattion propagation), the mid/highs were not up to scratch in audiophile terms. He laughed saying wait and see. I intuited that the Audiophile Phantom was in the works at a higher price point and keep and open mind that this or perhaps a future PLATINUM Phanton will the be promised audiophile messiah! LoL

Only the tweeter has been upgraded (driver Wise) and perhaps a Platinum will see a higher end mid driver (diamond encrusted) and a Berylium tweeter???
$8K a pair?
 
Attachment icon is the third from right. You can use the basic uploader or the more Advanced one...just make sure you select the tab for file and not URL....if you have the foto on your computer.

It is not possible to see the logo in your photo, as the picture is too small, that is why I asked for a side photo or a more blown up one.

I met a top guy from Devialet at a party last Dec and will likely meet him again this year, as I already gooten a new invit for this year. I assume he will be there again. We chatted about the Phantom and I told him what we audioheads thought and he let me ramble on. I told him that it is clear to us that the white and silver are fun lifestyle speakers, DELIBERATELY crippled, to allow space for an audiophile version to come later. As while the bass is exciting (even if not technically correct - air pushing vs vibrattion propagation), the mid/highs were not up to scratch in audiophile terms. He laughed saying wait and see. I intuited that the Audiophile Phantom was in the works at a higher price point and keep and open mind that this or perhaps a future PLATINUM Phanton will the be promised audiophile messiah! LoL

Only the tweeter has been upgraded (driver Wise) and perhaps a Platinum will see a higher end mid driver (diamond encrusted) and a Berylium tweeter???
$8K a pair?

Ok, I am trying to add on the pictures here. Hope I did it right. Thanks for advise.
 

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Thanks Jerry!
I am going to see if my local dealer has a demo set to listen to in the shop.

It its sooo much better than the Silvers, then it will indeed be great.
 
Jerry.......That is a wild looking speaker. It is difficult to imagine from its size and shape that it would be such a spectacular performer.


attachment.php
 
Thanks Dan for the help. Now its clearly shown by the side cheeks it Gold. Actually, the Devialet icon/logo at the front (on top of the tweeter) is also Gold as against the Phantom and Silver versions which are in a different colour tone. Cheers
 
Heard em today (TIDAL streaming only) and YES they are significantly better than the Silvers. They are not as good as the $70K ProLogos (nor Micro Metis above 70hz) obviously and perhaps not as good as the Kii 3s, but I have not heard those yet. At $5K a pair, they are superb and make a complete turnkey solution that would not embrass an audiophile. Perhaps the only thing needed now is an Equalizer in the Spark app that can tone down the bass - for the Gold. For the assumed upcoming Platinum/Diamond model, I would love to see a SoTA mid range driver (ceramic perhaps, or diamond driver) along with a tunable bass.

As it stands its a superb 2nd system with only a small "audiophile" penalty, half the price pf a Kiiand 1/4 the price of a Goldmund Prologos Tower and this come with high WAF, modern looks/design and LOUD sound if needed 108db. Its a player for sure.
Dialog is still not 100% stable though...
 
Well, it's a boombox, has nothing to do with audiophile anything. I have one in my living room, with the rationale being they're good for some polite background music when the wife does not want another huge audio set in the living room.


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Well, it's a boombox, has nothing to do with audiophile anything. I have one in my living room, with the rationale being they're good for some polite background music when the wife does not want another huge audio set in the living room.


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Ok then!! Hows your wheaties?
 
Ok then!! Hows your wheaties?

Anything to add to the question at hand or actual first-hand experience beyond trade shows or reading forum postings, Sir? [emoji3]

As this is a high-end forum, I assume people owning six figure systems might not necessarily consider whatever color Phantom high-end. It is fancy, my wife likes it and hence I might be wrong though.

But as said, being an actual Phantom owner and liking it for the purpose of its use, the spatial experience resembles that of a boom box and has rather little in common with my high-end system. From my perspective that is absolutely ok, given the price and footprint difference between a Phantom and a high-end system.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Well, it's a boombox, has nothing to do with audiophile anything. I have one in my living room, with the rationale being they're good for some polite background music when the wife does not want another huge audio set in the living room.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
You have the GOLD Phantoms?
 
Anything to add to the question at hand or actual first-hand experience beyond trade shows or reading forum postings, Sir? [emoji3]

As this is a high-end forum, I assume people owning six figure systems might not necessarily consider whatever color Phantom high-end. It is fancy, my wife likes it and hence I might be wrong though.

But as said, being an actual Phantom owner and liking it for the purpose of its use, the spatial experience resembles that of a boom box and has rather little in common with my high-end system. From my perspective that is absolutely ok, given the price and footprint difference between a Phantom and a high-end system.


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Ha! So it was the wheaties I see,,,,....... :)
 
You have the GOLD Phantoms?

I do have Silver, but have heard the Gold. While there are improvements in some aspects, I did not find the difference to really change the spatial experience.

That said, this might very well be due to personal preferences. I would personally rather not build a high-end system around Devialet amplification, also independent of device color. I find the sound too dry and lifeless - again a purely subjective view.

Adding a bit here: My personal view and use should not mean by any means they would not be absolutely magnificent to somebody else's ears or a different use. You like potato and I like potahto, as simple as that.

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