This speaker’s design – yes it is a speaker – is such that it wouldn’t look out of place on a set of Star Wars film; that said look inside and you’ll find that your initial misgivings were not far misplaced, such is the technical advancements housed in its droid-like frame.
Called the Phantom by French brand Devialet, this speaker boasts “ultra-dense sounds with physical impact” and while it sounds like a bold statement, the speaker does in fact well and truly deliver. Before you get to the sound, the first thing you’ll notice is the sheer mass of the speaker, akin to that of the fictional ‘dark matter’ where the mass far outweighs the size. Thankfully, this is not a boom box that you carry around on your shoulders 80’s style, so rather than be an encumbrance, the mass serves as a reification to the quality of construction and component contained within.
Even just turning on the Phantom is a cinematic experience in itself; after a few seconds of turning it on, the silver ‘spheres’ on the side of the speaker are released with a judder, and a gas-sounding-like release of pressure. Then moments later, the speaker emits an almost meditation-inducing warm tone, undulating and soft in its nature, letting you know that the speaker is ready for pairing.
The spherical conception of Phantom is the perfect acoustic architecture to ensure an omnidirectional emission and a uniform sound, no matter the angle you are listening from.
You can connect to the Devialet Phantom via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth using a whole host of devices, ensuring that your favourite playlist is only a couple of clicks away at all times. Now to the sound… I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I think it wouldn’t have mattered because my expectations would have been exceeded regardless. Music – for me – is all about emotion, and the Phantom delivers this in droves, with the pure weight of sound forcing you to submit; from classical to hip-hop, the Phantom coped with ease and aplomb. It held true to its claim of zero distortion and zero airblast with no volume seeming to challenge the glacier white behemoth.
To coin the Japanese notion of continual improvement (Kaizen), the speaker is a cybernetic that improves everyday, upgrading constantly, enhancing its internal connections via Wi-Fi updates.
HOW IT WORKS
An integrated cybernetic intelligence: the ADH Intelligence exclusive to Devialet is a super powerful micro-processor that hybridizes digital and analog technology. It purifies and magnifies the sound signal.
Heart Bass Implosion: Phantom integrates a unique system of sound creation thanks to lateral beats under a very high pressure.
It’s not hard to see why the Devialet Phantom has attracted some of the music industry heavyweights, such as Jay-Z, Beyonce & Will.I.Am, as customers. If required, you can have a Phantom in every room, or link more than one speaker in a single room. Trust me, for most, one Phantom will be more than enough.
DEVIALET.com
