Skip to main content

Devialet’s downsized Phantom Reactor speaker still promises huge sound

Devialet’s original Phantom speaker was a monster in more ways than one. Yes, it was capable of producing an enormous amount of sound for a speaker that was technically portable, but it was also very heavy and had a sizable footprint, not to mention a price tag approaching $3,000. The company’s follow-up, the Devialet Phantom Elevate upped the wattage even further, but the footprint remained the same. Now in the Phantom Reactor, Devialet promises the same huge sound, but with a smaller size and lower price.

The company calls the Phantom Reactor ultra-compact, and compared to the original Phantom it is: The speaker weighs in a 10 pounds and can even fit in the palm of your hand, assuming you’ve got large hands. The sound hasn’t shrunken as a side effect, however. Devialet says the speaker can produce sound as loud as a symphony orchestra. For those who prefer hard numbers, the company says the more powerful model is capable of producing a maximum volume of 98dB SPL.

Related Videos

Yes, there are two models, though both share the same size. The more powerful Phantom Reactor 900 offers up 900 watts of power, while the Phantom Reactor 600 offers a still-impressive 600 watts of power and a maximum volume of 95dB SPL. Keep in mind that a level change of just 10dB sounds twice as loud, so there is will be a noticeable difference in volume between the two models.

Many of the same features that helped the original Phantom sound so impressive are still here, like Heart Bass Implosion, which as the name implies, was practically responsible for the booming bass offered up by the Reactor’s predecessors. The new models have a frequency range from an ultra-low 18Hz to a super-high 21kHz. When it comes to connectivity, the speakers have analog and optical digital inputs, as well as wireless connectivity via Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, Airplay, and UPnP.

Both Phantom Reactor models will be available for pre-order starting October 24, but you can pre-register to get a head start via the Devialet website. Pricing starts at $900, which is still fairly high, but comparable with some of the higher end models on our list of the best Bluetooth speakers you can buy, and much lower than previous Devialet Phantom models.

Editors' Recommendations

Pioneer Elite’s latest flagship AVR is jammed with new audio tech
Pioneer Elite VSX-LX805 AVR with a TV.

Pioneer electronics makes some of the best AV receivers money can buy, and its flagship Pioneer Elite brand is about to push that envelope further with the announcement of its latest AVR (audio video receiver), the Elite VSX-LX805. The 11.2.4-channel network receiver will be available this Spring for a premium $2,999, but that big price gets you big power at 150 watts per channel, a new 32-bit digital audio converter, some AI-driven room calibration, and some audiophile upgrades.

The Pioneer Elite VSX-LX805 is the first Pioneer receiver to be designed in cooperation with Premium Audio Company since its licensing agreement with Pioneer/Pioneer Elite in 2021, which put them in charge of marketing and selling the brands' AVR business globally (except in China). PAC is a powerhouse of home audio gear, with huge brands under its umbrella, including Klipsch, Onkyo, Teac, and Energy, so expectations are high for its new arrivals. 

Read more
Vinyl records outsell CDs for first time in 35 years
Electrohome Archer Vinyl Record Player needle

People love vinyl records for a myriad of reasons. It might be the satisfying hum of the needle as the groove spins beneath it that attracts them, or the enjoyment of handling a physical product and soaking up the album artwork. But for many, of course, it's pure nostalgia that draws them back to the once-dominant music-playing format.

Vinyl albums have been making a comeback in recent years, and new data shows that for the first time since 1987, they’ve outsold CDs in the U.S. market.

Read more
I used two of the year’s oddest tech gadgets so you don’t have to
The open Nokia 5710 XpressAudio and Huawei Watch Buds

If you’re intent on not keeping your true wireless earbuds in a normal charging case, and want to hide them inside a different gadget, now is your time. The Huawei Watch Buds is a smartwatch with a pair of true wireless headphones inside, and the Nokia 5710 XpressAudio is a 4G phone that stores a pair of earbuds in the back.

It’s a bizarre niche that I’m surprised contains two products. I’ve used them, so it's my duty to report that both are a bit silly — and I don’t want to use any more of them, thank you very much. However, for the few people out there thinking they want to buy one, this is what they're like. For everyone else, you get to marvel at two of the oddest tech products seen in a while.
Phone or smartwatch?

Read more