Hi Peter, Great work as always. Have you considered making a video to explain basic lingo and technical aspects regarding sound, frequency, hertz etc ? Because this part is always obscure to me and I guess for a handful of people. I really would like to understand what you talk about when showing curves and graphics. I would find it handy as it is a topic that comes back on like 90% of your videos. Cheers
wow..!!! this review is awesome.. really what i was looking for~!!! more devialet review please.. really trying hard to convict myself it is worth the money. thank!!!
Great review! However, this review will cost me a lot of money... I have Arc + 2x Play:1 and now I must buy also the Sub! 😄 my wife will not be happy about that🙄🤣
Hi Peter, what do you think of devialet's reply when I asked if the Phantom ll could be used as a subwoofer using the 3.5mm input and sub out from another active speaker or soundbar? Will it have latency issues? If we are talking about Phantom II 95dB or 98dB I wouldn't recommend it. - First the bass response on Phantom II is great for the product's size but you shouldn't expect the same feeling as with a true subwoofer, designed for this use case. - Second, you will necessarily have at least 60ms delay on Phantom II that you can't bypass, so this means the customer will have latency between the rest of the system (which I suppose is not Devialet speakers). In the end the experience will really not be good. Or he needs to have the possibility to handle the delay beforehand, but that's overly complicated in my opinion.
I really don't recommend it, because of the delay you will have between the 2 devices, which will create a bad audio experience
Hi Peter, have you heard about the new set of active speakers that Klipsch has recently released (The Fives)? They come with lot of input connections including HDMI ARC and Bluetooth 5.0 with Aptx HD codec, and also have a subwoofer output to connect any subwoofer from the market. The price tag is the same as the Sonos Arc, so I think it is a serious contender to any soundbar from the market and would be nice to compare these products.
Hi Peter I am very interested in a video comparison between the Sonos five as studio monitors or studio pair compared to the Duvali reactors as another stereo pair please advise
I have both but haven’t gotten down to testing the both of them. I love both setups tremendously. But if I were to choose now; I’d go with the phantom reactors as they just look so cool and are much smaller. But the price is double. If I were to equalise the price, or if you were to ask me if I’d take 2 phantom reactors or 4 Sonos fives, I’d take the Sonos fives!
Great video once again...if you are taking suggestions on videos...how about best placement of the Arc to obtain the best atmos experience. I am having trouble placing the Arc in a way to hear the height above you. I know atmos is more than the height but I was hoping to hear more things above me as well.
I set up the Arc with 3rd gen sub and 2 one SL’s as my tears and 2 more One SL’s in the front. I play both groups with my Apple TV 4K and the sound immersion is incredible! It’s to bad Sonos doesn’t let me use the front 2 SL’s as ceiling speakers.
Thanks for your continued detailed analysis on sonos products. Do you plan to compare 2.0/2.1 set up of sonos five with sub vs 2.0 from something like KEF LSX or phantom reactor for music experience (and move experience if applicable)?
Reactors 900 are same as 600, only a bit louder, not even more bass. Classical phantom is miles away in sound quality, it has much better midrange and clarity with a lot more power and deaper more precise bass...
Decided to take the plunge and got myself an Arc and the Gen 3 sub after watching your videos. For the Sonos One surround, should I position it to face the listener or face forward? I was thinking that if facing forward, it may muddle the sound from the front-firing Arc. Thanks
Peter Pee Thanks! Yeah it was an awesome experience. So much so I also upgraded my TV too. Got an LG C9 that supports HDMI 2.1 and eARC. Thanks for the great videos by the way
Loving the vids Pete! I have a single phantom gold already. I'm thinking of selling it and using the money to get an arc, sub, 2 one SL's and a five. What do you think?
That’s for surround. In terms of stereo performance it won’t be there for the arc surround setup. But if you’re more into movies I’d recommend the change of system!
@@PeterPee Thanks. Yeah I'm more of a movie fan so I think it'll get more use. I'm going to get a five aswell for music with the intension of maybe adding an extra five maybe next year.
Difference is obvious, reactors give deep bass while the other better highs(clarity). Virtual surround is possible with even 2 speakers, not sure if TVs support something like that. Its not phantoms that can use 3+ variations... maybe only if there was DAC that could simulate ss.
@@PeterPee I'm not a pro, but if there is 5.1 output, you would just need to add some small speakers to the back. There is also so much virtual sound can do, Sony does it in their headphones as 360 audio. So xperia phone output can do that too, that's for stereo to sound binaural-ish and open. I'm more into headphones now as I try new soundblaster x7, there is some output for speakers maybe 5.1 or so, to route it with cables is hard part. My banana to rca cabel for headphones is from China... 😂
I’ve just bought a 5.1 system from sonos with the playbar, 2 sonos ones and the sub gen 3. Would the phantoms be actually better overall than these. Surely they can’t produce more bass than the sub gen 3 and they lack a midrange driver so I’m not entirely convinced by them. However I was looking at the gold phantom, would that be a better option for a wireless speaker. I know it won’t replace my sonos but for something I could use for parties or around the house as a wireless speaker or would you recommend something like a sonos five so it fits in with my existing eco system?
The gold phantom is quite a lot more expensive than the Sonos fives. Even if money is not a concern, it might actually be a better investment to buy 2 of Sonos fives and still come up cheaper than the gold phantom. I’d vote for the Sonos five!
Sonos arc support Dolby Atmos. But unfortunately does not support dts. I have been playing home theatre for many years and have a collection of dvd and bluray. Most support Dolby and dts but some in dts only. Any recommendations on how to playback dts
Not withstanding sound quality, I would consider the arc to have a better software ecosystem. I am not familiar with the Dali but if they start to implement BluOS on that then I’ll look at them.
Yes, the video is very misleading. 7.1 and 5.1.2 are NOT the same. 7.1 gives you four surround sources (SR, SL, SBR, SBL) and without height speakers. You only get two surround sources but with 2 front height speakers with 5.1.2.
Well, I think it’s naming. Yes, it’s 5.1.2 to be accurate. But I just use 7.1 like how JBL will refer to their atmos system as 9.1. It’s generally easier to understand. But yes, you are right. Technically to be correct it’s 5.1.2. I have referred to my previous setup as 11.2 when it should technically be 7.2.4. Some AVR manufacturers are also selling 7.2.6 AVRs and marketing them as 13.2 when it’s 6 heights channel.
Peter Pee then JBL is misleading their customers. Just because they do it doesn’t make it right. A Dolby 7.1 signal is NOT the same as a Dolby 5.1 ATMOS signal.
@@krio. Dont think they are misleading customers. Its just naming conventions. But then again.. the JBL Bar 9.1 has 9 speakers up front when the rears are attached (plus the sub) so technically.. its not wrong if you take the numbers to be units of drivers. When detached, they become a 5.1.4. But you are right in that 7.1 signals are not 5.1 ATMOS.
David Cheok I think it’s silly to use JBL’s brand/product naming on a Sonos product when it can mislead people into thinking you’re using the standard speaker configuration naming convention. Leave JBL naming to JBL products.
Phantoms are more like a 2.2 system 😂 I’ve saw a similar video in which stereo phantom golds blew away the old Sonos 5.1 system admittedly that was for music
Pawl Arc by itself is 5.0.2. Adding the surrounds improves the surround sounds, but it’s still 5.0.2. Adding the sub makes it 5.1.2. You can’t get 7.1 with any Sonos setup.
Can’t wait for the test of the Sonos five in comparison to the Sonos one (sl) as the rear speakers
I am so looking forward to a Stereo comparison of the Devialet Reactor pair VS. a SONOS 5 pair. Cheers !
Thanks as always Peter, as good as I've become accustomed to.
Nice Saturday morning watch.
Have a nice weekend!
Hi Peter,
Great work as always. Have you considered making a video to explain basic lingo and technical aspects regarding sound, frequency, hertz etc ?
Because this part is always obscure to me and I guess for a handful of people.
I really would like to understand what you talk about when showing curves and graphics. I would find it handy as it is a topic that comes back on like 90% of your videos.
Cheers
Sure. I like that idea. I should try to put something out to explain this. Thank you for your feedback!
wow..!!! this review is awesome.. really what i was looking for~!!! more devialet review please.. really trying hard to convict myself it is worth the money. thank!!!
Glad you liked it! The price is just.... very hard to bear.
Great review! However, this review will cost me a lot of money... I have Arc + 2x Play:1 and now I must buy also the Sub! 😄 my wife will not be happy about that🙄🤣
You will be happy about it. The difference is like reading about an earthquake and experiencing an earthquake.
Haha. But the sub will be with you for a Long time. Transcending generations.
Russ MacDonald that’s the best comparison I have ever read😄
Peter Pee that’s true. I really must have it!
I agree too! Haha. Earth quake!
Hi Peter, what do you think of devialet's reply when I asked if the Phantom ll could be used as a subwoofer using the 3.5mm input and sub out from another active speaker or soundbar? Will it have latency issues?
If we are talking about Phantom II 95dB or 98dB I wouldn't recommend it.
- First the bass response on Phantom II is great for the product's size but you shouldn't expect the same feeling as with a true subwoofer, designed for this use case.
- Second, you will necessarily have at least 60ms delay on Phantom II that you can't bypass, so this means the customer will have latency between the rest of the system (which I suppose is not Devialet speakers).
In the end the experience will really not be good. Or he needs to have the possibility to handle the delay beforehand, but that's overly complicated in my opinion.
I really don't recommend it, because of the delay you will have between the 2 devices, which will create a bad audio experience
Would it be possible that you test an Sennheiser Ambeo vs Sonos arc 7.1 setup
Hi Peter, have you heard about the new set of active speakers that Klipsch has recently released (The Fives)? They come with lot of input connections including HDMI ARC and Bluetooth 5.0 with Aptx HD codec, and also have a subwoofer output to connect any subwoofer from the market. The price tag is the same as the Sonos Arc, so I think it is a serious contender to any soundbar from the market and would be nice to compare these products.
Yes. I’ve thought about the Klipsch fives. I’m just wondering where to place them ;)
Hi Peter I am very interested in a video comparison between the Sonos five as studio monitors or studio pair compared to the Duvali reactors as another stereo pair please advise
I have both but haven’t gotten down to testing the both of them. I love both setups tremendously. But if I were to choose now; I’d go with the phantom reactors as they just look so cool and are much smaller. But the price is double.
If I were to equalise the price, or if you were to ask me if I’d take 2 phantom reactors or 4 Sonos fives, I’d take the Sonos fives!
Awesome that was exactly what I was looking for !! Such interesting. Was wondering if going for the devialet would be a good choice! Thanks 👍
Glad it was helpful!
Great video once again...if you are taking suggestions on videos...how about best placement of the Arc to obtain the best atmos experience. I am having trouble placing the Arc in a way to hear the height above you. I know atmos is more than the height but I was hoping to hear more things above me as well.
Yes I have that video queued up. But it’s not the easiest to produce. The room environment is going to be different for everyone.
@@PeterPee definitely agree about the challenge with so many variables though a good baseline would help
I set up the Arc with 3rd gen sub and 2 one SL’s as my tears and 2 more One SL’s in the front. I play both groups with my Apple TV 4K and the sound immersion is incredible! It’s to bad Sonos doesn’t let me use the front 2 SL’s as ceiling speakers.
Is there no delay from the front Ones?
That’s quite cool. I intent to try that out with the Sonos fives when they come.
Edwin Kwok no delay what so ever. They both are perfectly sync. I assume it thinks I’m playing from multiple rooms.
Thanks for your continued detailed analysis on sonos products. Do you plan to compare 2.0/2.1 set up of sonos five with sub vs 2.0 from something like KEF LSX or phantom reactor for music experience (and move experience if applicable)?
Not sure of the kef lsx. I considered them for a while but have not pulled the trigger on them.
NICE WORK!!!
It would be nice to test the Devialet Phantom Classic Stereo Pack. Iti is very close to a pair of Reactor 900.
Reactors 900 are same as 600, only a bit louder, not even more bass. Classical phantom is miles away in sound quality, it has much better midrange and clarity with a lot more power and deaper more precise bass...
Decided to take the plunge and got myself an Arc and the Gen 3 sub after watching your videos. For the Sonos One surround, should I position it to face the listener or face forward? I was thinking that if facing forward, it may muddle the sound from the front-firing Arc. Thanks
Face the listener for sure. And I am Glad you took that plunge! It is an awesome setup for movies!
Peter Pee Thanks! Yeah it was an awesome experience. So much so I also upgraded my TV too. Got an LG C9 that supports HDMI 2.1 and eARC. Thanks for the great videos by the way
That’s so cool! Enjoy your setup!
Loving the vids Pete! I have a single phantom gold already. I'm thinking of selling it and using the money to get an arc, sub, 2 one SL's and a five. What do you think?
That’s for surround. In terms of stereo performance it won’t be there for the arc surround setup. But if you’re more into movies I’d recommend the change of system!
@@PeterPee Thanks. Yeah I'm more of a movie fan so I think it'll get more use. I'm going to get a five aswell for music with the intension of maybe adding an extra five maybe next year.
Difference is obvious, reactors give deep bass while the other better highs(clarity). Virtual surround is possible with even 2 speakers, not sure if TVs support something like that. Its not phantoms that can use 3+ variations... maybe only if there was DAC that could simulate ss.
Hey Peter! How have you been! Thanks for dropping by! For Reactors, when the bass notes come in at lower volumes, it always grips me. It’s that Low.
@@PeterPee I'm not a pro, but if there is 5.1 output, you would just need to add some small speakers to the back. There is also so much virtual sound can do, Sony does it in their headphones as 360 audio. So xperia phone output can do that too, that's for stereo to sound binaural-ish and open.
I'm more into headphones now as I try new soundblaster x7, there is some output for speakers maybe 5.1 or so, to route it with cables is hard part. My banana to rca cabel for headphones is from China... 😂
I’ve just bought a 5.1 system from sonos with the playbar, 2 sonos ones and the sub gen 3. Would the phantoms be actually better overall than these. Surely they can’t produce more bass than the sub gen 3 and they lack a midrange driver so I’m not entirely convinced by them. However I was looking at the gold phantom, would that be a better option for a wireless speaker. I know it won’t replace my sonos but for something I could use for parties or around the house as a wireless speaker or would you recommend something like a sonos five so it fits in with my existing eco system?
The gold phantom is quite a lot more expensive than the Sonos fives. Even if money is not a concern, it might actually be a better investment to buy 2 of Sonos fives and still come up cheaper than the gold phantom.
I’d vote for the Sonos five!
Okay thanks!
Hi am i able to set pair of devialet together with a soundbar for TV? And would it be better if it were just a pair of devialet?
Yes you can use a pair of phantoms with a TV. But NOT a soundbar. It doesn't connect that way. Unless your soundbar has optical out?
Were the surrounds set to ambient for music?
Yes ambient.
Sonos arc vs klipsch fives is another good comparison around the same price
Now I have to seriously consider the Klipsch fives.
looking to replace my pair of sonos one with reactors, it would be nice if phantom could be as part of 5.1 setup
They have phantom reactor custom. That can be configured into a 5 channel system. But it’s not common.
Only a Singaporean can fulfill another Singaporean's curiosity with all the details required.
Sonos arc support Dolby Atmos. But unfortunately does not support dts. I have been playing home theatre for many years and have a collection of dvd and bluray.
Most support Dolby and dts but some in dts only. Any recommendations on how to playback dts
There isn’t a straightforward way unless you are setting up for transcoding. Which basically destroys the original intended format.
How is the Dali katch one vs arc alone?
Not withstanding sound quality, I would consider the arc to have a better software ecosystem. I am not familiar with the Dali but if they start to implement BluOS on that then I’ll look at them.
Actually Sonos arc max is 5.1.2. Arc alone is 5.0.2. When pair with surrounds still 5.0.2 as per their lazada listing with the various package..
Yes, the video is very misleading. 7.1 and 5.1.2 are NOT the same. 7.1 gives you four surround sources (SR, SL, SBR, SBL) and without height speakers. You only get two surround sources but with 2 front height speakers with 5.1.2.
Well, I think it’s naming. Yes, it’s 5.1.2 to be accurate. But I just use 7.1 like how JBL will refer to their atmos system as 9.1. It’s generally easier to understand. But yes, you are right. Technically to be correct it’s 5.1.2. I have referred to my previous setup as 11.2 when it should technically be 7.2.4. Some AVR manufacturers are also selling 7.2.6 AVRs and marketing them as 13.2 when it’s 6 heights channel.
Peter Pee then JBL is misleading their customers. Just because they do it doesn’t make it right. A Dolby 7.1 signal is NOT the same as a Dolby 5.1 ATMOS signal.
@@krio. Dont think they are misleading customers. Its just naming conventions. But then again.. the JBL Bar 9.1 has 9 speakers up front when the rears are attached (plus the sub) so technically.. its not wrong if you take the numbers to be units of drivers. When detached, they become a 5.1.4. But you are right in that 7.1 signals are not 5.1 ATMOS.
David Cheok I think it’s silly to use JBL’s brand/product naming on a Sonos product when it can mislead people into thinking you’re using the standard speaker configuration naming convention. Leave JBL naming to JBL products.
Phantoms are more like a 2.2 system 😂
I’ve saw a similar video in which stereo phantom golds blew away the old Sonos 5.1 system admittedly that was for music
Yeah, for music, I still go to my phantom reactors.
Noob question about the Reactors. Which kind of cables do I need to purchase exactly to connect to the tv? Do I need 2 cables or just 1? 🙏
You said you had a 5.1 beam set up. Which speakers did you use in the rear
I used the Sonos play:1s
Sonos Arc is 5.1.2🤦🏻, the bar have 2 upward firing speaker not 7.1
Uhm, Sonos Arc can't do 7.1.
Adding the Sonos Sub and Sonos surrounds gives you 7.1 channels.
Pawl Arc by itself is 5.0.2. Adding the surrounds improves the surround sounds, but it’s still 5.0.2. Adding the sub makes it 5.1.2. You can’t get 7.1 with any Sonos setup.
I am so looking forward to a Stereo comparison of the Devialet Reactor pair VS. a SONOS 5 pair. Cheers !