Short answer: the Devialet Phantom II 98 dB for better sound quality, the Presonus Eris E5 XT for the lower price. The Devialet Phantom II 98 dB ranks #9 of 65 powered bookshelf speakers at $2998. The Presonus Eris E5 XT ranks #44 at $119.99, $2878.01 cheaper.
What the Devialet Phantom II 98 dB offers: The manufacturer-supplied measurement shows unusually deep bass for the enclosure size: -3dB at 30Hz. Scores of 6.07 standalone and 7.15 with an ideal subwoofer suggest that its appeal is not limited to bass quantity. Integrated amplification and network playback can replace several components, and its 2.3dB midrange response span is reasonably even. Watch for: Small-enclosure bass extension at the measurement level does not guarantee the same response at high volume. Stereo requires two units, and the integrated architecture offers less system flexibility than conventional monitors.
What the Presonus Eris E5 XT offers: ASR’s measurements show reasonably consistent directivity through the crossover, so EQ changes are more likely to benefit both direct and reflected sound. Bass reaches -3dB around 56Hz. A standalone preference score of 2.88 rises to 5.30 with an ideal subwoofer, indicating useful bass reach but only moderate native tonal performance. Watch for: The response has bass and treble emphasis with a recessed crossover region; smooth directivity carries that imbalance into room reflections rather than fixing it. Existing distortion testing shows problems across a broad range when pushed to 96dB. Tone correction and moderate levels help, but it is not a reference-flat monitor out of the box.
Buy the Devialet Phantom II 98 dB if sound quality is the priority over the price, or the Presonus Eris E5 XT if the price is the priority over sound quality.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Devialet Phantom II 98 dB | Presonus Eris E5 XT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,998 per pair | $239.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #9 of 65 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #44 of 65 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 30Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 85Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | approximately 22.6Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 65Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | One aluminum full-range driver; two aluminum bass drivers | 5" (127mm) woofer |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, UPnP, Roon Ready, analog/optical combo jack | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | - |
| Amplifier Power | 400W RMS each | 80w Per Speaker |
| Dimensions | 6.6 x 6.2 x 8.6 in each | 10.2"H x 7"W x 7.7"D (259.1 x 177.8 x 195.6 mm) |
| Weight | 9.5 lbs (4.3 kg) each | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) each |
| Maximum SPL | 98dB at 1m each (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.07 | 2.88 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.15 | 5.30 |
| Frequency Response | - | 53Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| App | - | No |
| Bluetooth | - | No |
| EQ | - | Yes (Room adjustment) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Devialet Phantom II 98 dB:
- Genelec 8331A vs Devialet Phantom II 98 dB
- Neumann KH120 MKII vs Devialet Phantom II 98 dB
- Genelec 8030C vs Devialet Phantom II 98 dB
- Neumann KH80 DSP vs Devialet Phantom II 98 dB
- Devialet Phantom II 98 dB vs Dynaudio LYD 5
Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Devialet Phantom II 98 dB: $2,998 per pair Devialet eBay
Pros: The manufacturer-supplied measurement shows unusually deep bass for the enclosure size: -3dB at 30Hz. Scores of 6.07 standalone and 7.15 with an ideal subwoofer suggest that its appeal is not limited to bass quantity. Integrated amplification and network playback can replace several components, and its 2.3dB midrange response span is reasonably even. Measured bass extension of 30Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Small-enclosure bass extension at the measurement level does not guarantee the same response at high volume. Stereo requires two units, and the integrated architecture offers less system flexibility than conventional monitors.
Full Devialet Phantom II 98 dB review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 400W RMS each |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | approximately 22.6Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 30Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Dimensions | 6.6 x 6.2 x 8.6 in each |
| Drivers | One aluminum full-range driver; two aluminum bass drivers |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, UPnP, Roon Ready, analog/optical combo jack |
| Maximum SPL | 98dB at 1m each (manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.07 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.15 |
| Weight | 9.5 lbs (4.3 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Devialet Phantom II 98 dB vs Genelec 8020D
- Devialet Phantom II 98 dB vs Genelec 8330A
- Devialet Phantom II 98 dB vs Klipsch The Fives
- Devialet Phantom II 98 dB vs Dynaudio LYD 5
- Devialet Phantom II 98 dB vs JBL 305P MKII
- Devialet Phantom II 98 dB vs Neumann KH80 DSP
- Devialet Phantom II 98 dB vs KEF LS50 Wireless II
- Devialet Phantom II 98 dB vs Genelec 8030C
- See all 37 comparisons
Presonus Eris E5 XT: $239.98 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: ASR’s measurements show reasonably consistent directivity through the crossover, so EQ changes are more likely to benefit both direct and reflected sound. Bass reaches -3dB around 56Hz. A standalone preference score of 2.88 rises to 5.30 with an ideal subwoofer, indicating useful bass reach but only moderate native tonal performance. Measured bass extension of 85Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The response has bass and treble emphasis with a recessed crossover region; smooth directivity carries that imbalance into room reflections rather than fixing it. Existing distortion testing shows problems across a broad range when pushed to 96dB. Tone correction and moderate levels help, but it is not a reference-flat monitor out of the box.
Full Presonus Eris E5 XT review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 80w Per Speaker |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 65Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 85Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Dimensions | 10.2"H x 7"W x 7.7"D (259.1 x 177.8 x 195.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 5" (127mm) woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 53Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.88 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.30 |
| Weight | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- DSAUDIO.review: New PreSonus E5 XT and Yamaha HS5 could not sound any more different! SOUND AND RESPONSE COMPARISON More from DSAUDIOreview →
- DSAUDIO.review: Bright and brighter. PreSonus E5 XT takes on Adam Audio T5V SOUND & FREQUENCY RESPONSE COMPARISON
- DSAUDIO.review: PreSonus Eris E5 XT vs PreSonus Eris E5 (new vs old) Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: PreSonus E7 XT vs PreSonus E5 XT Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: PreSonus Eris E8 XT vs PreSonus Eris E5 XT Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: PreSonus E5 XT vs KRK Rokit 5 G4 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- Audio Science Review Measurements More from Audio Science Review →
- Audio Science Review Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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