Short answer: the Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98dB, if you are buying new. The Devialet Phantom II 98 dB ranks higher than the Kali Audio IN-5 (#10 vs #26 of 100 powered bookshelf speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98dB, is rated 4.4/5 at $3,998 and is still sold new.
What the Kali Audio IN-5 does well: The active three-way layout separates bass duties from the coaxial mid/tweeter, giving flexible listening geometry. The tradeoff: Local listening-window irregularities remain despite the small overall midrange span.
The Devialet Phantom II 98 dB is the more accurate, deeper-bass pick. The manufacturer-supplied measurement shows unusually deep bass for the enclosure size: -3dB at 30Hz. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.87 against 5.12 for the Kali Audio IN-5. Its bass reaches about 30Hz before falling 3dB, against 45Hz for the Kali Audio IN-5. The tradeoff: Small-enclosure bass extension at the measurement level does not guarantee the same response at high volume.
Buy the Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98dB, the replacement for the discontinued Devialet Phantom II 98 dB; it is rated higher for sound quality than the Kali Audio IN-5.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Kali Audio IN-5 | Devialet Phantom II 98 dB | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $898 per pair | $2,998 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #26 of 100 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #10 of 100 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | Approximately 45Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 30Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40.0Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | approximately 22.6Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Drivers | 1” tweeter coaxial with 4” midrange; 5” woofer | One aluminum full-range driver; two aluminum bass drivers |
| Amplifier Power | 80W LF + 40W mid + 40W HF | 400W RMS each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.12 | 6.87 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.13 | 7.95 |
| Inputs | XLR, TRS, RCA | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, UPnP, Roon Ready, analog/optical combo jack |
| XLR Input | Yes | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | No |
| TRS Input | Yes | No |
| Optical Input | No | Yes |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes |
| Dimensions | 15” x 8.1” x 11.1” (382 x 206 x 282 mm) (H x W x D) | 6.6 x 6.2 x 8.6 in each |
| Frequency Response | 39Hz - 25kHz (-10dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 18Hz - 21kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 18.6 lbs (8.43 kg) each | 9.5 lbs (4.3 kg) each |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC |
| Maximum SPL | - | 98dB at 1m each (manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Devialet Phantom II 98 dB compares with other leading options:
- 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 October 9, 2026 at 8:01 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
Kali Audio IN-5: $898 per pair Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Same family: the Kali Audio IN-8 V2 (larger bookshelf, rated 4.4/5) and the Kali Audio IN-UNF (larger bookshelf, ranked lower, rated 3.3/5).
Pros: The active three-way layout separates bass duties from the coaxial mid/tweeter, giving flexible listening geometry. Erin’s data shows a 1.8dB midrange response span and -3dB bass around 45Hz, with scores of 5.12 standalone and 7.13 with an ideal subwoofer. Placement switches and balanced inputs help integrate it into a studio; moderate-level distortion is well controlled in the existing review. Measured bass extension of 45Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Local listening-window irregularities remain despite the small overall midrange span. The review reports midrange distortion rising above 3% at 96dB and a brighter perceived balance at closer distances. Limiting makes it unsuitable for demanding farfield playback. Coaxial construction improves geometry but does not remove response errors or guarantee unlimited output.
Full Kali Audio IN-5 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 80W LF + 40W mid + 40W HF |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40.0Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | Approximately 45Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 15” x 8.1” x 11.1” (382 x 206 x 282 mm) (H x W x D) |
| Drivers | 1” tweeter coaxial with 4” midrange; 5” woofer |
| Frequency Response | 39Hz - 25kHz (-10dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR, TRS, RCA |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.12 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.13 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 18.6 lbs (8.43 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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Devialet Phantom II 98 dB: $2,998 per pair Discontinued Devialet eBay
Newer model: the Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98dB, ranked lower, estimated 4.4/5.
Pros: The manufacturer-supplied measurement shows unusually deep bass for the enclosure size: -3dB at 30Hz. Scores of 6.87 standalone and 7.95 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. Discontinued.
Full Devialet Phantom II 98 dB review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 400W RMS each |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | approximately 22.6Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 30Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.6 x 6.2 x 8.6 in each |
| Drivers | One aluminum full-range driver; two aluminum bass drivers |
| Frequency Response | 18Hz - 21kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, UPnP, Roon Ready, analog/optical combo jack |
| Maximum SPL | 98dB at 1m each (manufacturer specified) |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.87 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.95 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 9.5 lbs (4.3 kg) each |
| XLR Input | No |
- 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 8320A
- Devialet Phantom II 98 dB vs Genelec 8330A
- Devialet Phantom II 98 dB vs Dynaudio LYD 5
- Devialet Phantom II 98 dB vs Neumann KH80 DSP
- Devialet Phantom II 98 dB vs Klipsch The Fives
- Devialet Phantom II 98 dB vs JBL 305P MKII
- Devialet Phantom II 98 dB vs Genelec 8030C
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