Short answer: the Neumann KH120 MKII. It ranks #2 of 105 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.7/5, at $1,898; the Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98dB ranks #16, rated 4.4/5, and costs $3,998, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the Neumann KH120 MKII does well: ASR’s Klippel data shows exceptional neutrality: only a 1.5dB span from 300Hz to 5kHz and low listening-window narrow-band deviation of 0.208. The tradeoff: Vertical crossover interference makes listening height important even though horizontal dispersion is well controlled.
What the Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98dB does well: The smaller Phantom Ultimate, with the same opposed side woofers as the Devialet Phantom Ultimate 108dB: two aluminum dome woofers fire outward in sync so they cancel each other’s vibration and reach very deep bass for the size, specified to 18Hz (-6dB). Watch for: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from the measured Devialet Phantom Ultimate 108dB and Phantom II 98dB.
Buy the Neumann KH120 MKII. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98dB and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
About the ratings: the Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98dB’s rating is estimated from measured siblings and predecessors rather than its own measurements, with a likely range of 4.1 to 4.6, so this verdict could change once it is measured.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Neumann KH120 MKII | Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98dB | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,898.00 per pair | $3,998 per pair |
| Ranked | #2 of 105 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #16 of 105 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers Estimated |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Dimensions | 11.3”H x 7.2”W x 8.9”D (287 x 182.9 x 226.1 mm) | 6.6” (168 mm) H x 157mm W x 219mm D |
| Inputs | XLR | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optical |
| Drivers | 5.25” woofer, 1” titanium fabric dome tweeter | Full-range aluminum dome, 2x opposed aluminum dome woofers |
| Weight | 14.6 lbs (6.6 kg) each | 9.5 lbs (4.3 kg) |
| App | Yes (MA 1 alignment) | Yes |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes |
| DSP | Yes | - |
| EQ | Yes (via DSP) | - |
| Frequency Response | 44Hz - 21kHz (±3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 18Hz - 25kHz (-6dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 245W (145W woofer + 100W tweeter) | 400W |
| Maximum SPL | 116.8dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) | 98dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.49 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.44 | - |
| XLR Input | Yes | No |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | 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 |
| Wi-Fi | - | Yes |
| Streaming Services | - | AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Neumann KH120 MKII:
- Genelec 8331A vs Neumann KH120 MKII
- Genelec 8030C vs Neumann KH120 MKII
- Neumann KH120 MKII vs Neumann KH80 DSP
- Neumann KH120 MKII vs Dynaudio LYD 5
- Neumann KH120 MKII vs Genelec 8330A
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM 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
Neumann KH120 MKII: $1,898.00 per pair B&H Photo Video eBay
Older model: the Neumann KH 120 A (ranked lower, rated 4.4/5). See every Neumann KH generation.
Same family: the Neumann KH80 DSP (smaller bookshelf, ranked lower, rated 4.6/5), the Neumann KH 150 (larger bookshelf, rated 4.8/5), the Neumann KH 310 A (larger bookshelf, rated 4.6/5), the Neumann KH420 (larger bookshelf, rated 4.8/5) and the Neumann KH 750 DSP (subwoofer, rated 3.5/5).
Pros: ASR’s Klippel data shows exceptional neutrality: only a 1.5dB span from 300Hz to 5kHz and low listening-window narrow-band deviation of 0.208. Scores of 6.49 standalone and 8.44 with an ideal subwoofer place it among the strongest measured options here. Bass reaches -3dB around 45Hz. The review reports very low distortion at 86dB/1m and clean performance outside deep bass at 96dB. Measured bass extension of 46Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Vertical crossover interference makes listening height important even though horizontal dispersion is well controlled. A small directivity irregularity remains around 2kHz. Distortion increases below about 50Hz at high output; a subwoofer can extend the system and reduce low-frequency demands. High price, and a flat anechoic response still needs suitable placement in the room.
Full Neumann KH120 MKII review and specifications →
| Released | Apr 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| Amplifier Power | 245W (145W woofer + 100W tweeter) |
| App | Yes (MA 1 alignment) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | Yes |
| Dimensions | 11.3”H x 7.2”W x 8.9”D (287 x 182.9 x 226.1 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25” woofer, 1” titanium fabric dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (via DSP) |
| Frequency Response | 44Hz - 21kHz (±3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR |
| Maximum SPL | 116.8dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.49 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.44 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 14.6 lbs (6.6 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Neumann KH120 MKII vs Genelec 8030C
- Neumann KH120 MKII vs Genelec 8331A
- Neumann KH120 MKII vs Neumann KH80 DSP
- Neumann KH120 MKII vs Dynaudio LYD 5
- Neumann KH120 MKII vs Genelec 8330A
- Neumann KH120 MKII vs Genelec 8320A
- Neumann KH120 MKII vs Devialet Phantom II 98 dB
- Neumann KH120 MKII vs Topping MA4
- See all 52 comparisons
Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98dB: $3,998 per pair Estimated Amazon eBay
Older model: the Devialet Phantom II 98 dB (ranked higher, rated 4.4/5). See every Devialet Phantom generation.
Same family: the Devialet Phantom Ultimate 108dB (larger bookshelf, rated 4.4/5).
Pros: The smaller Phantom Ultimate, with the same opposed side woofers as the Devialet Phantom Ultimate 108dB: two aluminum dome woofers fire outward in sync so they cancel each other’s vibration and reach very deep bass for the size, specified to 18Hz (-6dB). A full-range aluminum dome on the front handles the rest, with 400W of amplification. It streams over Wi-Fi with AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect, also takes Bluetooth and optical, and two can pair as a stereo set.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from the measured Devialet Phantom Ultimate 108dB and Phantom II 98dB. A single forward-firing full-range driver gives a narrower soundstage than a two-way monitor pair, and the 98dB maximum output is well below the larger model.
Full Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98dB review and specifications →
| Released | Nov 2025 (11 months ago) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| Amplifier Power | 400W |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.6” (168 mm) H x 157mm W x 219mm D |
| Drivers | Full-range aluminum dome, 2x opposed aluminum dome woofers |
| Frequency Response | 18Hz - 25kHz (-6dB, manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optical |
| Maximum SPL | 98dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| RCA Input | No |
| Streaming Services | AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 9.5 lbs (4.3 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons