Leongino
Administrator
Hello family,
This is my personal review as a new user of the Skywave X40, compared to the D80 Boom I currently have.
It will not be too technical, it will be as natural and understandable as possible.
The remote control also deserves praise: compact, comfortable and with a pleasant texture soft to the touch. The arrangement of the buttons is clear and responsive, which makes your daily use intuitive and pleasant.
The results were excellent: the rain, thunder and height effects were clearly audible and the front soundscape felt very well defined.
However, due to the lack of rear speakers with height channels, Atmos effects are projected mainly from the front. This is where a 7.1 configuration would make the difference: since the X40 is a 5.1 system, the height layer is perceived more frontal than completely elevated.
Even so, the sound field is clean and enveloping, with an increase of approximately 25% in clarity compared to the D80 Boom.
The bass is another important improvement: tighter, more forceful and approximately 30% more powerful than those of the D80 Boom, without distortion or turbidity.
Night Mode works surprisingly well. It intelligently compresses the dynamic range, reducing the impact of the graves and slightly enhancing the voices, allowing you to watch movies at night without disturbing others. This function is clearly more refined than that of the D80 Boom.
The sound is clean, precise and spatial, with deep bass that fills the room without overshadowing the media. The stereo image is perceived wider and more stable, with an excellent location of the instruments.
While the D80 Boom already offers powerful and balanced sound, the Skywave X40 feels more refined: the tone is more natural and the updated DSP offers more detail and dynamic balance.
While the overall performance is excellent, there are some points that could be improved:
If the D80 Boom was already an option with excellent value for money, the Skywave X40 raises the bar: a more balanced, refined and powerful system with a truly cinematic sound profile.
It only lacks that additional layer of rear height channels to turn it into a full 7.1 Atmos configuration, but even as a 5.1 system, it is easily one of Ultimea's most polished and mature releases to date.
This is my personal review as a new user of the Skywave X40, compared to the D80 Boom I currently have.
It will not be too technical, it will be as natural and understandable as possible.
Direct comparison with the D80 Boom
After several days testing the new ULTIMEA Skywave X40, I can safely say that this model represents a clear evolution of the D80 Boom. The X40 improves in clarity, power and overall precision, offering a more cinematic and technically refined experience.Design and construction quality.
The first thing that stands out is its naver-style finish, which gives it an elegant and modern look. The golden detail gives it a premium touch without being ostentatious.The remote control also deserves praise: compact, comfortable and with a pleasant texture soft to the touch. The arrangement of the buttons is clear and responsive, which makes your daily use intuitive and pleasant.
Sound performance
I tested it in different scenarios (movies, music and dialogues) using several Dolby Atmos sources.Movie mode
To test the film, I used Mowgli, which is perfect for evaluating enveloping and height effects.The results were excellent: the rain, thunder and height effects were clearly audible and the front soundscape felt very well defined.
However, due to the lack of rear speakers with height channels, Atmos effects are projected mainly from the front. This is where a 7.1 configuration would make the difference: since the X40 is a 5.1 system, the height layer is perceived more frontal than completely elevated.
Even so, the sound field is clean and enveloping, with an increase of approximately 25% in clarity compared to the D80 Boom.
The bass is another important improvement: tighter, more forceful and approximately 30% more powerful than those of the D80 Boom, without distortion or turbidity.
Night Mode works surprisingly well. It intelligently compresses the dynamic range, reducing the impact of the graves and slightly enhancing the voices, allowing you to watch movies at night without disturbing others. This function is clearly more refined than that of the D80 Boom.
Music Mode
For the music, I used a Martin Garrix album mastered in Dolby Atmos, and the results were very impressive.The sound is clean, precise and spatial, with deep bass that fills the room without overshadowing the media. The stereo image is perceived wider and more stable, with an excellent location of the instruments.
While the D80 Boom already offers powerful and balanced sound, the Skywave X40 feels more refined: the tone is more natural and the updated DSP offers more detail and dynamic balance.
| Characteristic | Skywave X40 | D80 Boom |
|---|---|---|
| DSP Processing | Latest generation DSP with improved Dolby Atmos | Standard DSP |
| Clarity and detail | +25% clearer and more defined | Good, but a little diffuse. |
| Bass | +30% stronger and firmer | Powerful but less controlled |
| Surrounding field | More precise and balanced | Broader but less detailed |
| Night mode | Functional and well tuned | Basic implementation |
| Construction quality | Premium with metallic accents | Simpler and more plastic feeling. |
| Rear height speakers | Not included (configuration 5.1) | Not applicable |
Areas for improvement
While the overall performance is excellent, there are some points that could be improved:
- It would be fantastic to have rear speakers with height channels to complete the total immersion in Atmos.
- This limitation is probably due to the 5.1 instead of 7.1 setting, which maintains the height effects mainly on the front.
- In larger rooms, advanced listeners might notice that the effects of height feel more virtual than truly spatial.
Final reflections
The ULTIMEA Skywave X40 brings real and remarkable improvements over the D80 Boom:- Cleaner and more accurate sound.
- Deeper and tighter bass.
- Improved Dolby Atmos processing.
- A really useful night mode.
- A premium design and better materials.
If the D80 Boom was already an option with excellent value for money, the Skywave X40 raises the bar: a more balanced, refined and powerful system with a truly cinematic sound profile.
It only lacks that additional layer of rear height channels to turn it into a full 7.1 Atmos configuration, but even as a 5.1 system, it is easily one of Ultimea's most polished and mature releases to date.
Last edited:
! I like how you broke it down in such a natural and easy-to-follow way - makes it super helpful for everyone here. The comparison with the D80 Boom was especially interesting, and I can totally see how the X40 feels like a more refined step forward.
.
This review is incredibly detailed, objective, and insightful!
Wider, more stable soundstage
