Spl phonitor review

The Phonitor xe is available with an optional high-end DAC. They’ve been on the periphery of my radar for a while, but not something I’d gotten to spend proper listening time with until I was offered the opportunity to audition this unit at home. The large, central, illuminated volume dial is buttery-smooth. Labels are clear and concise, with the functions they indicate being entirely unambiguous.

The overall impression is that this is a very high-quality and entirely “premium” device. SPL make a point of calling out their “VOLTAiR” high-voltage power-rail capability (also known as the “SPL 120V Rail Technology”). This provides for a lot of voltage-swing in the power-supply, lots of available power and significantly improved dynamic range (claimed 1dB) vs. Unlike most of the competition, however, these inputs can accept high professional-gear signal levels. The $4question is, of course, “How does the Phonitor x sound?

In a word … fantastic! Much of my listening was performed using a Chord DAVE DAC as the source. It covers up nothing, makes excuses for nothing, and lets the source show its true colors without omission or editorialization. It is really an advance analog-domain, crossfeed2system that allows simulation of interaural time and volume differences at various user-selectable levels.

You can read a full explanation of the theory and settings in the Phonitor x User Manual(refer to page 11), but for this review, I’ll focus on the actual effects of the system rather than what’s behind it. SPL offer the Phonitor x with an optional, internal, DAC module (called “DAC192”), which was installed in the unit that I auditioned and used for this review. There is no support for DS native or otherwise - you’ll need to convert to PCM in your player. These I would define as combinations of gear that provide a “better than expected” or “performs above their price points” combination, or that show a particular component either in a “new light” or let them perform the best I have heard them to date.

I thought it might be interesting to call out the most notable of those, here. It would be nice to be able to set the VU meter attenuation independently by input. With an external, balance studio DAC, I need the dB attenuator engaged or the needle spends most of its time buried in the opposite side of the scale.

Since the control for this is via a dip-switch underneath the unit, changing it on the fly is not really practical. The optional DAC module seems to have issues with players that do automatic sample rate-switching under macOS 10. High Sierra) when using the USB input. Setting the bit-depth and sample rate manually, via the Audio-MIDI Setup tool, prior to playback, alleviates this issue. The TOSLINK and COAX inputs are.

It yields a huge sense of scale and power with effortless delivery, has excellent tonality AND tonal weight, transient response is superb and it plies its trade against a dead-silent, void-black, background. Its features, and sonic performance make it easy to integrate into studio scenarios and still able to satisfy audiophile sensibilities. After I’ve had a few.

It’s something we’re working through, and perhaps I’m being too needy. The thing is I feel that I’m getting shortchanged on the big listening experience I’m used to from my two-channel rig. SPL tackles this phenomenon with the so-called Phonitor Matrix.

This design kind of reminds me of the old Matrix Mini of years past, a simpler time…a better time. Tech Tour The principal technical feature that separates the SPL Phonitor X from its competition is SPL ’s 120-volt rail technology that reportedly reduces distortion and has an electric measurement the company claims is “four times as high as in standard audio designs,” which are typically around volts. THD measurements of the 120V op-amp show a difference of more than 3dB compared to the OPA1at 36V—in sound pressure level, that corresponds to an improvement of more than.

The amplification and power it provides are the exact same as the Phonitor as all SPL did was shrink the circuit down. The crossfeed may be make or break point for people though. With HD8or AKG70 I bet you will get so distracted by the amazing music! SPL is positioning them as audiophile equipment, although, I’m sure they will also surely do favourably in a studio setting.

With its extraordinary specifications and enormous headroom Phonos plays back audio in the most relaxed and uncompromised fashion. For them, the Phonitor X.