SPL Phonitor x

The Phonitor x is both an outstanding headphone amplifier and an excellent preamplifier that can be used to directly drive power amplifiers or active speakers. With the optional DA converter, it not only plays from analog sources, but also directly from digital sources. The Phonitor Matrix allows speaker-like listening via headphones. 

Thanks to VOLTAiR technology, it offers all this in the highest possible sound quality.

Great sound – for all headphones

The Phonitor x offers connections for a standard headphone with a stereo jack plug and for balanced-driven headphones using a 4-pol XLR jack.

Thanks to the enormous output power, all headphones are driven effortlessly.
Thus, it plays out the advantages of the SPL VOLTAiR technology and rewards the listener with an honest, detailed and at the same time vivid sound experience.

Headphones or Speaker

The OUTPUT switch turns the headphone amplifier into a preamplifier – simply switch from headphones to speakers.

In the center position (mute), no signal reaches the outputs. The VU meters light up red.

To the power amplifiers

or to the active loudspeakers you can use the balanced via XLR sockets – for long cable runs, and unbalanced via RCA sockets. The source signal is always present at both speaker outputs.

The standby mode of devices with 12V trigger input can be switched on and off via AMP CTL. This allows, for example, the SPL Performer s800, Performer m1000 or Performer s1200 power amplifiers to be ideally integrated into the set-up.

“With the new DAC768xs module, the Phonitor x really shows its phenomenal qualities as a headphone amplifier and preamp, even with digital sources connected.”

Milled from solid

The massive 45mm volume control knob milled from aluminum is a haptic highlight. Its mass together with the motorized Alps RK27 “Big Blue” potentiometer enhances the “spoon in the honey” feeling even further.

The red marker LED ensures good visibility of the volume parameter even in darkened environments.

Remote Control

The volume control can be remotely controlled with any infrared remote control.

The Phonitor x learns to communicate with it with the simple push of a button.

Learning made easy

“The Phonitor x is one of the most extraordinary headphone amplifiers on the market ... with a meticulous level of detail and unrestrained musical playfulness. Period.”

Source of joy

Up to five stereo sources can be connected to the Phonitor x:
XLR, RCA, and via the optional DAC768xs, USB, COAX, and OPTICAL.

The Phonitor x accepts a variety of different audio connections.
Balanced via XLR or unbalanced via RCA jacks.

With the optional DAC768xs, three additional digital sources can be added. PCM audio is received in S/P-DIF format both coaxially (RCA) and optically (Toslink F06).
Both PCM audio and DSD audio can be converted via USB.

The DAC automatically picks up the sampling rate and resolution of the digital playback source. No matter if a streamer, computer or CD player is connected. No further settings on the Phonitor x are necessary.

The DAC768xs

The converter chip in the optional digital-to-analog converter is the highly acclaimed AKM AK4490 Velvet Sound™ premium DAC chip, which thanks to its architecture reproduces the finest sound details.

It converts PCM audio at 32-bit resolution and a sampling rate of up to 768 kHz, which is 16 times the resolution of a CD. Direct Stream Digital is also supported up to a resolution of DSD4 or DSD256.

Unlike the DAC768, which is built into the Director Mk2 for example or available as an option for the Phonitor xe, the DAC768xs does not offer an AES/EBU digital input. The SPL DLP120 with VOLTAiR technology was also not included in the DAC768xs. Nevertheless, it offers a great performance that is unparalleled in this league.

It converts PCM audio at 32-bit resolution and a sampling rate of up to 768kHz, which is 16 times the resolution of a CD. Direct Stream Digital is also supported up to a resolution of DSD4 or DSD256.

“I am sufficiently enamored with the Phonitor x that I have decided to buy one; which is the highest recommendation I can give any component.”

Good ol' times

Two mechanical VU meters visualize the input levels for the left and right audio channel.

Finding the middle

is not always easy. By our very nature, hearing can be leaning more to the left or more to the right. This is especially obvious when listening with headphones.

That’s why Phonitor x has the uniquely finely resolved laterality control. With it, the center can be found perfectly.

With the mode switch you can choose between stereo or mono playback. To the right, the laterality control is switched on.

“In a word: awesome.”
“The Phonitor x always delivered a spotless, honest and tremendously dynamic sound.”

The Revolution: Phonitor-Matrix

The Phonitor Matrix is the revolution in the headphone amplifier.

Thanks to the Phonitor Matrix, music can be experienced on headphones as if it was played on speakers. The tiring super stereo effect is a thing of the past.

Enjoy their music without listening fatigue and exactly the way it should be heard.

The SPL Phonitor Matrix will correct this false stereo image with an analog circuitry and ensures a correct representation of the stereo image and a relaxed listening experience.

Thanks to the Phonitor Matrix, music can be experienced on headphones as if it was played on speakers.

Listening on headphones is different from listening on loudspeakers.

The biggest difference is the lack of crossing signals of the sound signal from the left speaker to the right ear and from the right speaker to the left ear.

This results in an unnaturally wide and wrong stereo image.

The various sound sources of the audio signal are not localized as the sound engineer intended them to.

Music is normally produced and mixed for playback on stereo speakers.

Listening on headphones is different from listening on loudspeakers. The biggest difference is the lack of crossing signals of the sound signal from the left speaker to the right ear and from the right speaker to the left ear. These crossing signals are missing in conventional headphone listening, because there are no signals crossing from one side of the headphones to the other.

This results in an unnaturally wide stereo image and the various sound sources of the audio signal are not localized as the sound engineer intended them to. This effect is often referred to as “super stereo effect”. During conventional listening on headphones, our brain can balance the false representation of the playback to a certain extent – but this is very exhausting.

The SPL Phonitor Matrix can correct this false stereo image with an analog circuitry. The Phonitor Matrix therefore not only ensures a correct representation of the stereo image, but also a relaxed listening experience.

The two main parameters of the Phonitor Matrix are Crossfeed and Angle

Crossfeed determines the crossing signals of the channels, the so-called interaural level difference.
Angle determines the opening angle of the stereo image, the so-called interaural time difference.

Level and frequency adjustment of the right (red) and left (green) audio channel at maximum crossfeed.

Settings for the speaker placement angle to determine the interaural time difference.

"This device is a technological tour de force.”

“As a headphone amplifier, the SPL Phonitor x is the best I have ever heard.”

Sounds good

With all devices of the Professional Fidelity series we develop not only according to plan, but also by ear. Many important components are installed on the circuit boards using Through-hole technology. This way we can ensure that we can use the best sounding components.

The VOLTAiR Technology

The 120V technology is our reference technology. The 120V technology is unique in the world. It operates at a DC voltage of 120 volts. This is four times that of IC-based semiconductor op-amps. In our Professional Fidelity series, we refer to this unsurpassed technology as VOLTAiR technology.

The 120V technology works with +/-60 V. To be able to handle such a high voltage, we have developed special proprietary operational amplifiers that can operate with a DC voltage of +/-60 V: the SPL 120V SUPRA operational amplifiers. This high voltage would destroy conventional components and operational amplifiers.

The 120V technology achieves exceptional technical specifications and sonic benefits. Technically, in terms of dynamic range, signal-to-noise ratio and headroom. Sonically, in terms of richness of detail and an absolutely relaxed listening experience.

By the way, the “120V” in the name of the technology has nothing to do with the local mains voltage from the mains power socket. This is about the operating voltage inside the device with which the audio signals are processed.

The mains voltage from the mains power socket is transformed to the required secondary voltage in the device’s internal linear power supply with toroidal transformer. Rectifiers convert this AC voltage into DC voltage required in the audio device.

VOLTAiR is a composition of the terms Volt and AirVolt is the unit for electrical voltage and Air stands for the unlimited space the music can breathe in.

VOLTAiR symbolizes the perceived limitless dynamics resulting from high audio voltage.

What exactly is that?

And what does it do?

Good questions need good answers.

And that’s what the 120V technology (VOLTAiR) video gives you.

Most audio devices work with an internal operating voltage of +/-15 volts and can thus process a maximum input level of +21.5 dBu. If a DAC, for example, has an output level of +22 dBu at 0 dBFS, level peaks of the music material would already cause overloads in the input stage of the device. All components in the audio device often operate at their limits. The result is an unsteady sound that causes stress and faster ear fatigue.

SPL devices with VOLTAiR technology can handle input levels of +32.5 dBu thanks to the higher internal operating voltage of +/- 60 volts – thus offering 12 dB more headroom. All components consequently operate continuously in the optimum operating range. The result is a very pleasant, natural and relaxed sound experience. So you can enjoy your music in every detail.

VOLTAiR is that good

In the lab, we pitted Phonitor xe against the best audio measurement system and found that Audio Precision could not measure VOLTAiR technology.

Home is where the heart is

That’s why we manufacture all devices in our own production facility in Niederkrüchten on the Lower Rhine, Germany.

Replacing fuses and voltage selection

The replacement of fuses and the switching of mains voltages must only be performed by qualified technicians. Fuses must only be replaced with fuses of the same type and specifications.