REVIEW: SPL Phonitor - Page 7

May be picking up an Auditor soon for use with the T1. Anyone have any opinions on that match up? Or Auditor vs Violectric V200? Thanks! :)

I am not going to be of any help, but I am in the same position- looking for an amp to pair with T1 and ED8.

I am stuck between- V200 (could be a good contrast to my Meier Cantate), Corda Classic (love the Meier amps) or the Talisman T 33H (favourite at Headphonic Australia).

Once I make up my mind, the next step is to convince my wife that I need to spend another $1000 on audio.

But as the saying goes-

Its better to ask for forgiveness, than to beg ask for permission.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Slow Down 

 

I can believe this... but... at low Z there is not "much" power. Wonder if the experience would be enhanced with more Power @ 25 ohm.

 

Also, I read on here that many people with low Z headphones were able to hear a distinct buzzing sound with the Phonitor... if that's not true, perhaps I've wasted my money on alternatives!

 

Well, i think there's power enough @ 25Ω. Fed from a Hifi source with app. 2,2 volts output gain i can turn up the volume up to half of the control range. More than that you will turn deaf pretty soon.

And there's no buzzing or distortion, at least with the Denon, just pure, clean sound.
 

Does anyone know if this cable will work with the Auditor/Phonitor? http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10244&cs_id=1024404&p_id=4775&seq=1&format=2

I'm just afraid of them possibly not being wired the correct way to work with the Auditor.

Any one has an opinion on Phonitor vs Meier Concerto (which I own)?

And has anyone listenen to both the Phonitor and the completely different Leben CS300 (which is also on my upgrade short list)?

Quote:

Originally Posted by PedroH 

Any one has an opinion on Phonitor vs Meier Concerto (which I own)?

 

And has anyone listenen to both the Phonitor and the completely different Leben CS300 (which is also on my upgrade short list)?

 

I'm not sure, but I think I saw something here... http://www.head-fi.org/t/329765/spl-phonitor-new-reference-amp, or here...http://www.head-fi.org/t/437390/spl-phonitor-roll-call-appreciation-thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dunhill 

 

Well, i think there's power enough @ 25Ω. Fed from a Hifi source with app. 2,2 volts output gain i can turn up the volume up to half of the control range. More than that you will turn deaf pretty soon.

 

And there's no buzzing or distortion, at least with the Denon, just pure, clean sound.
 

 

Not just about power... but with the review below, I will not bother with a Phonitor until I get some high Z headphones. Very happy with my amp for low Z 'phones.

http://www.head-fi.org/products/spl-auditor/reviews/6451

Regarding low impedance headphones . . .

From the Phonitor Manual: 

"The Dim function reduces the listening level (Volume) by around 20 dB.
Normally you employ this function when mixing to choose between
two defined volumes to avoid having to move the Volume control. A
dim value of 20 dB has established itself as good standard.
You can also use the Dim function to adjust among differences in
headphone impedance and the resulting sensitivity differences. The
Phonitor output and the optimal Volume level is based on the studio
standard, 600 Ohms headphone impedance."

"However, there are many headphones which employ a lesser impedance,
for example 250 Ohms or even only 50 Ohms. Such headphones
effect a much louder level. A 50 Ohms headphone thus yields a relatively
loud minimum volume level. In such a case, the useful range of
an amplifier’s output level control or potentiometer is much more limited."

"Here you may use the Dim function to reestablish a useful range
for the volume control. The high component and circuitry quality of the
Phonitor guarantees that despite activating the Dim function there is
no measurable degradation of the signal quality."

Has anyone tried this with low Ohm cans?  I'd like to think it will work with my AKG K702s until I can upgrade to T1  . . . 

Thanks in advance . .

Oh yes it does reduce the volume but it does not effect the power output. For low impedance headphones of 60Ohms or less this amp is not recommended. You will get clipping the louder you go.

I had the Volume2 and 2Control to play with about 2 months back and the DIM setting just lowered the volume, nothing more.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rico613 

Regarding low impedance headphones . . .

 

From the Phonitor Manual: 

"The Dim function reduces the listening level (Volume) by around 20 dB.
Normally you employ this function when mixing to choose between
two defined volumes to avoid having to move the Volume control. A
dim value of 20 dB has established itself as good standard.
You can also use the Dim function to adjust among differences in
headphone impedance and the resulting sensitivity differences. The
Phonitor output and the optimal Volume level is based on the studio
standard, 600 Ohms headphone impedance."

 

"However, there are many headphones which employ a lesser impedance,
for example 250 Ohms or even only 50 Ohms. Such headphones
effect a much louder level. A 50 Ohms headphone thus yields a relatively
loud minimum volume level. In such a case, the useful range of
an amplifier’s output level control or potentiometer is much more limited."

 

"Here you may use the Dim function to reestablish a useful range
for the volume control. The high component and circuitry quality of the
Phonitor guarantees that despite activating the Dim function there is
no measurable degradation of the signal quality."

 

Has anyone tried this with low Ohm cans?  I'd like to think it will work with my AKG K702s until I can upgrade to T1  . . . 

 

Thanks in advance . .

Seems odd that SPL wouldn't have a gain selector switch on either the Phonitor or Auditor.  Maybe on future models?  Ya think? . . .

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenErik 

Does anyone know if this cable will work with the Auditor/Phonitor? http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10244&cs_id=1024404&p_id=4775&seq=1&format=2

 

I'm just afraid of them possibly not being wired the correct way to work with the Auditor.

I'm sure they used one of the two correct ways to wire it ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rico613 

Seems odd that SPL wouldn't have a gain selector switch on either the Phonitor or Auditor.  Maybe on future models?  Ya think? . . .

Why do you need it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rico613 

Regarding low impedance headphones . . .

 

From the Phonitor Manual: 

"The Dim function reduces the listening level (Volume) by around 20 dB.
Normally you employ this function when mixing to choose between
two defined volumes to avoid having to move the Volume control. A
dim value of 20 dB has established itself as good standard.
You can also use the Dim function to adjust among differences in
headphone impedance and the resulting sensitivity differences. The
Phonitor output and the optimal Volume level is based on the studio
standard, 600 Ohms headphone impedance."

 

"However, there are many headphones which employ a lesser impedance,
for example 250 Ohms or even only 50 Ohms. Such headphones
effect a much louder level. A 50 Ohms headphone thus yields a relatively
loud minimum volume level. In such a case, the useful range of
an amplifier’s output level control or potentiometer is much more limited."

 

"Here you may use the Dim function to reestablish a useful range
for the volume control. The high component and circuitry quality of the
Phonitor guarantees that despite activating the Dim function there is
no measurable degradation of the signal quality."

 

Has anyone tried this with low Ohm cans?  I'd like to think it will work with my AKG K702s until I can upgrade to T1  . . . 

 

Thanks in advance . .

I used AKG 272 at 55 Ohms with great success with Auditor and stock opamps.

Quote:

Originally Posted by .Sup 

I used AKG 272 at 55 Ohms with great success with Auditor and stock opamps.

Good to know.  Some people say the Auditor/Phonitor are too powerful for low impedance cans.  Where is a good place to get the Auditor?

I've bought many cables from Monoprice over the years, but I recently went to http://www.bluejeanscable.com/.  A few more bucks, but it seems worth it. 

The amp is not that powerful for low impedance stuff at all. The amp is class A but specializes with voltage rather than current. That's why low impedance stuff does not do well on it, namely the K701 and K702. Both models crave current but the Phonitor/Auditor lack a high current output. Not only that but both amps have a 9Ohm output impedance which means the headphones should be around 70-80 Ohms at least. Grado's sound fine on the amp because they do not need much current as they are highly sensitive.

As for the cables, BJC are nice cables. I've owned cables from them in the past and they were built really solid!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rico613 

Good to know.  Some people say the Auditor/Phonitor are too powerful for low impedance cans.  Where is a good place to get the Auditor?

I've bought many cables from Monoprice over the years, but I recently went to http://www.bluejeanscable.com/.  A few more bucks, but it seems worth it.