SPL Phonitor Roll Call & Appreciation Thread - Page 31

Thanks Zombie. Unfortunately, I'm using an Oppo 93 which only has rca connects. Perhaps down the road I'll buy an Oppo 95 which has xlr connects. My question remains ... xlr male or female to the Phonitor inputs

My Phonitor has arrived and is making the LCD-2 really sing. I don't even miss my Orpheus with that combo!!

Makes me wanna upgrade to the LCD-3.

Quote:

Originally Posted by madbull 

My Phonitor has arrived and is making the LCD-2 really sing. I don't even miss my Orpheus with that combo!!

 

Makes me wanna upgrade to the LCD-3.

Wait...what?

Has anyone had a chance to evaluate the SPL Phonitor headphone amplifier with the Lynx Hilo Reference A/D D/A Converter System as a DAC source?

The Lynx Hilo scored top of the list on Pro-Audio forum gearslutz when analyzed with the Audio Diffmaker software  (http://www.libinst.com/Audio%20DiffMaker.htm) when compared to other high end Pro-Audio A/D D/A converters.  This presumably correlates with excellence in transparency, neutrality, and fidelity.  This is of course up for debate.  You obviously need to demo and listen to the unit to get a balanced assessment of the device.  Check out various YouTube videos by searching for Lynx Hilo.  The Hilo retails for $2,500. 

I am very happy with this unit.  In addition to mixing/mastering applications, I can use the AD component to convert some of my phono records to digital with great fidelity.  It also acts a digital and analog preamp.  I use it to drive Yamaha HD80 and HD50 monitor speakers and HS10W subwoofer.  I'm saving up for some Focal Twin6 Be monitors and subwoofer. 

The gearslutz link is as follows:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/8268185-post154.html

This is from the Lynx Studio website, http://www.lynxstudio.com:

"The Hilo is a 3 in one unit – AD converter, DA converter and Headphone with its own dedicated D/A converter.  There are three unique sets of analog outputs: main analog output, monitor output (with volume) and headphone output (with volume).  The flexible digital I/O section offers the choice of AES/EBU, SPDIF by coax or TOSLINK optical, or ADAT formats. 

It is an independent headphone amplifier. The headphone section has its own, dedicated D/A converter. This provides two key benefits. First this allows Hilo to offer a headphone output with exceptional clarity and noise specifications. Second, due to Hilo’s internal 32 channel mixer, any input set can be routed to the headphone stereo output. This means that a mix that is entirely different from the analog outputs and monitors can be applied to the headphones.

Another innovation, the Headphone section has its own dedicated D/A converter. This supports the creation of 32-channel headphone mixes independent of the main and monitor outputs, as well as providing specifications that rival those of dedicated headphone amps costing $1500 and more.

To prevent the large current draw required for this output from affecting the performance of the other converter sections, the headphone amplifier derives power from an independent analog power supply. As with the monitor output, a separate D/A converter and 0.5 dB stepped volume control is provided for additional flexibility

and control."

I am currently using the Hilo headphone amplifier which sounds awesome with multiple low and high impedance headphones.  I have a SPL Phonitor on order from Germany since I read many favorable reviews of the unit and wanted to try the crossfeed, speaker angle, and center level functions. 

In this setup, I will use the Hilo as a DAC feeding the SPL Phonitor headphone amp.  I will compare this combination to the Hilo integrated headphone amp. I will be using short balanced XLR-XLR Mogami Gold 3 feet cables between the Hilo DAC component and the SPL Phonitor.  I will use the two XLR line outs on the Hilo instead of the monitor out connectors since each line out is powered by two parallel D/A converters on each line output channel which improves dynamic range and lowers noise.  This provides an additional 3dB of signal to noise.  The monitor outs are powered by a single D/A converter.

I will be using a variety of headphones including the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro (600 ohm), AKG K702 (62 ohm), and Audio Technica ATH-M50 (38 ohm) headphones.  I will likely order the Sennheiser HD800 (300 ohm) open back headphones in the coming weeks. 

I will let you know my opinions when the SPL Phonitor arrives.    

Rich

Quote:

Originally Posted by .Sup 


And then they say Auditor/Phonitor is not good for low impedance headphones. I'm really glad you like it as much as me.

I am using the LCD-2 right now with the Phonitor and the partnership is exquisite.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dleblanc343 

Wait...what?

I was listening to a jazz guitar album that sounds really amazing. Audio nirvana, eargasm etc... Sorry about the enthusiasm...

Quote:

Originally Posted by .Sup 


And then they say Auditor/Phonitor is not good for low impedance headphones. I'm really glad you like it as much as me.

I think just one person said it...In my experience I like both, but the Phonitor have in the front the Dim -20 button, just in case.

@ Rich, the Hilo looks like a great machine... will be interesting to read your impression. I use the Apogee Mini DAC with the Phonitor, and I super happy about this combo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acix 

 

I think just one person said it...In my experience I like both, but the Phonitor have in the front the Dim -20 button, just in case.

That doesn't fully address the problem that the output impedance is 9 ohms (and, according to reviews on here, it hums with sensitive headphones). That is not a fault per se; this amp is optimised for 600 ohms studio headphones.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooperpwc 

 

That doesn't fully address the problem that the output impedance is 9 ohms (and, according to reviews on here, it hums with sensitive headphones). That is not a fault per se; this amp is optimised for 600 ohms studio headphones.

I never experienced hum with my Phonitor, and I do not use the dim switch. I even tried IEM, HD25ii-1s, Denon D7000 with the Phonitor and the background was black silent. This is a different story with a tube amp like Lyr, which makes music by itself with the utilization of humming!

The claim of hum citing hearsay on my part from this review. I admit that such is not very useful.

More generally though, there is an increasing trend on here of people using amps that are inappropriate for low impedance loads to drive IEMs. It isn't a very good idea. If you want to drive IEMs, get an amp with output impedance <1 ohm to 2 ohms max, not the Phonitor (which is in my view an excellent amp with high impedance headphones like Senns and Beyers).

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooperpwc 

The claim of hum citing hearsay on my part from this review. I admit that such is not very useful.

 

More generally though, there is an increasing trend on here of people using amps that are inappropriate for low impedance loads to drive IEMs. It isn't a very good idea. If you want to drive IEMs, get an amp with output impedance <1 ohm to 2 ohms max, not the Phonitor (which is in my view an excellent amp with high impedance headphones like Senns and Beyers).

The technicalities don't really matter when the sound is right. I believe the LCD-2 and Phonitor is an awesome pairing. I didn't think much of the Phonitor + d7000, but that's my opinion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dukeskd 

The technicalities don't really matter when the sound is right.

If this is a truism ('when the sound is right, the sound is right') then you must be right too. However since the technicalities impact upon the sound, I do not think that this is an especially useful statement.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dukeskd 

I believe the LCD-2 and Phonitor is an awesome pairing.

 

I wasn't suggesting otherwise. I just mentioned those that I have heard with the Phonitor and which the the German company SPL clearly targeted for this studio monitoring amp. At 50 ohms nominal, the LCD-2 should be okay in terms of the, as you put it, technicalities, and may indeed otherwise sound great.