I have an SPL Phonitor 2 feeding ATC Active speakers.
I talked to SPL about the Phonitor 2 expansion rack, which is a rack mount frame and a passive switch, with 4 sets of properly balanced XLR inputs on the back and one pair of output XLRs.
The expansion pack is really to give multiple outputs for either active speakers, power amps, or balanced headphones. I don't need that at present.
What I do need is more inputs than the Phonitor 2 gives (2 sets of balanced inputs & 1 set of RCA inputs.)
SPL told me that with some gender changing adaptors, the Expansion pack could be used as switchable inputs. Fantastic! So now I have5 sets of balanced inputs PLUS the Phono/RCA inputs available to me.
Also, I wanted the Phonitor 2 to feed my LARGE ATC Active speakers, which really need a low impedance output from the connected preamp. (The ATC preamps are 10ohm output impedance but new are over £5000.)
SPL told me that the output impedance of the Phonitor 2 is 75ohms. That is FAR better matching than any of my other pre-amps (including my Audio Research Reference 2 which is 600ohms using XLR or 300ohms using Phono) This feature alone makes the Phonitor 2 a great match for ATC active speakers. It is HUGELY dynamic, very smooth and detailed, and has neutral, accurate, sound which sounds tuneful and TONEful because it is SO CLEAR that the musicians' performances really shine through.
There are also DIP switches on the base of the unit to change a few things.
You can:
1. Increase all outputs by 12dB
2. Increase all outputs by 22dB
3. Change the sensitivity of the RCA input by 10dB
4. Insert Loop (if you want the unit to be a headphone preamp only, and allow the signal to pass through to the amp outputs WITHOUT being affected by any front panel setting)
5. Activate the Phonitor Matrix settings for the MAIN outputs (really only designed for headphone use) so that these front panel matrix switches and controls ALSO affect the XLR inputs on the rear.
So what is missing?
The ONLY 2 things that MAYBE could have been incorporated are:
1. A SECOND headphone output.
and
2. I have an SPL Control2, which is similar in some ways to the Phonitor 2 but nowhere near as classy, as accurate (the specs are ALL much lower), but it DOES have another simultaneous output XLRs for a subwoofer (mono OR stereo). I REALLY could do with that. Anyone have any ideas on how to accomplish that?