SPL Phonitor, new reference amp?

[Audio-Omega]

I hope it has rca input.

 

[bizkid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audio-Omega /img/forum/go_quote.gif Auditor looks interesting. Has anyone listened to it ?

No need for that. The Auditor is EXACTLY the same as the phonitor inside. I had email contact with SPLs engineer about this, nothing got scaled down besides the missing CF features. It will sound the same as the phonitor without crossfeed engaged. It might even sound a bit better as there is no CF inside so the whole layout is more compact with shorter signal ways (my personal wild guess).

 

[Quaddy]

ordered the phonitor instead of the sen 800s

hope i don't regret that choice...anyways cant wait to hear it in about a weeks time

thanks to all owners and comments on this thread also, which was an aid, in decision making.

 

[fkclo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quaddy /img/forum/go_quote.gif ordered the phonitor instead of the sen 800s hope i don't regret that choice...anyways cant wait to hear it in about a weeks time thanks to all owners and comments on this thread also, which was an aid, in decision making.

If you are going after the "truth" in the recordings, you will not be disappointed. The Phonitor is a truth teller - not only the nodes, but the emotions and ambience embedded in the nodes.

I enjoyed mine a lot. Hope you do too

F. Lo

 

[fkclo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bizkid /img/forum/go_quote.gif No need for that. The Auditor is EXACTLY the same as the phonitor inside. I had email contact with SPLs engineer about this, nothing got scaled down besides the missing CF features. It will sound the same as the phonitor without crossfeed engaged. It might even sound a bit better as there is no CF inside so the whole layout is more compact with shorter signal ways (my personal wild guess).

I am pretty sure the Auditor will impress too. But the CF and all the other channel fine tuning features are what make the SPL stand out in the headphone amp crowd. The cross feed is NOT only cross-feed. When mixed with the effects of speaker channels (L/R/F) ... it creates the most turthful and realistic music replay I have listened so far from a pair of headphones.

I recently (last week) hooked my Qualia 010 to the Phonitor, and it was a jaw dropping experience - never had I experienced ultra high resolving power mixed with coherence and "right-proportions" like this before. It was so real yet natural that it was almost scary.

F. Lo

 

[xenithon]

I am very interested in the SPL range; I am particularly intrigued by how they would fare against other similarly priced SS amps. For example, the Rudistor range (NX-03 against the Auditor; RPX-33 against the Phonitor). Has anyone had experience with these perhaps who can draw some comparisons?

 

[fkclo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xenithon /img/forum/go_quote.gif I am very interested in the SPL range; I am particularly intrigued by how they would fare against other similarly priced SS amps. For example, the Rudistor range (NX-03 against the Auditor; RPX-33 against the Phonitor). Has anyone had experience with these perhaps who can draw some comparisons?

I owned the RPX-100 and now owning the PR010B MKII. I would say the Rudistor is very natural sounding, with a tad of warmth, liquid smooth, full body and engaging sound and somewhat tube like. Very well articulated and balanced. Very good bass quality. But it is not the as transparent / neutral amp as the Phonitor.

The Phonitor, as I said before is a truth teller. But it has the magic of truth telling without being analytical, and this magic is pushed to a new level with the cross-feed and speaker angle turned on.

F. Lo

 

[xenithon]

Thanks for the comparative info Francis! Would you say that the SPL is at the same level of quality as the RPX-100 but simply has a different character (i.e., they are in the same league)? If so, the Auditor at ~EUR600-700 makes for a very tempting proposition.

 

[Kees]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xenithon /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks for the comparative info Francis! Would you say that the SPL is at the same level of quality as the RPX-100 but simply has a different character (i.e., they are in the same league)? If so, the Auditor at ~EUR600-700 makes for a very tempting proposition.

I also consider the RPX-100 and the Phonitor in the same league, but definitely not the same sound signature. The Rudistor is warmer and somewhat thicker/slower than the Phonitor as I remember it.
Auditor?
The Phonitor cost (cheapest I have seen) 1400 EURO (excl. shipping).
Where did you find one for 600 EURO?

 

[jigster]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kees /img/forum/go_quote.gif The Phonitor cost (cheapest I have seen) 1400 EURO (excl. shipping). Where did you find one for 600 EURO?

He was referring to the new Auditor.

 

[Kees]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jigster /img/forum/go_quote.gif He was referring to the new Auditor.

I see, I missed that post.
Interesting.

 

[fkclo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xenithon /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thanks for the comparative info Francis! Would you say that the SPL is at the same level of quality as the RPX-100 but simply has a different character (i.e., they are in the same league)? If so, the Auditor at ~EUR600-700 makes for a very tempting proposition.

Sonically they are definitely in the same league. Actually, in terms of build quality and the fittings I tend to say the Phonitor ( or Auditor for this matter) is slightly better - typical of prudent industrial design and tight quality control. Turn the volume pot and flip the switches and you will know what I mean.

But if you prefer thick metal face plate and chromed fittings, the Phonitor's down to the earth industrial design is not for you. It is plain, subtle, industrial, but feel robust, durable, and form-follow-function approach.

F. Lo

 

[bizkid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fkclo /img/forum/go_quote.gif I am pretty sure the Auditor will impress too. But the CF and all the other channel fine tuning features are what make the SPL stand out in the headphone amp crowd. The cross feed is NOT only cross-feed. When mixed with the effects of speaker channels (L/R/F) ... it creates the most turthful and realistic music replay I have listened so far from a pair of headphones.

Well yeah, see my posted example files about the CF. It's definately the best there is but I used my phonitor without the CF most of the time. Just personal choice. I think SPLs OPamps have a control over the headphone that no other amp i ever heard had to offer. Also it's very low noiselevel is amazing. These are the main points in my book. The CF with all it's controls is a nice extra but i'm just accustomed to listening without CF. So for me it doesnt matter if it's there or not, saving 700 Euro on it is perfect.

 

[kool bubba ice]

This sounds like my dream amp. Resolving, highly detailed, un colored, natural and neutral. I love pro gear, and many go un noticed or get a bad rap cause they are not marketed towards 'audiophiles.'

 

[kool bubba ice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fkclo /img/forum/go_quote.gif As at today I have clocked 440 hours on my Phonitor, and I think it is now time to share some of my impressions. The Phonitor actually settled down pretty well after 150 hours. From 200 hours onward I have not been able to detect further changes. I uses two main sources with the Phonitor. One is my Nagra CDP and the other one is the Valab NOS DAC taking USB signal from my iMac's Lossless files. For serious listening I was using the Nagra as my main source. Most of the hours were spent on other purposes - burning in my Valab NOS DAC, my new ESW10JPN, DT48E, K701 (newly arrived after recabling by RAL), and other new acquisitions etc. But I also took the time to do some serious listening and all I can say is that the Phonitor is definitely a reference class headphone amp. A true reference that one can use it as the benchmark. It is the most neutral headphone amp I have ever listened to. But contrary to my worries, the Phonitor is not at all analytical or "monitor / lab class" as I thought initially. It has all the magic to create a dead quiet background, give me all the speed and headroom I would ever want, and yet manage to present the music as one coherent piece with all music nodes having its own place and space, displaying a clear, realistic sonic picture of the recording, presented in the most natural manner one could image. Listening to the Phonitor is not stressful at all as some might expect of listening to a "pro-class" headphone amp. Music just flows, without coloring introduced by the amp, and no artifacts or exaggerations. Having spent quite some time and money on this hobby, I know very well that achieving these special qualities is a tall order which very few amps accomplish, but the Phonitor just delivers in spades. The Phonitor is so resolving that it can easily reveal the less obvious information contained in your recordings - good and bad. It reveals tape noise and any imperfections of the recording ruthlessly but on the other hand, not in a way to irritate you. It can honestly tell the truth about the recording venue, the ambience and echos of a church, or the vivid, cosy atmosphere in a smoky jazz club, put the instruments and artists in a virtual space around me that sounds so realistic. Sound stage is 3 dimensional, right-proportioned, and almost set a new definition of "reality" in dynamic headphone listening (except the K1000). I won't say the Phonitor will suck me into the music, but it allows me to just forget the amp, and let me clearly hear the voicing of different headphones from the recordings. I tried some low impedance headphones (the Grado HHF-1 in Ebony cups, Audio Technica ESW10JPN, Ultrasone Edition 9, and the Grados HP1) and all sound great - I don't need the dim switch. The HP1 sounds a bit dry compared to others, and less seducing compared to what I hear through my EAR HP-4. For power hungry headphones like the HD650 or K701, the Phonitor simply does an effortless job. As I am not a recording professional, nor do I listen to speakers, I did have some problems using the speaker simulation features. I tried different switches and have had some fun - and yes, I can hear some subtle difference, but not to the extent that make me think - wow! The cross feed is however extremely good and adds to the naturalness of the music. I think my main handicap is that I lack a reference point - something that can only be obtained by spending a long time in the studio, or in listening to and playing with speakers. But this does not trouble me too much, as I am quite contend just by how the Phonitor sounds. Is it worth it ? When the Phonitor was first introduced the Euro was still strong and converted to USD the price is a bit prohibitive. But still it is close to a Corda Symphony. (I paid 1,100 Euro vs 990 Euro for the Symphony ). Granted, the Symphony comes with a very nice DAC and pre-amp function whereas the Phonitor performs just one function and takes only one input (balanced or unbalanced via XLR jacks). But for the price, you bought first class sonic performance, very neat design and exceptional "Made in Germany" build quality, and the reputation of SPL in the pro-gear industry. Pretty good deal in my opinion. So, the Phonitor is not going anywhere. I am giving it a permanent home, and will use it as the "standard" against which I will compared all other amps and headphones. F. Lo

Obvious question. Does it mate well with the DT48e? And what ohm model. You can't beat Germany engineering and their build quality for pro gear. MO.