SPL - Sound Performance Lab Phonitor xe Headphone Amplifier + DAC768

SPL Phonitor xe

The ultimate headphone amplifier.

The Phonitor xe is the ultimate standalone model for headphone enthusiasts who don't want to compromise. The Phonitor Matrix, remote volume control, retro-style VU meter, optional premium DAC, and the outstanding VOLTAiR technology make the Phonitor xe one of the best headphone amplifiers of our time.

Great sound – for all headphones

The Phonitor xe offers connections for standard headphones with a jack plug and for balanced headphones with a 4-pin XLR plug.

Thanks to its high output power, it drives all headphones effortlessly and without strain, thus leveraging the advantages of SPL VOLTAiR technology and rewarding the listener with an honest, detailed and at the same time lively sound experience.

Simply double

The Phonitor xe offers headphone outputs on the front and rear. The front panel allows you to switch between F (front) and R (rear). This allows your favorite headphones to remain permanently connected to the rear panel – with no visible cabling on the front panel.

From the full

The solid 45mm volume knob, milled from aluminum, is a tactile highlight. Its mass, combined with the motorized Alps RK27 "Big Blue" potentiometer, creates a wonderful "spoon in honey" feel.

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

Remote control

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

The Phonitor xe learns how to communicate with it at the simple push of a button.

Free choice

Up to six (6!) stereo sources can be connected to the Phonitor xe:
XLR, RCA and via the optional DAC768 also USB, COAX, OPTICAL and AES.

The Phonitor xe accepts virtually any audio connection: balanced via XLR or unbalanced via RCA jacks.

The optional DAC768 adds four additional digital sources. From USB to the professional AES format, everything is covered.

The DAC768

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

It converts PCM audio with a resolution of 32 bits and a sampling rate of up to 768 kHz, which corresponds to 16 times CD resolution. Direct Stream Digital is also supported up to DSD4 or DSD256 resolution. Unlike the DAC768xs, the DAC768 not only offers an AES/EBU digital input, but also the SPL DLP120 with VOLTAiR technology.

The DLP120 (Dual Low-Pass)

Every signal sent from a DAC chip into the analog world must be filtered through a low-pass filter. The DLP120 contains two of these: one for PCM and one for DSD audio signals, as different roll-off frequencies are required.

Unlike all other DACs in the world, SPL's analog low-pass filters use VOLTAiR technology, which provides added dynamics, headroom and sound.

Good old days

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

Use the VU switch to optimize the display for different signal levels.

Finding the middle

isn't always easy. By nature, hearing can be directed more to the left or more to the right. This is especially noticeable when listening with headphones.

This is why the Phonitor xe features a uniquely fine-resolution laterality control, which restores the stereo image to balance.

The MODE switch selects between stereo or mono playback. This switch also activates the laterality control.

The Revolution: Phonitor Matrix

The Phonitor Matrix is the revolution in headphone amplifiers.

Thanks to the Phonitor matrix, music can be experienced through headphones as if it were being played through speakers. The tiring super-stereo effect is a thing of the past.

Enjoy your music without listening fatigue and exactly as it was meant to be heard.

Music is usually produced and mixed for playback through stereo speakers.

Listening with headphones is different from listening with speakers. The biggest difference is the lack of crosstalk of the sound signal from the left speaker to the right ear and from the right speaker to the left ear. This crosstalk is absent with conventional listening with headphones, as no sound travels from one side of the headphones to the other. This creates an unnaturally wide stereo stage and the various sound sources in the audio signal are not as localized as the sound engineer intended. This effect is often referred to as the "super stereo effect". With normal listening with headphones, our brain can compensate for the misrepresentation of the music playback to a certain extent - but this is very strenuous.

The SPL Phonitor Matrix can correct this false stereo image using an analog circuit. Thus, the Phonitor Matrix not only ensures a correct representation of the stereo stage, but also a relaxing listening experience.

The two main parameters of the Phonitor matrix are Crossfeed and Angle :

Crossfeed determines the crosstalk between the channels, the so-called interaural level difference. Angle determines the opening angle of the stereo stage, the so-called interaural time difference.

In the center of attention

To perfect the listening experience, the level of the sound sources located centrally in the stereo image must be lowered when the Phonitor Matrix is activated. The result is that not only the position of all sound sources is correctly reproduced, but also their volume.

On Professional Fidelity devices, the value is fixed at a reduction of -1 dB, which is the best choice for an authentic representation of the soundstage.

Sounds good

For all devices in the Professional Fidelity series, SPL develops not only by design but also by ear. Many of the fundamental components are mounted on the circuit boards using through-hole (THT) technology. This ensures that the components that sound the best are used.

The VOLTAiR technology

VOLTAiR is composed of the terms Volt and Air .
Volt is the unit of electrical voltage and air is the English word for air.

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

120V technology is the SPL reference technology. It is unique in the audio industry worldwide, operating at a DC voltage of 120 volts. This is four times the operating voltage of IC-based semiconductor operational amplifiers. In the Professional Fidelity series, they refer to this unsurpassed technology as VOLTAiR technology.

The highest possible audio quality requires the highest possible audio operating voltage.

The 120V technology operates at +/- 60 V. To handle such a high voltage, SPL engineers developed special proprietary operational amplifiers that can operate at 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 advantages. Technically speaking, in terms of dynamic range, signal-to-noise ratio, and overload resistance. Sonically speaking, in terms of richness of detail and a completely relaxed listening experience.

By the way, the "120V" in the technology's name has nothing to do with the local mains voltage from the wall outlet. It refers to the operating voltage in the device at which the audio signals are processed.

The mains voltage from the wall outlet is converted to the required secondary voltage in the device's internal linear power supply with a toroidal transformer. Rectifiers convert this alternating voltage into the direct voltage required by the audio device.

Comparison

Most audio devices operate with an internal operating voltage of +/-15 volts and can therefore handle a maximum input level of +21.5 dBu. For example, if a DAC has an output level of +22 dBu at 0 dBFS, peak levels in the music material would cause clipping at the device's input stage. All components in the audio device are often operating at their limits. The result is a choppy sound that causes stress and accelerates auditory fatigue.

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