SPL PHONITOR X & E

Yeah, use XLR and check how hot the signal can be for the Phonitor.

 

I recommend you bypass the RME's digital volume control altogether by setting the volume at 0.0dB. Autoref can be left ON, it shouldn't impact the signal level at this volume setting.

 

sorry for quoting the old post.... didn't you say you grabbed one of these? did you ever post impressions?

 

Yes I did. My utterly ridiculous chain is:
PC -> Schiit Wyrd -> (usb RME Babyface -> optical output) -> Prism Lyra -> SPL Phonitor 2 (matrix on) -> dual Benchmark AHB2.

As preamps go, it is the best I've heard (or not heard, as the case may be). I really enjoy the crossfeed matrix and most of the time forget that I even have it on. It's one of those things that takes a while for your ear to adjust to, and it's less apparent when turning on, but then you flip the switch to turn it off and you realize just how unnatural headphone listening is on some recordings. I've tried a few other hardware and software crossfeeds but this one is my favourite so far (next closest would have been an old Meier Corda amp).

Right now since it's summertime and my room gets hot, I actually have my amps turned off and am running my HE-6 directly from the Phonitor 2. It's not loud by any means, but for gentle afternoon listening it's good enough.

Other than idle curiosities for new toys, I have zero urge to upgrade anything in my chain.

 

Was looking around their website to reference while reading - seems like the Phonitor e has been replaced by the se (e out of production) - and they have added a few new units (One, One d, Marc One, Control One).

SPL's approach to monitor simulation seems interesting to me, though I still need to read further as to how it differs from competing applications such as the smyth realiser or nx waves + head tracking module (though I was impressed I didn't spend enough time with either the a8 or waves setup to make a full judgment, so I definitely want to revisit those as well).

 

If only the Marc One had a mic preamp in place of one of the line inputs... which I realize is totally not the use case for that kind of product, but sigh I want something like the Crimson but not in an arcade form factor.

 

I posted in this thread in August 2019. To this day, I have not opened the box that the THX AAA 789 amp arrived in. Funny thing is I have several IEMs that I need to give 100+ hours of break in each. I have been breaking in my Dunu Zens, but the Phonitor E is haunted by a ghost that does not like low volume IEM music and turns the volume knob back to zero after a few minutes of play. Does not do this when using headphones . Weird.
Started looking at cheap headphone amps, then remember about the 789. I am going to install it in my Computer headphone system tomorrow or this weekend. I will post pics and a comparison with the 4X more expensive Phonitor E.

 

Any updates @Claud?

 

My current idiocy that took me way too long to figure out how to hook up just so I can compare the Phonitor 2 vs the Phonitor X...



Computer usb to RME
RME converts usb to optical to feed Prism (because the Prism drivers don't like my computer)
Prism outputs balanced TRS to Phonitor 2 (input 1) but also optical to Bryston
Bryston outputs RCA to Phonitor 2 (input 3) and XLR to Phonitor X, but also coax output to Phonitor X built-in dac
Phonitor 2 has three analog inputs and the expansion rack to output either to Performer or Phonitor X
Phonitor X has either Bryston xlr input or coax digital input, outputs xlr to Phonitor 2 (input 2)
Performer for the grunt work for the stupid stupid HE-6

Easiest comparison is comparing the Lyra, BDA-1, and X dac since it's a single switch flip on the Phonitor 2.
Can also compare X built-in dac vs Lyra or BDA-1 with the flip of a switch.

Will compare headphone outputs between the 2 and X as well, which is probably what everyone's more interested in.

 

Quick thoughts on the headphone outputs, powering the HE-6 which I admit is still a stupid metric to use:
Crossfeed matrix turned off on both.
Source: Prism Lyra

Comparing single ended output, X still edges out the 2. Comments same as the balanced but to a lesser degree. I know previous comments have said they're supposed to be the same, but it doesn't sound like it to me (if I had to venture a guess, maybe it's a better power supply or circuit layout). Overall differences are small however.

The balanced out of the X is really nice. There's definitely more headroom. Slightly more impact and visceral-ness. Separation and blackness maybe the same. A bit more crispness to the sound. Leading edge feels sharper; personally that's a bit fatiguing to me after a while, but turning on the crossfeed matrix totally fixes this.

The built-in dac of the X is ok (fed coax). I'd consider it acceptable as an all-in-one option, but wouldn't be my first choice if I had other high tier dacs to connect. It has a high tactile feel which is nice for the tickle-the-ear feeling, but a harder* sound to it which combined with the leading edge I talked about earlier feels shouty and is a bit much (but again the crossfeed really takes that edge off).
*It's possible this might have something to do with the daisy-chaining of the digital signal right now as it's going through several conversions (usb to optical via RME, optical again from Prism, then to coax via Bryston) as that's the only way I can have everything hooked up right now.

edit: the built-in dac reminds me of the RME ADI-2 Pro but grittier
edit2: oh hah they're the same dac chip, funny coincidence.

 

A few more days listening, swapped the HE-6 out for the HD650.

X balanced:
- more tactility than the 2
- separation seems wider, depth is the same
- doesn't have the same increase in slam as when I was using the HE-6, but at the same time I'm not feeling that leading edge push that was bothering me that I felt with the HE-6
- edit: just tried the HD25-13 which is a 600ohm variant... I actually like it better from the Phonitor 2 SE output than the X balanced

X single ended:
- loses that extra oomph
- still has the tactility but it feels muffled
- difference from the 2 is marginal; I'd say not worth the upgrade price if you're sticking with non-balanced headphones

a few extra thoughts on the dac:
- in my last post I said it had a high tactile feel which I'd still semi-agree with
- with the HD650 that tactility felt softer yet more plastic... so maybe more of a rubbery feel
- staging on the narrow side
- detailing is ok, not top tier, but acceptable

 

So I'm gonna eat my earlier words on the dac of the Phonitor X. I just took out one digital conversion step and now it's optical from the RME into Prism into X (skipping the Bryston in the middle which was converting to coax).

Within just a couple songs this much is obvious:
- tactility has improved, still some slight edge but not harsh, no longer a rubber/plastic feel but more of a... ok maybe a good hard rubber so it gives a strong bounce
- staging is about the same
- detailing has improved, still not top tier but I'd put it north of average and something I'd be ok with if I didn't have other fancy schmancy options on hand and wanted to keep my setup simple
- there was a slight haze that I had trouble identifying before, but now it has been lifted

I feel fairly confident that the Prism is not doing anything funky to the sound in the optical daisy-chain based on my prior dac reviews and shuffling of gear.

 

Can you tell me what your frame of reference is for preamps? Are you talking active, passive, built-in volume controls on the Lyra etc?

 

All of the above...

Any headamps or integrated amps with built-in preamp outputs: Schiit, iFi, Bryston, NAD, etc etc
Passive: Emotiva Control Freak, Silverstone TVC, a DIY with Alps, a prebuilt Khozmo box, another one with an AVC who's name escapes me at the moment, ditto for the LDR
Active: Mackie Big Knob, Schiit Freya v1, Bryston BP6, probably others that I've already forgotten


Most hated: Mackie Big Knob and the LDR one
Kinda wish I still had: Silverstone

 

That's high praise, very good to know. There are some good used deals in the UK/Europe at present so it is something I am looking at, along with a balanced DAC.

 

SPL also makes their 2Control and Volume2 boxes. If you don't need all the fancy fiddly bits of the Phonitor, those may be worth a look at much cheaper prices.

 

As I understand it they don't use the 120V tech which I think is what makes their high end kit special. And they don't have the remote control feature which would be useful.

 

But what do I know, they might be great. Plenty available here at good prices as well.

 

I just noticed a b-stock Phonitor 2 at Thomann.de if you're interested:
https://www.thomann.de/gb/spl_phonitor_2_b_stock.htm