SPL Phonitor SE Headphone Amplifier – Black

SPL have been around since the earlier part of the nineteen eighties, developing audio gear for music, film, multimedia, hi-fi and broadcasting. Here we have an example of the Phonitor se Headphone Amplifier which comes in good fully working condition noting a couple of small blemishes – please refer to photographs. When it arrived with us it was tested and found to have an OPX card that had failed. This has now been replaced and fully tested with no further problems. It is supplied in original factory packaging along with manual, mains cable and as standard our three month warranty. Please note this is the standard model and is not fitted with the optional DAC module.
SPL Audio Say….
Our entry model into the world of VOLTAiR headphone amplifiers. The Phonitor se is focused on the essentials
– without compromising on quality. It has the same audio signal amplification as its bigger brothers Phonitor x and Phonitor xe. The Phonitor Matrix provides two of the most common Phonitor Matrix settings as switchable presets. It lets you experience music on headphones as being played back through speakers.
The 120 V technology is our reference technology. The 120 V technology is unique in the world. It operates at a DC voltage of 120 volts. This is four times that of IC-based semiconductor op-amps. In our Professional Fidelity series, we refer to this unsurpassed technology as VOLTAiR technology.
The 120V technology works with ± 60V. To be able to handle such a high voltage, we have developed special proprietary operational amplifiers that can operate with a DC voltage of ± 60 V: the SPL 102 V SUPRA operational amplifiers. This high voltage would destroy conventional components and operational amplifiers.
The 120 V technology achieves exceptional technical specifications and sonic benefits. Technically, in terms of dynamic range, signal-to-noise ratio and headroom. Sonically, in terms of richness of detail and an absolutely relaxed listening experience.
The Phonitor Matrix is the revolution in the headphone amplifier. Thanks to the Phonitor Matrix, music can be experienced on headphones as if it was played on speakers. Music is normally produced and mixed for playback on stereo speakers. Listening on headphones is different from listening on loudspeakers. The biggest difference is the lack of crossing signals of the sound signal from the left speaker to the right ear and from the right speaker to the left ear. These crossing signals are missing in conventional headphone listening, because there are no signals crossing from one side of the headphones to the other. This results in an unnaturally wide stereo image and the various sound sources of the audio signal are not localized as the sound engineer intended them to. This effect is often referred to as “super stereo effect”.
The SPL Phonitor Matrix corrects this false stereo image with an analogue circuitry. The two main parameters of the Phonitor Matrix are Crossfeed and Angle: Crossfeed determines the crossing signals of the channels, the so-called interaural level difference. Angle determines the opening angle of the stereo image, the so-called interaural time difference. During conventional listening on headphones, our brain can balance the false representation of the playback to a certain extent – but this is very exhausting. The Phonitor Matrix therefore not only ensures a correct representation of the stereo image, but also a relaxed listening experience.
Specifications:
Input Impedance: 20 kΩ
Maximum Input Level: + 32.5 dBu
Standard Headphone Output: 6.35 mm TRS connector
Source impedance: 0.18 Ω
Damping factor (40 Ω): 180
Frequency range ( -3 dB): 10 Hz to 300 kHz
Crosstalk (1 kHz): – 90 dB
THD & N (10 Hz – 22 kHz, 0 dBu): 0.00091%
Noise (A-weighted): – 103 dB
Output Power (1 kHz, 1% THD): 2.7 W @ 600 Ω; 5 W @ 300 Ω; 1 W @ 32 Ω
Dynamic Range: 135.5 dB
Power Supply: 230 V AC / 50 Hz
Power Consumption: max 30 VA
Stand-by Power Consumption: 0.3 W
Dimensions: 278 (W) x 330 (D) x 57 (H) mm
Weight: 2.8 kg

For a review from What Hi-Fi? magazine please click HERE