Description
SPL Audio Phonitor XE Headphone Amp with DAC
Don’t want the DAC? Get the amp without DAC HERE
Phonitor xe
Our nonplusultra headphone amplifier.
Phonitor Matrix, Volume remote control, VU meter in retro look, premium DA converter and the preeminent VOLTAiR technology make the Phonitor xe the best headphone amplifier of our time.
For all headphones
The Phonitor xe offers connections for a standard headphone with a stereo jack plug and for balanced-driven headphones using a 4-pol XLR jack.
Thanks to the enormous output power, all headphones are driven effortlessly.
Twice as nice
If you like to avoid the headphone cable hanging off the front you may want to use the connectors on the back of the Phonitor xe.
The switch on the front selects between the front (F) and rear (R) outputs.
Milled from solid
is the big 45mm Volume control. Its mass together with the motorized Alps RK27 “Big Blue” potentiometer enhances the “spoon in the honey” feeling even further.
The red marker LED makes the setting visible even in darkened environments.
Volume RC
The volume can be remote controlled with any infrared remote control, that the Phonitor xe simply learns.
To do this, press the IR programming button and then the buttons for louder and quieter.
Source of joy
Up to six (6 !) stereo sources can be connected to Phonitor xe:
XLR, RCA, USB, Coax, Optical and AES/EBU
Phonitor xe accepts almost all audio connections. Balanced via XLR or unbalanced via RCA connectors.
With the optional DAC, four additional digital sources can be added. From USB to the professional AES format, no wishes remain unfulfilled.
The DAC768
The highly acclaimed AKM AK4490 Velvet Sound™ premium DAC chip is used as the converter chip in the optional digital-to-analogue converter, which thanks to its new architecture reproduces the finest sound details.
It converts PCM audio with a resolution of 32 bits and a sampling rate of up to 768kHz, which is equivalent to 16 times CD resolution. Direct Stream Digital is also supported up to a resolution of DSD4 or DSD256.
The DLP120
The analog output of the DAC chip must be filtered by a low pass filter. Phonitor xe has two of them: One for PCM audio and one for DSD audio, since different roll-off frequencies are required.
And in contrast to all other DACs in the world, the low pass filters here are built using VOLTAiR technology, which provides a plus in dynamics and headroom.
Good ol’ times
Two mechanical VU meters visualize the input levels for the left and right audio channel.
With the VU switch you can optimize the display for different signal levels.
Finding the middle
is not always easy. By our very nature, hearing can be leaning more to the left or more to the right. This is especially obvious when listening with headphones.
That’s why Phonitor xe has the uniquely finely resolved laterality control. With it, the center can be found perfectly.
With the mode switch you can choose between stereo or mono playback. To the right, the laterality control is switched on.
The Revolution
in the headphone amplifier is the Phonitor Matrix, thanks to which you can listen to music through headphones as if you were listening through speakers. The tiring super stereo effect is a thing of the past.
Enjoy your music exactly the way it should be heard.
Phonitor Comparison
| Phonitor xe | Phonitor x | Phonitor se | Phonitor 2 | Phonitor One | Phonitor One d | ||
| Phonitor Matrix | |||||||
| Crossfeed | 6 Values | 6 Values | 2 Values | 6 Values | Potentiometer | Potentiometer | |
| Speaker Angle | 22° / 30° / 40° / 55° | 22° / 30° / 40° / 55° | 30° | 15° / 22° / 30° / 40° / 55° / 75° | 30° | 30° | |
| Center Level | ○ | ○ | ○ | ● | ○ | ○ | |
| Matrix on/off | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| Remote Control* | Volume | ● | ● | ○ | ● | ○ | ○ |
| Laterality Control | Super fine Balance | ● | ● | ○ | ● | ○ | ○ |
| Stereo/Mono | Playback Modes | ● | ● | ○ | ● | ○ | ○ |
| Mute | ○ | ● | ○ | ● | ○ | ○ | |
| Solo L/R & Phase | Monitoring functions | ○ | ○ | ○ | ● | ○ | ○ |
| VU Meters | |||||||
| ø 36mm illuminated VUs | ● | ● | ○ | ● | ○ | ○ | |
| 0dBVU Calibration (+4dBu) | 0 / 6 / 12 dB | 0 / 10 dB | ○ | 0 / 6 / 12 dB | ○ | ○ | |
| Headphone Outputs | |||||||
| Front & Rear Outputs | ● | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | |
| Additional Output Boost | +22 dB | +12 / +22 dB | +12 dB | +6 / +12 dB | ○ | ○ | |
| 1/4” Jack | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| 1/4” Jack Output power (1 kHz, 1 % THD, 600 Ω) | 2 x 2.7 W | 2 x 2.7 W | 2 x 2.7 W | 2 x 2.7 W | 2 x 190 mW | 2 x 190 mW | |
| 1/4” Jack Output power (1 kHz, 1 % THD, 250 Ω) | 2 x 5 W | 2 x 5 W | 2 x 5 W | 2 x 5 W | 2 x 330 mW | 2 x 330 mW | |
| 1/4” Jack Output power (1 kHz, 1 % THD, 32 Ω) | 2 x 1 W | 2 x 1 W | 2 x 1 W | 2 x 1 W | 2 x 400 mW | 2 x 400 mW | |
| 4-pin XLR (Balanced) | ● | ● | ○ | ○ | |||
| 4-pin XLR Output power (1 kHz, 1 % THD, 600 Ω) | 2 x 8 W | 2 x 8 W | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | |
| 4-pin XLR Output power (1 kHz, 1 % THD, 250 Ω) | 2 x 3.5 W | 2 x 3.5 W | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | |
| 4-pin XLR Output power (1 kHz, 1 % THD, 32 Ω) | 2 x 0.7 W | 2 x 0.7 W | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | |
| Line Outputs | |||||||
| XLR (Balanced) | ○ | ● | ○ | ● | ○ | ○ | |
| 1/4” Jack (Balanced) | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ● | |
| RCA (Unbalanced) | ○ | ● | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | |
| Speaker Output Selector | ○ | ● | ○ | ● | ○ | ○ | |
| Line Inputs | |||||||
| XLR (Balanced) | ● | ● | ○ | ● (2x) | ○ | ○ | |
| 1/4” Jack (Balanced) | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ● | ● | |
| RCA (Unbalanced) | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | |
| RCA -10dBV to 0dBu Boost | ● | ○ | ○ | ● | ○ | ○ | |
| DA converter (optional) | |||||||
| Model | DAC768 | DAC768xs | DAC768xs | ○ | ○ | DAC768xs | |
| DLP120 (dual low pass filter) | ● | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | |
| Bit/Max SR kHz | 32/768 | 32/768 | 32/768 | ○ | ○ | 32/768 | |
| DSD (max) | 256 (11.2MHz) | 256 (11.2MHz) | 256 (11.2MHz) | ○ | ○ | 256 (11.2MHz) | |
| USB (USB-B) | ● | ● | ● | ○ | ○ | ● | |
| AES (XLR) | ● | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | |
| Coaxial (RCA) | ● | ● | ● | ○ | ○ | ○ | |
| Optical (Toslink) | ● | ● | ● | ○ | ○ | ○ | |
| Housing | WxHxD (incl. Feet) | 278 x 100 x 300mm | 278 x 100 x 300mm | 278 x 57 x 300mm | 278 x 100 x 300mm | 210 x 49.6 x 220mm | 210 x 49.6 x 220mm |
| 11” x 4″ x 11.81” | 11” x 4″ x 11.81” | 11” x 2.24″ x 11.81” | 11” x 4″ x 11.81” | 8.23” x 1.95” x 8.66” | 8.23” x 1.95” x 8.66” | ||
| Weight | 5.1kg/11.24lbs | 4.3 kg/9.5 lbs | 3.1kg; 6.8 lbs | 4.3kg; 9.5 lbs | 1.2kg; 2,65 lbs | 1.45kg; 3.2 lbs | |
| *Units learn any IR remote. RC is not part of the scope of delivery. | |||||||
Features
- XLR & RCA Ins for Studio & Consumer Gear
- Balanced & Unbalanced Headphone Outputs
- Built-in 32-Bit DAC for PCM & DSD
- TOSLINK, S/PDIF, USB & AES Connections
- Simulate Loudspeakers with Matrix Switch
- Crossfeed & Angle Settings
- Stereo & Mono Modes
- Left/Right Laterality Adjustment Knob
- Controllable via Any IR Remote
- 120V Technology for High-Headroom
Specifications
Color: Black, Silver, Red
Analog inputs: XLR (balanced) and RCA
Digital Inputs: DAC768 (optional)
Balanced Headphones Output: 4-pol XLR (balanced)
Standard Headphones Output: 6.35 mm (1/4″) TRS Jack
Internal Linear Power Supply with Shielded Toroidal Transformer
Mains Power Supply
Dimensions & Weight
Reference: 0 dBu = 0,775V. All specifications are subject to change without notice.
Slimmer is smarter
The Drivers
Mac OS & iOS
No driver installation required for Mac or iOS devices (class compliant).
iOS devices must be connected using the Apple camera adapter.
Windows
To operate with a higher than the standard sample rate this driver installation is required.
