SPL Phonitor 2 (Black)

120V Rail Headphone Monitoring Amplifier

The Phonitor 2 is a full-fledged stereo preamp that could become the heart of modern professional and home systems alike where headphones have a preeminent importance. Moreover, we have achieved enormous advances with our 120V Rail Technology, making the technical specifications of the Phonitor 2 a new standard in all respects: 141dB dynamic range, 107dB signal-to-noise ratio, -112/-114 dB THD (headphone/speaker output with +30dBu output level). Mind you, the THD measurements define the limits of the measuring equipment but not those of the Phonitor 2.

The Phonitor 2 remains first and foremost a headphone preamp, which is easy to identify given the elaborate loudspeaker simulation for headphones. It works seamlessly with low-impedance headphones with load impedances as low as 10 Ohm (40 Ohm with balanced headphones).

If there is the need for more than one stereo speaker set, we recommended to use our passive switcher called the Expansion Rack.

Already for the headphone monitoring – or phonitoring – part alone, the Phonitor 2 encompasses advantages of both kinds of traditional monitoring methods: On one hand the analytical headphone monitoring is like working with an acoustic magnifier but without external room influences; on the other hand, loudspeaker simulation allows for monitoring which forgoes the microscopic effect, but provides for room ambiance. Working with the magnifier effect of headphones has the advantage of safely hearing clicks or similar defects and helps in fine tuning crossfades or to judge tonal problems in individual tracks. On loudspeakers such analyses are much more difficult, as such problems just are not as apparent when one is working without being able to “zoom in” aurally. Conversely, loudspeakers provide monitoring with the advantage of spatial balance in a (definable through placement) stereo width, which in turn provides the illusion of an acoustic stage.

Traditional headphone reproduction produces one 180-degree stereo width in the middle of the head, and it is exactly this which creates the very problematic-to-impossible headphone mixing environment. An essential reason for such unnatural ambiance is the complete separation of the channels, which does not exist either in natural hearing or in stereo loudspeaker reproduction. This makes it nearly impossible to judge tonal balance, a stereo image and the phantom center level. Panorama adjustments as well as related EQ settings that one attempts with headphones, typically just do not function on loudspeakers. Moreover, what is often called the “super stereo effect” with headphones usually creates a great deal of ear fatigue in the long run. Over loudspeakers the sound stage is felt in front, while in contrast, when monitoring through headphones, the stage is present on the left and on the right – but frontal and rear information is lost.

Applications:

Specifications

XLR Input

• Neutrik XLR, balanced, Pin 2 = (+)
• Impedance: ca. 20 kohms
• CMR: -82 dBu (at 1 kHz)
• Max. Input Level: +32.5 dBu

RCA Input

• RCA, unbalanced (single ended)
• Impedance: ca. 10 kohms
• Max. Input Level: +32.5 dBu

Headphone Output

• 6.35 mm TRS connector
• Pin wiring: Tip = Left, Ring = Right, Sleeve = GND
• Impedance: 0.18 Ohm
• Damping Factor: 180 @ 40 Ohm
• Frequency Range: 10 Hz to 300 kHz ( -3 dB)
• Crosstalk at 1 kHz: -90 dB
• THD&N: 0.00091 % (at 0 dBu, 1 kHz, 100 kohms load)
• Noise (A-weighted): -103 dBu
• Dynamic Range: 135.5 dB

Max. Output Power

(at +30 dBu at 1 kHz)

• 2 x 1 W at 600 Ohm impedance
• 2 x 2 W at 300 Ohm impedance
• 2x 3.7 W at 120 Ohm impedance
• 2x 2.9 W at 47 Ohm impedance
• 2x 2.7 W at 32 Ohm impedance

Monitor/Line Outputs

• Neutrik XLR, balanced, Pin 2 = (+)
• Frequency Range: 4 Hz to 300 kHz (-3 dB)
• Crosstalk at 1 kHz: -106 dB
• THD&N: 0.00085 % (at 0 dBu, 1kHz, 100 kohms load)
• Noise (A-weighted) -103.8 dB
• Dynamic Range: 136.2 dB

Internal Operating Voltages

• +/-60 V

Power Supply

• Mains voltage (switchable): 230 V AC / 50 Hz or 115 V AC / 60 Hz
• Fuses: 230 V: T 630 mA; 115 V: T 1 A
• Power consumption: max 24 VA

Dimensions and weight

• 278 mm W x 100 mm H x 335mm D (incl. feet)
• 10.95 in W x 3.94 in H x 11.19 in D (incl. feet)
• 4.3 kg; 9.5 lbs (unit only)
• 5.4 kg; 11.9 lbs (shipping)