Our headphone amplifier SPL Phonitor One d is not only interesting for recording studio applications.
That’s why Mark from the online platform Miniklangwunder took a closer look at the small Phonitor and is impressed:
“In the price range up to 600€, the Phonitor One d is right at the top of the podium. I am not aware of a better single-ended headphone amplifier with built-in DAC at the moment.”
Unboxing:
“The SPL Phonitor One d is delivered in a solid cardboard box, on which the device itself is pictured and set in scene on a noble dark green color background. Inside the box, the device itself and the accessories are absolutely embedded in a foamed material. Along with the user manual, a power supply unit and an USB cable are included, with which the start-up on the notebook can take place immediately.”
Design:
“The One series is visually distinguished by its compactness and simplicity in equal measure. The housings, which are rounded on the sides, look very classy in their mat-black finish.”
Sound:
“When it comes to the sound, the professional quality from the studio domain is evident. The Phonitor One d reproduces very linearly and with a decent performance even with high-impedance headphones. In addition to my Focal Clear, it also reliably drives the HEDDphone with a good maximum volume and, above all, with so much boost that the HEDDphone also achieves its full potential.”
Phonitor Matrix:
“With the infinitely adjustable 30° crossfeed, even very spatially sounding headphones can be tamed and brought to a realistic stage. Depending on the requirements, a position in the stereo triangle can be simulated analogously to speakers placed in the room. This works excellently. With the right headphones, this is absolutely amazing. With the HEDDphone as ultra nearfield monitor it even becomes a real HEDDspeaker. Without crosfeed it is already ingenious, but with the Phonitor One d and the crossfeed at a position about 11 o’clock, it is mindblowing. You forget a lot of things around you. Live recordings in particular almost become real.”
Conclusion:
“With the Phonitor One d, SPL has created an amazing device when it comes to bringing the quality of studio technology to the homes of every music lover at an affordable price. The noble appearance and the high manufacturing quality make the decision for the Phonitor One d easy.”
“Most important, however, is the absolutely terrific ability to drive everything from easy-to-drive headphones like the Focal Clear Pro I use, to the power-hungry HEDDphone, which, with the use of the Phonitor One d’s crossfeed, achieves the last percentage points of realistic sound reproduction.”
You can find the complete review (in German) online at Miniklangwunder.
