Product Overview

The All-In-One High-Voltage Entry Into Reference Digital Playback

The SPL Phonitor se + DAC768xs brings together the core essentials of premium digital decoding and elite headphone drive into a single sleek, low-profile desktop chassis. Rather than forcing you to piecemeal your setup with mismatched external DACs, interconnect cables, and amplifiers, this factory-integrated solution creates an ultra-short, optimized signal path.

Digital streams coming from your computer workstation, network streamer, or television transport are decoded immediately inside the high-voltage chassis. The reconstructed analog waves bypass the cheap, low-voltage operational amplifiers common in standard consumer electronics, flowing directly into discrete filtering blocks running on massive voltage operating rails. This guarantees that your high-resolution files are translated with their spatial layers, transient impact, and musical realism completely untouched.

Product Description

The Power of 120V VOLTAiR Core Technology:

The incredible dynamic power and natural ease of the Phonitor se are rooted in SPL’s proprietary VOLTAiR technology. While standard consumer headphone amplifiers run on low-voltage integrated IC op-amps (typically capped at +/-15V or +/-18V DC rails), the Phonitor se functions on an enormous plus/minus 60V DC internal power rail network. Providing four times the operational voltage threshold, the unit achieves an ultra-silent background noise floor (-103 dBu) and an impressive 135.5 dB of dynamic range. Complex bass drops, sweeping orchestral movements, and sharp percussive transients hit with effortless authority, entirely eliminating internal signal compression, clipping distortion, and listener brain fatigue.

High-Resolution DAC768xs Processing Engine:

The pre-installed DAC768xs module utilizes an ultra-resolution 32-bit digital-to-analog converter chipset built around highly acclaimed Velvet Sound™ architecture. It delivers musical, hyper-accurate reconstruction across three distinct digital input nodes:

• Asynchronous USB (Type-B): Decodes ultra-high-resolution PCM files up to a blistering 768 kHz and handles native Direct Stream Digital files up to DSD256 (DSD4) over DoP.

• Coaxial S/PDIF & Optical Toslink: Seamlessly manages traditional digital feeds up to 192 kHz and 96 kHz respectively, perfect for integration with dedicated network bridges, CD players, or audio interfaces.

The Essentials of the Phonitor Matrix:

To correct the artificial left-to-right separation inherent to headphones—which forces a skewed "super-stereo" image straight inside the skull—the Phonitor se implements an optimized, all-analog version of the Phonitor Matrix:

• Optimized Speaker Crossfeed: Simulates the subtle interaural time and level differences that occur naturally when listening to physical monitors in an acoustic room, allowing the opposite channel's signal to bleed slightly into each ear.

• Fixed 30-Degree Angle: Locks the simulated soundstage placement to a standard 30-degree monitor geometry, matching the industry standard setup found in reference mastering suites.

• Two-Stage Intensity Selector: A front-panel switch lets you toggle between two crossfeed levels (C1 and C2) or bypass the circuit completely, smoothly shifting the soundstage outside of your head for speaker-like imaging.

Tactile Mastery and Intelligent IR Remote Learning:

Every control interaction on the Phonitor se highlights its masterbuilt German engineering. The sleek front panel features a weighted aluminum volume dial mated to a premium motorized ALPS RK27 "Big Blue" analog potentiometer for an incredibly smooth, heavily-damped feel.

• Universal IR Sync: The onboard infrared sensor chip can learn the volume up and down codes from any standard IR remote control (from your TV, CD transport, or media streamer), allowing you to adjust listening volumes comfortably without leaving your seat.

Key Features

• 120V VOLTAiR POWER PLATFORM: Custom high-voltage DC operating rails unlock massive headroom, lightning-fast transient response, and zero signal compression.

• INTEGRATED HIGH-RES DAC768xs: Premium 32-bit processing core provides musical, low-distortion digital-to-analog decoding over USB, Coaxial, and Optical feeds.

• 768 kHz PCM & NATIVE DSD256: Handles ultra-high-resolution format configurations up to 768 kHz PCM files and native DSD256 over asynchronous USB connections.

• ANALOG PHONITOR MATRIX: Recreates genuine loudspeaker-style stereo imaging across your headphones via an optimized 30° angle and two switchable Crossfeed intensities.

• MASSIVE DRIVING POWER OVERHEAD: Generates up to 2 x 5 Watts into high-impedance headphones, managing demanding planar and dynamic drivers with absolute ease.

• STANDARD 1/4" FRONT MONITOR PORT: Optimized low-impedance 6.35mm TRS headphone output stage perfectly tuned to prevent output impedance mismatch.

• MOTORIZED ALPS "BIG BLUE" POT: High-mass aluminum volume knob driven by an automated ALPS fader with an integrated red position tracking LED.

• IR REMOTE CODE PAIRING: Smart infrared controller chip quickly programs to match volume commands with your favorite third-party remote.

• SHIELDED TOROIDAL LINEAR SUPPLY: Employs an internal linear power supply with a heavily shielded custom transformer to prevent magnetic hum or noise floor ripples.

• CLEAN ANALOG BACKEND ROUTING: Includes a gold-plated analog stereo RCA input pair alongside its digital inputs to accommodate vintage turntable phono stages or analog tape decks.

Technical Specifications

What’s Included in the Box

• 1 x SPL AUDIO Phonitor se Headphone Amplifier Main Unit (With Pre-Installed DAC768xs Module)

• 1 x Standard AC Grounded IEC Power Cable

• 1 x Set of Premium Vibration-Isolating Chassis Feet

• 1 x Official SPL Fidelity Series Operation, IR Programming, and Digital Configuration Manual