Phonitor x + DAC768xs in EAR IN

SPL are the initials usually associated with the term sound pressure level, but it is also short for Sound Performance Lab, a German firm that has been making professional recording gear since the late 1970s. Founded by Wolfgang Neumann, SPL grew out of the needs of his own professional studio, which was located near the Dutch border. After a few years Neumann sold the studio and began manufacturing pro gear full-time under the name SPL.Since the early 80s SPL has been actively involved in building high-performance professional recording equipment under its own name as well as manufacturing OEM products for Sennheiser, Genelec, Terratek, and MB Quart. Among SPL’s own branded offerings are monitor controllers, interfaces, preamplifiers, compressors, power amplifiers, speaker simulators, and headphone amplifiers. We are going to look at one of its headphone amps, the Phonitor X.The Phonitor X is part of SPL’s latest line of “pro-fi” gear, which bridges the gap between the professional and consumer markets. The Phonitor X is similar to SPL’s Phonitor II professional headphone amplifier, but with several features removed that were primarily of use to pros and with the addition of some controls that make it more user-friendly for consumers, including an optional DAC section.