Manual Phonitor mini Modell 1320 120 Volt Amplifier for Headphones
Content Content 2 Scope of Delivery 5 Introduction 6 Phonitor Phonitor 2 Phonitor mini Home Listening Sound Engineers The end of ear fatigue Applications Special Features Tech Talk 120 Volt Technology The advantages of the 120-Volt operating voltage 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 14 15 Specifications 18 Inputs Headphone Output Power Supply Measurement & Weight Hook Up Connecting to the mains Placement Before You Begin Warning Phonitor mini 18 19 20 20 21 21 22 23 24 2
Content Control Elements 25 Rear Panel: Power 34 Rear Panel: Signals 38 Input: XLR or RCA Matrix: On or Off Mode: Stereo, Mono or Mute Crossfeed: Low, Med or High Angle: 30°, 22° or 40° Center: -0,6 dB, -1,2 dB or Off Volume Headphone Connection Voltage Select Power Connection On/Off Switch XLR Sockets 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 34 36 37 38 Operation 39 Setting up the Phonitor Matrix in three steps 39 Symbols 44 Security Advices 45 Declaration of CE Conformity Notes on Environmen
Phonitor mini Version 1.0 – 6 /2014 Developer: Bastian Neu This manual contains a description of the product SPL Phonitor mini, Model 1320. In no way it represents a guarantee of particular characteristics or results of use. The information in this document has been carefully compiled and verified and, unless otherwise stated or agreed upon, correctly describes the product.
Scope of Delivery Scope of Delivery Phonitor mini, Model 1320 Power cord Phonitor mini 5
Introduction Phonitor When we brought out the first Phonitor — the first ever headphone amp with 120 Volt technology — back in 2008, the professional audio world seemed to have been eagerly awaiting it. The success of this unique headphone preamp was overwhelming. In hindsight, we also had to wonder how none of us had come to the idea of combining basic monitoring options, speaker simulation capabilities and a headphone preamp.
Introduction Phonitor 2 Many Phonitor users told us they wished they could also use the unmatched signal quality that the Phonitor provides to feed their speakers. And so began to take form the idea of making its successor a fullfledged stereo preamp that could become the heart of modern professional and home systems alike where headphones have a preeminent importance.
Introduction Phonitor mini The outstanding technical and sonic characteristics of the Phonitor 2 were translated into a more compact and less-expensive format to create the Phonitor mini. Its ease-of-use, small and sturdy housing and affordable price, make the Phonitor mini the perfect headphone amp for home studios, hi-fi enthusiasts and mobile recording and mixing. The Phonitor mini is our high-end/low-size version of a premium headphone amplifier.
Introduction Home Listening Home users can now get — for an unheard-of value for money — a headphone amplifier to enjoy an authentic sound reproduction with headphones. Headphones usually provide a 180-degree stereo image (the Super Stereo effect), and that‘s exactly where the problem is rooted. Generally speaking, music is mixed so that all instruments are reproduced correctly in their position when the loudspeakers form a stereo triangle.
Introduction Sound Engineers Studio engineers will find in the Phonitor mini a high-quality headphones amplifier. On the one side, there is the traditional, analytical work with headphones as with a magnifying glass, which can be done always bearing in mind the lack of room influence. Working with a magnifying glass has its advantages when it comes to discovering noises, clicks and crackles, assessing edits, or spotting problems of single tracks.
Introduction The end of ear fatigue The initially impressive „Super Stereo effect” with headphones can become tiring with time. Besides the unnatural ambience impressions, other disadvantages also lead to an early ear fatigue when mixing or listening with headphones. A cheap headphone amplifier can also be a good reason for early hearing fatigue. Ordinary IC technology is used in almost all of today‘s headphone amplifiers.
Introduction Applications • Headphone amplification for two sources • Headphone amplifier for all headphone systems and impedances • Loudspeaker-like reproduction with headphones • Monitoring alternative in studios and mobile units • Mobile reproduction of usual monitoring conditions • Headphone monitoring live or during recording Phonitor mini 12
Introduction Special Features • The Phonitor mini combines the new technical and sonic standards of the Phonitor 2 with a compact, competitively priced design • Optimally suited for all dynamic headphones from 10 Ohm • Mount-stand compatible with VESA adapter • Ideal for mobile applications Phonitor mini 13
Tech Talk 120 Volt Technology The foundations of this high-end-development is our 120 Volt reference technology: specially developed and manufactured op-amps that run on an operating voltage of 120 volts, which corresponds to approximately twice that of most modern analog audio semiconductor technologies. Thanks to our 120-volt circuitry and processing we reach outstanding performance levels, especially in terms of dynamic range and headroom.
Tech Talk The advantages of the 120-Volt operating voltage These diagrams clearly show how our 120-volt technology compares to other circuits with a lower operating voltage. The direct relation between operating level and maximum level is fundamental for the classification: the higher the operating level, the higher the maximum level a circuit can handle.
Tech Talk The advantages of the 120-Volt operating voltage Since virtually all essential acoustic and musical parameters depend on this relation, a higher operating voltage also has a positive impact on the dynamic range, distortion limit and signal-to-noise ratio.
Tech Talk The advantages of the 120-Volt operating voltage Do bear in mind that dB scales do not represent linear but rather exponential increases. A 3dB increase corresponds to doubling the acoustic power, +6dB correspond to twice the sound pressure level, and +10dB correspond to twice the perceived loudness.
Specifications Inputs XLR connectors: XLR connectors, electronically balanced Impedance: bal. ca. 20 kΩ, unbal. ca. 10 kΩ Max. Input Level: +32,5 dBu RCA connectors: RCA connectors, unbalanced Impedance: ca. 10 kΩ Max. Input Level: +20 dBu Considering that the RCA input is raised from -10dBV to +4dBu (approx. 12.7dB), the input level is comparable to that of the XLR inputs: +20dB + 12.7dB = 32.7dB 0dBu corresponds to 775mV. Subject to modifications.
Specifications Headphone Output 6,3-mm TRS connector Pin wiring: Tip = Left, Ring = Right, Sleeve = GND Impedance: 0,18 Ω Attenuation Factor: 180 at 40 Ohm Frequency Range: ‹10 Hz to ›300 kHz ( -3 dB) CMR: -88 dB at 1 kHz Crosstalk: -80 dB at 1 kHz THD&N: 0,00052 % at 1 kHz R At 0dBu input level and unity gain, 1 kHz, 100 kOhm load Noise: Unweighted -100 dB A-weighted: - 103 dB CCIR: -94 dB Dynamic Range: Unweighted 133,62 dB Power Amplifier: 2x 1W (+30dBu) at 1 kHz, 600Ω 2x 2W (+30dBu) at 1 kHz, 300Ω Ph
Specifications Power Supply Voltages: 230 V AC, 50 Hz / 115 V AC, 60 Hz Power Consumption: max.
Hook Up Connecting to the mains Be very careful to check that the rear chassis power selection is set correctly before using the unit (230V/50 Hz = 220-240 V, 115V/60 Hz = 110-120 Volt). When in doubt about a source, contact your dealer or a professional electrician. Read page 35 for instructions on how to set the correct voltage. Before connecting any equipment make sure that any machine to be connected is turned off. Follow all safety instructions from page 45.
Hook Up Placement Place the unit on a level and stable surface. The unit’s enclosure is EMC-safe and effectively shielded against HF interference. Nonetheless, you should carefully consider where you place the unit to avoid electrical disturbances. It should be positioned so that you can easily reach it, but there are other considerations. Try not to place it near heat sources or in direct sunlight, and avoid exposure to vibrations, dust, heat, cold or moisture.
Hook Up Before You Begin Make sure the Volume control is turned hard left before you power up the unit. Now control Volume. Note that too high levels can damage headphones and hearing! Always MUTE the input before plugging in or unplugging a pair of headphones. Otherwise the power amplifier may be damaged by a short circuit.
Hook Up Warning Never connect mono plugs (TS) to the stereo jacks on the front panel.
Control Elements Input: XLR or RCA The Phonitor mini provides two different source connections. Use the Input switch to select one. Both switches are named after the inputs on the rear. The RCA input is usually used to connect consumer products. Do note, however, that the XLR inputs can also be used to connect any unbalanced outputs . Bear in mind that the level of the RCA input is raised from consumer level (-10 dBV) to studio level (+4 dBu).
Control Elements Matrix: On or Off With Matrix On/Off you switch on or off the Phonitor-Matrix globally. On activates Crossfeed, Angle and Center, while Off deactivates them. A/B comparisons can be made directly.
Control Elements Mode: Stereo, Mono or Mute The standard setting of the switch is „Stereo,“ to play back stereo signals. The mono switch sums the two channels that make up the stereo signal. The mono switch is important to check the mono compatibility of the mix. Even if this mono compatibility test is not as important today as it used to be, it is still essential for radio mixes and vinyl productions. In the „Mute“ position, the headphones output is silenced.
Control Elements Crossfeed: Low, Med or High The Crossfeed switch determines the volume-dependent, frequencycorrected channel crosstalk, which is something that occurs naturally with speakers, due to their sound projection into a room. This is called „Interaural Level Difference“ (ILD). The different Crossfeed values could be compared to the influence of different room sizes and characteristics on the same loudspeaker settings. The settings available are: „Low,“ „Med“ and „High.
Control Elements Angle: 30°, 22° or 40° With the Angle switch you define the frequency-corrected channel crosstalk. In this case, we are dealing with „Interaural Time Difference“ (ITD). The influence of the point in time at which the signal reaches the opposite ear corresponds to the variation of the angle at which a real loudspeaker pair is placed. You can select either 30°, 22° or 40° angles.
Control Elements Center: -0,6 dB, -1,2 dB or Off Normally, when using headphones, the mid signal is lower than the side signals, which seem louder due to the Super Stereo effect. When you adjust the stereo image of the speakers with the Crossfeed and Angle settings, the mid component may drop quite intensively. During mixdown you would counteract this, so that the phantom image at the center seems lower when playing back through loudspeakers.
Control Elements Volume The Volume level control allows you to decrease the signal level from between 0 and -80 dB. If the volume control is hard right, it is not set to -0 dB but rather to +7 dB. Always MUTE the input before plugging in or unplugging a pair of headphones. Otherwise, your headphones, ears or the power amplifier of the Phonitor may result damaged..
Control Elements Headphone Connection Connect headphones to the standard 1/4“ (TRS) stereo plug on the lower left front panel. The layout is: Tip =left channel, Ring = right Channel, Sleeve = ground When connecting headphones, make sure that the plug is completely in and that is firmly attached. If the plug is not correctly connected, it may cause a short circuit that could damage the power amplifier.
Control Elements Headphone Connection Reduce volume level before you remove or plug in the headphone (or when switching headphones). That way you avoid loud crackles from reaching your ears or the power amplifier of the Phonitor mini being damaged due to the brief short circuit when plugging in or unplugging. Warnung: Never connect mono plugs (TS) to the stereo jacks on the front panel. Headphones always have stereo plugs, which is the reason why you should always connect them directly.
Rear Panel: Power Voltage Select Before connecting the Phonitor mini to the mains, make sure that the voltage selection corresponds to the values of your local power grid (230 or 115 volts). In German-speaking regions, it is usually 230V. The mains connector on the rear panel integrates a fuse box that includes fuses for both voltage ranges. If the voltage indicated does not correspond to the one required, change it by following the procedure on the next page.
Rear Panel: Power Voltage Select Open the power connector lid with a small screwdriver. There are two tiny slots on the outside. Use the screwdriver to lever the red fuse box from above until you can grab it. Take the fuse box out, turn it around 180 degrees and place it back again. When you close the lid again, you should see the correct voltage displayed in the opening.
Rear Panel: Power Power Connection Connect the included power cord to the rear, 3 pin power input. The transformer, power cord and inlet of the appliance conform to VDE, UL and CSA requirements.
Rear Panel: Power On/Off Switch Use the rear on/off switch to activate and deactivate the unit. The operational status is indicated by the illuminated Volume control on the front panel. We deliberately chose to place the switch on the rear panel in order to avoid interferences from power wiring through the unit to the front panel. When switching on and off, you do not need to follow any particular sequence with connected devices in the periphery of the unit.
Rear Panel: Signals XLR Sockets The image below shows the XLR connectors pinout. They are balanced and have three conductors or wires. Conductor 2 (Pin 2) corresponds to the (+) or hot Signal.
Operation Setting up the Phonitor Matrix in three steps 1. Initially choose your audio material from sources you know well, and in a first production, that which is similar to what you wish to mix. It is not sensible to listen to classic music while planning a Phonitor mini setup to mix a pop production. Classic music stereophony recording involves a much more restricted stereo width than pop or rock music, where artificial “panorama stereophony“ often provides for a much broader imaging. 2.
Operation Setting up the Phonitor Matrix in three steps 3. Activate Crossfeed, Anlge and Center In order to hear the same as with loudspeakers, the audio channels receive now precisely calculated time, level and frequency corrections. First of all, you should check the correct stereo width. If the stereo image on your headphones seems too narrow or too wide, you can always apply two corrections: Angle or Crossfeed.
Operation Setting up the Phonitor Matrix in three steps Angle: First of all, you should approximate the desired stereo width with the Angle control (which corresponds to the positioning angle of a real loudspeaker set), and then adjust the Crossfeed (which corresponds to the influence of the room size and damping on the loudspeaker). An increase of the angle results in the signal needing more time to reach the opposite ear. This is called Interaural Time Difference (ITD).
Operation Setting up the Phonitor Matrix in three steps Crossfeed: If you increase the Crossfeed value, a higher amount of signal is added to the opposite side. Which results in a smaller Interaural Level Difference.
Operation Setting up the Phonitor Matrix in three steps Center: After you have set up Crossfeed and Angle you can then determine your Center Level setting. When simply playing back audio material (home use), the Center function can usually be set to Off. When mixing, the phantom center is usually too low. However, it can become too loud after applying Crossfeed and Angle corrections. If you were to disregard the Center, mid signals could be too low in the mix.
Symbols Exclamation mark within a triangle An exclamation mark within a triangle is intended to make you aware of important operational advice and/or warnings that must be followed. Be especially attentive to these and always follow the advice they give.
Security Advices Connections Only use the connections as described. Other connections can lead to health risks and damage the equipment. Water and humidity Do not use this device anywhere near water (for example in a bath room, a damp cellar, near swimming pools, or similar environments). Otherwise your are dealing with an extremely high risk of fatal electrical shocks! Insertion of objects or fluids Be careful to not insert any object into any of the chassis openings.
Security Advices Air ventilation Chassis openings offer ventilation and serve to protect the device from overheating. Never cover or otherwise close off these openings. Never place the device on a soft surface (carpet, sofa, etc.). Electrical power Operate the device only from power sources that can provide proper power. When in doubt about a source, contact your dealer or a professional electrician. To be certain you have isolated the device, disconnect all power and signal connections.
Security Advices Power connection overloads Avoid any kind of overload in connections to wall sockets, extension or splitter power cords, or signal inputs. Always keep manufacturer warnings and instructions in mind. Overloads create fire hazards and risk of dangerous shocks! Lightning Before thunderstorms or other severe weather, disconnect the device from wall power; do not do this during a storm in order to avoid life threatening lightning strikes.
Security Advices Controls and switches Operate the controls and switches only as described in the manual. Incorrect adjustments outside safe parameters can lead to damage and unnecessary repair costs. Never use the switches or level controls to effect excessive or extreme changes.
Security Advices Replacement/substitute parts Be sure that any service technician uses original replacement parts or those with identical specifications as the originals. Incorrectly substituted parts can lead to fire, electrical shock or other dangers, including further equipment damage. Safety inspection Be sure always to ask a service technician to conduct a thorough safety check and ensure that the state of the repaired device is in all respects up to factory standards.
Phonitor mini Declaration of CE Conformity The construction of this unit is in compliance with the standards and regulations of the European Community.
Phonitor mini Notes on Environmental Protection At the end of its operating life, this product must not be disposed of with regular household waste but must be returned to a collection point for the recycling of electrical and electronic equipment. The wheelie bin symbol on the product, user‘s manual and packaging indicates that. The materials can be reused in accordance with their markings.
Phonitor mini Contact SPL electronics GmbH Sohlweg 80 41372 Niederkrüchten Fon (0 21 63) 98 34 0 Fax (0 21 63) 98 34 20 E-Mail: info@spl.info Or follow us on our Blog, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube: Website & Blog: spl.info Videos: youtube.spl.info Twitter: twitter.spl.info Facebook: facebook.spl.
