-
Welcome to ASR. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!
Thinking about ending the game with an SPL Phonitor Mini – talk me into it (or out of it) for a DT880 600Ω
- Thread starter DBC
- Start date
- Thread Starter
- #2
Hey folks,
I'm at that dangerous point in the hobby where I'm staring at the "Checkout" button and need a sanity check from people who've actually heard this thing.
Current stable / context:
I've been running a Topping E2x2 as my DAC and general desktop command center. It's honestly way cleaner than it has any right to be for the price. Headphone-wise, I'm usually rotating between an HD 600 (daily driver, cozy vibes) and a DT 770 Pro 250Ω (when I need to not annoy my partner). I also mess around with a HE400se and a Moondrop Para 2 when I'm in a planar mood, but let's be real—the Para is a hungry little monster that probably wants a speaker amp.
The Plan:
I've got my eye on a Beyerdynamic DT880 600Ω. I know, I know, it's the "vintage" choice, but I want that specific, lean, hyper-detailed treble cannon experience. I'm not looking for a warm, tubey hug for this one—I want the reference.
So the question is the amp. I keep coming back to the SPL Phonitor Mini. I know it has the 120V rail thing, I know it'll do 1W into 600Ω, and I know it's dead neutral.
What I want to know from owners:
1. The "Boring" Factor: With the E2x2 being already very clean, and the DT880 being... well, a DT880... is the Mini going to make me feel like I'm analyzing a spreadsheet instead of listening to music? Or does that "Phonitor Matrix" crossfeed actually make it more engaging?
2. Single-Ended Life: I see it's SE only. Coming from a balanced setup on the planars, am I going to miss anything significant with the 600Ω Beyer, or does the high impedance just laugh at crosstalk concerns anyway?
3. Is it truly "Endgame for High-Z"? I don't want to buy a $500 amp and then six months later be browsing used Bottlehead Cracks because the Mini is too sterile. Should I just go straight to tubes for the 880?
Appreciate any real-world takes. I'm trying to avoid the slow climb up the SPL ladder to the Phonitor XE.
I'm at that dangerous point in the hobby where I'm staring at the "Checkout" button and need a sanity check from people who've actually heard this thing.
Current stable / context:
I've been running a Topping E2x2 as my DAC and general desktop command center. It's honestly way cleaner than it has any right to be for the price. Headphone-wise, I'm usually rotating between an HD 600 (daily driver, cozy vibes) and a DT 770 Pro 250Ω (when I need to not annoy my partner). I also mess around with a HE400se and a Moondrop Para 2 when I'm in a planar mood, but let's be real—the Para is a hungry little monster that probably wants a speaker amp.
The Plan:
I've got my eye on a Beyerdynamic DT880 600Ω. I know, I know, it's the "vintage" choice, but I want that specific, lean, hyper-detailed treble cannon experience. I'm not looking for a warm, tubey hug for this one—I want the reference.
So the question is the amp. I keep coming back to the SPL Phonitor Mini. I know it has the 120V rail thing, I know it'll do 1W into 600Ω, and I know it's dead neutral.
What I want to know from owners:
1. The "Boring" Factor: With the E2x2 being already very clean, and the DT880 being... well, a DT880... is the Mini going to make me feel like I'm analyzing a spreadsheet instead of listening to music? Or does that "Phonitor Matrix" crossfeed actually make it more engaging?
2. Single-Ended Life: I see it's SE only. Coming from a balanced setup on the planars, am I going to miss anything significant with the 600Ω Beyer, or does the high impedance just laugh at crosstalk concerns anyway?
3. Is it truly "Endgame for High-Z"? I don't want to buy a $500 amp and then six months later be browsing used Bottlehead Cracks because the Mini is too sterile. Should I just go straight to tubes for the 880?
Appreciate any real-world takes. I'm trying to avoid the slow climb up the SPL ladder to the Phonitor XE.
solderdude
Grand Contributor
- No one can tell you how the DT880/600 will make you feel on any amp.
To make it play loud (it is not good at playing really loud, no Beyerdynamic is) you will need a high output voltage.
The 120V internal voltage rail (+/-60) is a gimmick the output voltage is 24Vrms = 68Vpp - There is no 'quality drop' between single ended and balanced out.
The DT880 can only be used on SE outputs unless you modify the headphone.
Due to its high impedance there is no crosstalk, not even with a long curly cord (the pro versions). - No need to worry. An amplifier does not sound 'thin'.
Output impedance of an amp also has no influence on the sound of the DT880/600.
To go really loud (will distort like there's no tomorrow) you will need 15V output.
This means any amp capable of delivering 0.7W in 300ohm can do this.
You could be exceeding the DT880/600 continuous power rating 4 times which is not an issue when using music.
The E2x2 can only do 6V out (55mW in 600 ohm) the DT880/600 is rated at 100mW (continuous)
The XE can exceed the power rating of the DT880/600 by 20x which could burn out the driver if reached accidentally.
Below compared to the ones you already own.
Last edited:
$20 IEMs work well for me, as do cheap but comfy Austrian Audio 'phones, but everyone has differently shaped ears so 'phones in particular will vary from one user to another, like speakers in different rooms. Really though, don't take my or anyone's recommendation - you can only try for yourself. At least if you are not super happy when comparing, you can send them back for a refund.
- Thread Starter
- #6
Overall I think @solderdude hit the important points, the SPL Phonitor has much more power than you need for those headphones.
I think crossfeed is a good feature and I personally use it with my headphones, but you do not need to spend $500 to get crossfeed, especially if you listen with a computer as source. The DSPi (check the other thread) has crossfeed and EQ, etc. for ~$5.
I would also not worry about the amp having a "boring" or "interesting" sound. Most amps should have no character whatsoever, a great deal of the discussion of the tonal characteristics of amps is due to placebo effect.
You may want to upgrade the amp so you can max out the 880s but I would simply focus on finding an amp with adequate power.
I think crossfeed is a good feature and I personally use it with my headphones, but you do not need to spend $500 to get crossfeed, especially if you listen with a computer as source. The DSPi (check the other thread) has crossfeed and EQ, etc. for ~$5.
I would also not worry about the amp having a "boring" or "interesting" sound. Most amps should have no character whatsoever, a great deal of the discussion of the tonal characteristics of amps is due to placebo effect.
You may want to upgrade the amp so you can max out the 880s but I would simply focus on finding an amp with adequate power.
- Thread Starter
- #11
Oldson
Senior Member
i had bad experience with an SPL phonitor SE, not the "mini" or "one" i know but i imagine same issue could arise.
basically you have to be really careful when plugging or unplugging a single ended headphone with these.
i managed to blow a component on one channel of mine as i had not fully inserted the headphone plug before i powered up.
got it repaired by the retailer, luckily for free, and sold it imediately after.
i would only consider another SPL amp unless it had balanced out.
since read that they dont measure too well either.
basically you have to be really careful when plugging or unplugging a single ended headphone with these.
i managed to blow a component on one channel of mine as i had not fully inserted the headphone plug before i powered up.
got it repaired by the retailer, luckily for free, and sold it imediately after.
i would only consider another SPL amp unless it had balanced out.
since read that they dont measure too well either.
Similar threads
