grizzlybeast
My name is grizzlybeast and I'm an audioholic.
These will be in Thursday(on my BDay!)
As much as I love the Phonitor X, having to send it back - causes a ground loop hum when using studio monitors. It will cost too much to sort it using top quality isolators and/or power conditioners, so I'l have to find another dream amp for the HD800.
Violectric V281 or the new Pro iCan perhaps.
Hi,
If the Phonitor cause ground loop, so the every other grounded amp will do the hum also. The solution is to not use the grounding. For safety reasons it will be grounded with connectors shield and another unit in your setup, so no worry about...
The units are coming today but I am tired of waiting for UPS and I need to go celebrate my birthday. When I listen to them I will share impressions and list the order of the tour
It's already gone back unfortunately, the V281 is coming next week - I'll see if it still happens.
I'm not sure what the latter half of your last sentence means :¬)
The second part shoul explain, that you should not be worry about safety when you 'unground' the amp, as the whole rig haa ground connected through signal cables which finally go to the grounded unit in your rig
I own the Phonitor X (PX for short). It's incredible. No hyperbole. It does everything right; all strengths, no weaknesses.
My choice of headphone with it is the HD800 via Sonarworks Reference 3 (SWR3). I do not understand why anyone with these cans would not use SWR3, it transforms them entirely (for the better). If you've not heard of SWR3, it's a plugin that calibrates speakers and headphones for optimal, flat output. It's aimed at producers and mix/master engineers (the kind who master the records you listen to) who need accurate sound. The change you get from that alone is far more than any amp will do for you. It supports a raft of headphones.
For reference, I have a top-grade headphone setup; Moon 600i, Lumin A1 and Abyss AB-1266 cans. That combo is a dream setup.
So is PX + SWR3 + HD800.
So is PX + SWR3 + LCD-2.
So is PX + LCD-2.
You see my point and the common denominator?
(All going through Prism DAC with Uptone Regen + linear PSU.)
The game changer for me is the Matrix system. I thought this would be a gimmick at first—I was more interested in the dual 120v power system—but it's proven to be invaluable. The Abyss are a different class of headphone, they simply don't sound like any other headphone. The Matrix system on the PX (and other models) gets closer to that kind of sound with the HD800 (thanks to its already large soundstage).
HD800 with Matrix on, using 55 degrees and 4 crossfade takes the sound out of the 2 channel stereo field and widens/deepens it. It really does work - the sound is much more like that from speakers. Naturally too, better than software.
I upgraded to the PX from the previous P2 (defective - loud hum) as I need the rear 3-pin XLR outs for studio monitors and a dedicated 4-pin XLR for balanced headphones. The PX now has a linear PSU which tightens things up somewhat. This new unit isn't burnt in either, only been playing it a few hours and it's already improving.
TL;DR - straight to the top of the 'prosumer' list for me. While it doesn't replace the Lumin+600i setup, it's a dream machine in its own right. TOTL performance wise.
+ Incredibly transparent
+ 120v dual rail system is genius (see next point)
+ Powers the most demanding headphones with aplomb, with room to spare
+ Perfect production/studio preamp if you use speakers + headphones
+ Gets the most out your DAC/cans with no colouration
+ Bang for buck is off the charts. Best dedicated HP amp I've heard.
+ Matrix system is a game changer
+ Internal linear PSU
+ Build, feel and ergonomics are top notch
+ Versatile
- Quite literally, nothing
TL;DR for the TL;DR - It gets the most out of your gear. Buy this amp :¬)
Tour order. I received the Units on 12/24 and will hand the Unit (X) off to @humzebra on January 7th. So I can have time to do compare both units. Unfortunately I will ship out Unit X on the tour then since everyone said unit X except for one person. Unit E may end up on a tour somewhere else eventually.
@humzebra
@Soundsgoodtome
@WNBC
@earthpeople
@gzone3lement
@Hansotek
@heliosphann
@JWahl (if interested )
@Army-Firedawg
Tour order. I received the Units on 12/24 and will hand the Unit (X) off to @humzebra on January 7th. So I can have time to do compare both units. Unfortunately I will ship out Unit X on the tour then since everyone said unit X except for one person. Unit E may end up on a tour somewhere else eventually.
@humzebra
@Soundsgoodtome
@WNBC
@earthpeople
@gzone3lement
@Hansotek
@heliosphann
@JWahl (if interested )
@Army-Firedawg
Thank you again for arranging the program! Do we PM you our shipping addresses? Any way to request store pick-up in case we might not be home?
Tour order. I received the Units on 12/24 and will hand the Unit (X) off to @humzebra on January 7th. So I can have time to do compare both units. Unfortunately I will ship out Unit X on the tour then since everyone said unit X except for one person. Unit E may end up on a tour somewhere else eventually.
@humzebra
@Soundsgoodtome
@WNBC
@earthpeople
@gzone3lement
@Hansotek
@heliosphann
@JWahl (if interested )
@Army-Firedawg