That’s awesome. I want one…
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Looks great!
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That was an awesome deal!!! Looks beautiful .
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That was a super deal you got for the Phonitor X. It will give you lots of listening joy for many years to come…happy listening!
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@Resolve This is a special amp, I finally understand your review of Aeon Flow Open you had an unfair merlin class magic with SPL Phonitor X over us mear mortals. I left the amp set stock aka No Gain and using the internal SPL DAC, today to re-try the Aeon FLOW Open. The headphones do not feel current( mA) starved at any volume bring back clarity I heard at volume and increased gain options. Mid’s and Bass feal richer more defined. Lovely!!! Time to chill out with John Lee Hooker https://open.qobuz.com/track/30662592
ok now its John Lee …to get rad ( RAD-0)
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Congrats!
If you’re not already aware, make SURE you flip the unit to “Mute” before plugging or unplugging headphones from the 1/4" (single-ended) jack!
And don’t worry too much about buffing out any scuffs … the legend/labels are going to wear off and give it a used look before long anyway! Only way to avoid that is to flip the switches with your fingernails, or maybe put a clear lacquer over them with a brush.
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Can confirm! My labels are wearing off rapidly…still need to figure out a long term solution hmmm…might look into custom vinyl stickers…
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Does anyone know off hand the current second hand prices for these beauties? And if you guys recommend the ‘sweetspot’ version for value performance? Thanks.
Saw a silver Xe version yesterday - for 1500 Euro
it is sold by a german hifi store
they have used it for auditions only
It is in very good condition
It was a hard decision not to order it.
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@Torq. Thank you for letting me know about using the Mute switch. Looking forward to using the Qutest with it next week.
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@Torq did you see the newer Phonitor X optional DAC is now upgraded, My unit looks like it was one of the last Factory models with the older optional DAC-192 -1670.
Older model which you and l have DAC-192 Manual AKM 4396
The new shipping models with DAC768xs -1850 Manual - AKM’s AK4490 based
New Models have with the optional DAC 768xs look to be AKM 4490 based like what is on the XE
sample rates
- Coaxial SPDIF (RCA) - sample rates PCM (kHz): 44.1, 48 , 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192
- Optical TOSLINK (F06) – sample rates PCM (kHz): 44.1, 48 , 88.2, 96
- USB (B) – Encoded PCM (kHz): 44.1, 48 , 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8, 384, 705.6, 768 DSD: DSD1 (DSD64), DSD2 (DSD128), DSD4 (DSD256)
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Yep, I had seen that.
Mine is equipped with the original DAC-192 module. Which is competent, but uninspiring - and only ever gets used for monitoring, never for actively listening to music for pleasure. Very useful as a convenience, but I wouldn’t buy the module otherwise (the $300 will get you much better results elsewhere, albeit external).
I haven’t heard the DAC-768 module.
I am not sure if it can even be installed in the Phonitor X units that existed before it did (I will ask SPL), or if there were internal changes made to accommodate the new module.
If it can be used in earlier instances of the Phonitor X, and becomes available as a user-installable upgrade, I might give it a try - though I am skeptical of its performance given that of the DAC-192. That would, of course, also depend on price - if it is anywhere near the $800 they want for the DAC-768 on the Phonitor XE I would pass.
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I have not seen any upgrade path. You might want to put in your Headphone Review there is a new DAC option for newer units.
They have stopped selling DAC192 in the Phonitor X. It also looks like it is a Factory or Dealer installed option
The Phonitor E also now has this new DAC as an option.
This was on SPL Facebook page, it was announced this last August.
[August 31, 2019].
New Product 
DAC768xs
Phonitor x and Phonitor e are now available with the new DAC768xs. The DAC768xs is a small version of the DAC768 and offers almost the same range of functions in the digital domain like the reference model DAC768, which is used in the Phonitor xe and Director Mk2. The DAC768xs is less expensive and smaller that’s why we call it xs.
Funny how they describe as almost the Jr DAC to what in the Phonitor xe and Director Mk2.
@Torq. Just rolled-in from my customer meeting in Houston, a FedEx package was waiting for me. My new Chord Qutest DAC.
Yes it is a masterfull improvment over the onboard DAC-192
I highly recommend it with SPL Phonitor X
Thanks again.
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Ahhh… it looks so Qute up there on the X 
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They one-up it $2500 dollar for the SPL Mercury DAC, looks like a derivative of XE DAC aka still based on the AKM 4490 DAC. https://spl.audio/mastering/mercury/?lang=en I am glad I went with Chord Qutest.
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Oh very nice! Congrats on the Qutest
Had it in my hand this week. Was surprisingly heavy. Thought first it was glued to the rack 
It sounded very nice with the Moon 430ha and HD820s
at my hifi-dealer
Hope you write us about your impressions
Have fun!
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I know I’ve been critical of Chord’s design language, but this little fella’ is a looker.
Simple, clean lines, excellent build quality, and most importantly, top-tier sound. And a fun light show to boot!
Me wants one. 
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This afternoon, I pulled out HD-6xx, Elex, Ananda, AEON FLOW Open and the RAD-0 just for a quick listen to each of them to get a feel of them and the DAC/AMP combo.
I will say you quickly find the best attributes and also the limits of each headphone with this DAC/AMP combo with the White Filter 0 Incisive Neutral enabled.
RAD-0 really stands out with this DAC/AMP combo. The stack really matches well with the RAD-0 ability to resolve detail, and instrument separation.
- The Itch - by Keb’ Mo’ has a great opening with a resonator guitar to separate gear since it can get muddled and sound more like steel drums with some equipment.
The Internal SPL DAC is closet to the Qutest operating at 1V RMS output, still, to volume match, with the Qutest at noon, and Internal DAC needs to be a little past 1 pm. Looking at Dynamic FFT plot of Qutest vs Internal DAC on RAD-0. Qutest looks like it has more microdynamics going on, it also seems it to respond more quickly to frequency transition.
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