PHONON is a brand based in Japan, renowned worldwide among professionals and audio geeks. With the philosophy of capturing the essence of sound, the company aims to deliver the real texture of audio in studios, clubs, and mastering environments.
The SMB-01L was developed with the goal of making headphones that sound just like real speakers. Rather than simply providing a flat response, it offers a true-to-life sense of space and balance.
Specifications
- Φ50mm drivers
- Frequency response: 10Hz–40kHz
- Sensitivity: 102 dB/mW
- Impedance: 32Ω
- Weight: 343g
The SMB-01L comes in a sleek, durable case made from reinforced composite material. Included are a 3m cable, mini-jack adapter, and two interchangeable plates. The ear pads are also impressive, with a massive 3cm thickness, giving the headphones a bold and substantial look.
Interchangeable Plate System
The core feature is the plate swapping system. Unlike most headphones with fixed housings, the SMB-01L lets you change between two plates to completely alter the sound:
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Closed plate: tighter, punchier, and more focused—ideal for monitoring.
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Semi-open plate: brighter, more open, with expanded spatial imaging.
The term “semi-open” is spot on—it sits right between closed and fully open, delivering both density and spaciousness. According to Alesis, the semi-open plate is his clear recommendation.
This design makes it feel like you are buying a second pair of headphones, as the sound changes so dramatically.
Speaker-Like Sound Staging
The most distinctive feature of the SMB-01L is its three-dimensional soundstage, with a remarkable sense of depth that makes the music feel like it unfolds right in front of you. The audio doesn’t feel stuck inside your head—it unfolds right in front of you like a live stage. With the semi-open plates, vocals in particular sound as though they are coming from the center of a speaker setup.
Compared to other high-end headphones, PHONON achieves a speaker-like presence not through special drivers, but purely through acoustic structure and precise tuning.
Sound Impressions (Semi-Open Plates)
- Bass: tight, punchy, with strong width
- Mids: dense and focused, excellent clarity
- Highs: smooth and controlled, never harsh
- Imaging: convincing room feel, with stage presence unfolding in front of the listener
This makes tasks like balancing reverb or placing vocals in a mix especially intuitive.
Award-Winning Performance
The SMB-01L is not just another pair of headphones—it allows users to swap housings and experience stage-like sound right before their eyes. Few models combine engineering precision and emotional impact so effectively.
The model has even won the VGP Award in the Professional Monitoring Headphone category for two consecutive years.
For anyone searching for headphones that genuinely feel like listening to real speakers, the SMB-01L comes highly recommended.
Other PHONON Models
Alongside the SMB-01L, other PHONON models have also been officially released:
- SMB-02G: Also features plate swapping, with the closed plate providing particularly strong performance. With thicker pads, it becomes an excellent choice for music listening, while the stock pads are well-suited for vocal recording.
- SMB-4400: Well-suited for recording applications. Similar in profile to Sony’s MDR-7506, but with a more refined, modern character.
Final Thoughts
After testing many headphones, Alesis describes the SMB-01L as a model that sits between the density of the DT190 Pro MkII and the spatiality of the NDH30.
It is a truly unique monitoring headphone that merges technical design with an emotional, speaker-like experience.
CHECK SMB-01L NOW!
Thank you Alesis for the detailed review!