GEAR REVIEW
SSL 2 AND 2 + MK II | Steve Sattler
KEY FEATURES
• Next gen 32-bit / 192 kHz highperformance A / D converters .
• 4K Button emulates the sound of SSL ’ s legendary 4000 series consoles .
• Upgraded Hi-Z Input over the previous version for Guitarists .
• SSL 2 + MK II now has a second set of line level outputs .
• Preamps have improved headroom over the previous version .
About five years ago , just before the pandemic , SSL developed two new audio interfaces , the SSL2 and SSL 2 +. The basic design parameter of both interfaces was to design a two-by-two interface and raise the bar as high as possible . The result was the SSL 2 and the 2 +. Now , fast forward a few years later , SSL has now released an upgraded version of both interfaces , the SSL 2 + and SSL 2 + MKII .
The basic design parameters on both of the new interfaces are pretty much the same as the previous generation , namely both interfaces feature a two-by-two interface and a two-byfour interface design with MIDI on board . Both interfaces have individual buttons for toggling phantom power , switching between instrument and line level , a button for high-pass filter , individual gain knobs , and LED level meters .
For each input channel , you also get a 4K button , which was already present on the original version , and which emulates the sound of SSL ’ s legendary 4000 series consoles . Both interfaces feature a large center knob to control the overall monitor volume . In general , the overall build quality physical connections on both the SSL 2 MK 2 and SDSL2 + have been improved . Both the SSL MK 2 and MK + SSL 2 + have improved microphone preamps allowing for a difference of about 10 dB in headroom as well as improved signal noise ratio from the previous version .
Both the SSL2 MKII and SSL2 + MKII interfaces have a USB Type-C connection designed to bus -power the interfaces directly from your computer . On both interfaces there are a set of balanced TRS outputs which in most cases will be used to connect to your studio monitors . However , on the SSL 2 +, MKII you will get a second set of outputs which are outputs routed straight through from your DAW bypassing the volume controls on the interface so that they could be used for things such as re-amping or connecting an external headphone amp .
On the SSL 2 MK II and 2 + MK II you also get improved dynamic range , which now comes in at about 117 dB , which is a 6 dB increase over the previous generation . That should really be more than enough dynamic range for most situations and should guarantee low noise recordings . Additionally , with the 2 + MK II , you get a MIDI-in and MIDI-out jacks , which are not included on the SSL 2 MK II .
106 December 2024 Subscribe for Free ...