Solid State Logic SSL 2+
Budget interface from a console manufacturer with serious mix-bus pedigree.
SSL — Solid State Logic — built the consoles that mixed everything from Thriller to Adele. So when they released a £200 USB interface, the obvious question was whether the name meant anything or whether it was branded plastic.
The SSL 2+ turned out to be genuinely good. The mic preamps are honest, the build quality is better than most interfaces at this price, and the "Legacy 4K" colour switch is a smart, useful touch.
Specs
What 4K Mode Does
The Legacy 4K switch on each preamp engages an analogue saturation circuit modelled on the SSL 4000 console. It adds a gentle high-frequency lift around 8 kHz and subtle harmonic distortion. The result: vocals and instruments sound a touch brighter and more "produced" before they hit the DAW.
It's understated. You're not getting console emulation — you're getting one EQ-and-saturation move you can choose to engage on the way in. Used carefully it's pleasing; used on every channel it sounds same-y.
What's Different from the SSL 2
The "+" gets you:
- A second independent headphone output (essential for tracking with another musician).
- MIDI in/out (useful if you have hardware synths).
- Five outputs in total instead of three.
For a tracking session with two people, the 2+ is worth the extra £30 over the 2.
Where the Scarlett Still Wins
- Driver maturity. Focusrite's drivers are battle-tested over more years than SSL's USB interfaces.
- Customer service. Larger network of support, more troubleshooting documentation.
- Reseller availability. Scarletts are stocked everywhere; the SSL 2+ is sometimes harder to find.
Where the SSL 2+ Wins
- Build feel. The 2+ is heavier, with smoother controls.
- 4K colour. No equivalent on the Scarlett.
- Loopback. SSL added software loopback in firmware updates — useful for streaming and conferencing.
Recommendations
Two preamps, MIDI, two headphone outs. The version most users want.
View →Stripped-down version. Skip unless budget is critical.
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