Some of the world's most popular music could have been made using an SSL mixing desk. Back in the days when every band that wanted to make a record had to use a professional recording studio, the British company SSL was instrumental in developing some modern equipment that produced some incredible music in the age of multitrack recording.

Solid State Logic was set up in 1969 by the late Colin Sanders CBE, who ran a studio in Oxfordshire, where he also designed and built mixing consoles that he began selling to other recording studios. Now the SSL brand is a byword for some of the highest-quality studio consoles. However, SSL has now made its legendary technology and knowhow available to home studio users with its range of USB Audio Interfaces

These more-affordable interfaces use some of the SSL's revered technology so that home music makers can get their hands on that classic sound to create and produce their recordings almost anywhere there is a computer.

The SSL 2+ is an affordable, advanced USB audio interface with excellent features. It can work with Macs and PCs and is USB-compliant. It uses ASIO drivers on Windows machines. Home music makers can now tap into SSL's technology at a sensible price is down to the company setting up a manufacturing facility in China. This move has enabled the company to keep its costs down while still ensuring the products achieve the high standards that the SSL brand is renowned for.

The SSL 2+ is the brand's second-most-affordable piece of hardware ever launched. SSL is going head-to-head with other interface makers like Focusrite, PreSonus, MOTU, Audient and possibly Behringer. However, the question is, can SSL produce an affordable USB audio interface without cutting corners or devaluing its brand image with a sub-standard product?

The SSL 2+ has two XLR/TRS combi interfaces for connecting a microphone, Line-In or a high-impedance instrument like an electric guitar or bass. The sample rates on offer range from 44.1kHZ to 192kHZ. In addition, the SSL 2+ has MIDI in and MIDI out for keyboards and other compatible devices like drum machines. Both the inputs, MIDI, headphone jacks and RCA Phono outputs are at the rear of the wedge-shaped device, making it neat in terms of cable management, although some might prefer to have the headphone jack or DI at the front.

Unusually for a relatively compact interface, the SSL 2+ offers two headphone outputs, making it ideal for producing podcasts with two mics or recording with a second musician. The slightly less expensive SSL 2 model only offers one headphone output and has no MIDI. Finally, two sets of unbalanced RCA phono outputs can be used for recording and driving a pair of studio monitors on a separate circuit and connecting to a DJ mixer. Two TRS balanced outputs can connect to two studio monitors with balanced inputs.

The SSL 2+ has a USB-C port for connecting to its host computer, whether a Mac or PC. Annoyingly, the SSL 2+ doesn't include a physical power switch and is hub powered from the host computer. This arrangement works perfectly well, although I would have liked a proper switch to turn the interface off when it's not in use. The alternative of pulling out the USB cable to turn the SSL 2+ off could end up weakening the port over time.

The interface offers direct zero-latency monitoring or the sound can be fed back from the DAW running on the host computer with plug-ins or effects applied. The latency for the round trip can be as low as 1 ms, so the SSL 2+ is no slouch.

On the top plate of the SSL 2+ are the controls needed to get the best from this excellent interface. There are two channels for each of the Neutrik Combo inputs. Each channel has its own gain control, a +48V phantom power button, and buttons for Inst and HI-Z when using instruments with Direct Injection or Line-In inputs. The Inst button puts the channel into Instrument mode, while the Hi-Z button enables the use of instruments with high impedance. However, if you use the Hi-Z button, you must also depress the Inst button to ensure the input is set correctly.

Each channel on the SSL 2+ has an LED ladder-style level meter with five segments which shows when the input is clipping. When used in Mic mode, the SSL 2+ offers a healthy gain range of 62dB and is sufficiently sensitive to handle most mics without a Cloudlifter. Even harder-to-drive mics, like the Shure SM7B or the RØDE Podcaster Pro, perform well with the SSL 2+.

Both channels have a button below the gain knob marked "4K". Pressing this button puts the interface into a simulation mode imitating the sound of SSL's Iconic 4000 Series console. The result is a high-frequency EQ boost bringing in a more vintage and sound. The effect is not dissimilar to the Air switch on a Focusrite Scarlett interface, which adds a bit of warmth and richness to the output.

The right half of the control panel is dedicated to the outputs. A huge Monitor Level knob is used for adjusting the output of any connected studio monitors. I wish this could be switched for use with the main headphone level knob, as some people don't use studio monitors and prefer to rely on headphones for playback.

Alongside the large Monitor Level knob are a couple of knobs for the two headphone output circuits. The amplifier SSL used to drive the headphones has plenty of volume and can handle more difficult headphones that some other bus-powered interfaces might struggle to drive. Next to the second or B headphone volume knob, there's a button marked 3&4 so that the output from the second pair of phono outputs can be routed through to the second headphone output.

The final output control is the Monitor Mix knob which blends the sound from the SSL 2+ with the signal coming from the host computer's DAW. It's an essential feature that not all interfaces offer. Next to the Monitor Mix is a button for switching between a stereo mix of the two inputs or a summed mono mix panned to the center. This button is handy for using one mic but you need to hear yourself in both the left and right earcups of the headphones, along with the sound from the host computer.

This interface is relatively easy to set up and use. It feels incredibly well-made and should withstand some heavy use. The separate phantom power button for each channel is a nice touch and because they are mechanical, spring-loaded switches, the phantom power will always remain in the state in which it was last used, which is great if you are using a condenser mic all the time that needs phantom power. There are other interfaces where you must reset the phantom power state afresh every time you turn the interface back on.

A great bonus with the SSL 2+ is the massive bundle of software you can access once you've registered the product. SSL lets you download the SSL Production Pack, which includes Ableton Live 11 Lite, Vocalstrip 2 & Drumstrip Plug-ins, SSL Complete, Arcade by Output, Antares Auto-Tune Unlimited, AmpliTube 5 SE, Native Instruments: Hybrid Keys & Komplete Start, AAS Session Bundle, Melodyne Essential from Celemony and Samples from Loopcloud.

Verdict: The sound produced by the SSL 2+ is impeccable and certainly lives up to the SSL name. I particularly like the 4K emulation of the 4000 Series console, which adds a little extra character to the sound. The microphone preamps are wonderfully clean and have enough headroom to drive even the most reluctant mics. The HI-Z button is handy for those instruments with higher impedance. Although you're not going to get quite the same sort of sound you'd expect from one of SSL's 48-channel professional consoles, the SSL 2+ is an incredibly competent performer that offers professional standards for the bedroom recording artist on a budget. There's hardly anything to criticize about the SSL 2+ except perhaps for the absence of a power switch for when the interface isn't in use. What you do get here for the money is an excellent interface with the SSL pedigree at a sensible price that will provide years of service. If you want great audio quality, the SSL 2+ is worth the extra and the second headphone output makes it an excellent choice for podcasters.

Pricing & Availability: The SSL 2+ USB Audio Interface is available now and costs $289 / £239.99 / €255.

More info: www.solidstatelogic.com

Tech Specs:

• System requirements: Mac OS 10.11 and above, Class-Compliant, Plug-and-play.
• Windows 10, Windows 11. Install included ASIO/WDM driver.
• Connectivity: USB 2.0 Type C Connector (adapter included).
• Mic preamps: -130.5 dBu EIN.
• Gain range: 62dB.
• Max instrument input level: +15dBu.
• Max line input level: +24dBu.
• Monitor Outputs
• Dynamic range: 112dB.​
• Max output level: +12.5dBu​.
• Headphone Output(s)
• Dynamic range: 111dB.
• Max output: +10dBu.
• Sample rates​: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192kHz.