SSL 2 MkIIchat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

Many users flag the absence of a power switch as a significant flaw, forcing constant unplugging that adds wear, causes warmth buildup, and in one case was blamed for a circuit failure on their original SSL2.

@kingo290

This needs a power button or a firmware update that turns it off when your PC is off. It can get a little warm being constantly powered.launch

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July 19, 2025

@TheTassMen

Hey Julian, thank you very much for your great review👌I have two questions about this interface. Does the headphone output have enough Power for 250 Ohms DT770? Is there a volume reset to 0 every new windows start? I ask because first the audient ID4 or ID14 was my favourit to buy, but there is exact this (for me this problem) you have to turn up the volume every start of PClaunch

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January 12, 2025

@lightning-audio-and-reviews

Great Video Julian - What I want to know is Why can't they put a on / off power button on these things.. Fail, Fail, Fail but besides that its great.. it sucks having to plug it in and unplug it all the time which adds a bunch of wear and tear on the unit and cables. especially if you use it allot or several time a day or something. i run some gaming channels, a audio review channel and i just hate how most smaller interfaces don't have a power button..launch

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November 2, 2024

@castleman170

A negative point about this interface is that it does not have a shutdown button. For that same reason my first generation SSL 2 interface had an internal circuit cut and did not work again. The positive thing is its clean and transparent sound, but I think that not having an on and off option makes me afraid of buying another one and losing my money.launch

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November 2, 2024

Multiple commenters report knobs, buttons, or entire channels failing within months to a couple years of normal use, with one noting 70% of producers they know had similar issues and another calling it a likely design flaw.

@A.C.E.

I bought an SSL2 MKii recently and found that I pick up a lot of electromagnetic hum when using dynamic mics with it. Then I try the same mic in the same spot with a different interface and I don't get that hum. Could the plastic housing of the SSL be shooting me in the foot? I know I technically have a bigger issue to sort out. But I'm curious if the metal housing of my Behringer UMC404HD is helping to block out those interferenceslaunch

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September 9, 2026

@Fiveash-Art

My SSL 2 was toast a few months out of the box. The right channel stopped working completely and the left buzzed like crazy. I ended up throwing the thing in the garbage and bought a Clarett + 2 and that's been over a year and it sounds beautiful .. It also feel much better as far as tighter knobs, metal construction 'not plastic', buttons that aren't loose and fuzzy like the SSL 2. I feel like I got suckered by this thing and wish I would've just paid the bit extra for the Clarett to begin with. Maybe I got a lemon because I bought mine maybe about a year after they started producing them.. but if the construction is anything like the one I had.. I'd say it's a design flaw and there's a reason why they keep lowering the price on this stuff. There's no excuse for a brand new component like that to just die 3 months after having it. People who like this thing keep telling me things like 'take better care of your gear'. I can't stand these dummies. 😂I'm OCD about the way I treat my equipment because I'm not rich. My advise.. save your money and spend around 500 for something good instead of 200 - 250 .. That's just me though. I love my Clarett .. Not a shill either. I was just so aggravated by the SSL 2 .. I think they're junk.launch

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January 10, 2025

@charlessmyth

My experience of the original SSL-2 was fine except for the mode/function switches that quickly disintegrated. I wonder if this has been resolved for the SSL-2 MkII via soft/logic switches, like those that apply to the SSL-12. The input impedance for the mic remains at 1.2k. This is a professional studio standard, but it would be better at 3K to apply less of a load for the likes of a Shure beta 58A, AKG C7, AKG C636, or any of the popular economy class condensers that have a low source impedance, but have a limited drive capability. At 3K the gain would not have to turned up so much, which would offer better control of the gain knob as it approaches the end of its travel. Would also help to reduce noise by as much as 6db. For a Windows PC, be sure to select the WASAPI option so that the display on the DAW reads as high as the display on the panel meters of the interface.launch

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January 7, 2025

@zdys2yllhso45

They had to put out a Mark II because the first one had a bunch of issues—poor quality control and not enough product testing, which isn’t what you’d expect from a well-known brand. Hopefully, the R&D team and engineers have sorted everything out this time.\launch

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October 11, 2024

One user found the plastic housing may be letting in electromagnetic hum with dynamic mics compared to a metal-housed alternative, and another separately criticizes the flimsy connectors and push buttons.

@A.C.E.

I bought an SSL2 MKii recently and found that I pick up a lot of electromagnetic hum when using dynamic mics with it. Then I try the same mic in the same spot with a different interface and I don't get that hum. Could the plastic housing of the SSL be shooting me in the foot? I know I technically have a bigger issue to sort out. But I'm curious if the metal housing of my Behringer UMC404HD is helping to block out those interferenceslaunch

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September 9, 2026

@riangarianga

I was looking forward to you reviewing these, thank you!\n\nIt's great to know how sound quality improved. Especially the headphone output, key for EQing or mixing with them.\n\nFrom the usability perspective, the 2+ MKII brings the benefit of the additional monitoring outputs, that would be really great to have for my use case. The feature of individually managing A and B headphone outputs is also great.\n\nI see a few cons compared to their MKI counterparts, though:\n- They are much uglier 😛. The first generation had sober, classic albeit modern, overall beautiful design. This one loses colours on the knobs, and that black background isn't great.\n- Connectors aren't mechanically attached to the frame, just to the PCB. This is a point of failure.\n- LED meters would be more practical measuring 3 or 6 dB increments, this was some frequent criticism they didn't address.\n- They have similarly-looking push buttons. It's unclear if they changed them under the hood, because in the MKI they're a source of trouble.launch

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October 30, 2024

Some users note the preamp gain range, noise, and headphone output measurements are only middling or even slightly worse than the original SSL2, and modest compared to pricier interfaces.

@randomguy9802

Hey there Julian, if I'm reading your graphs correctly, they say SSL2 MK1 has a lower preamp noise and a higher maximum gain than SSL2 MK2, which doesn't make a lot of sense. Is that a mistake? Also I wasn't able to find SSL2 MK1 on the dynamic range graphlaunch

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April 11, 2025

@raphabmroque

The only true advantage of this interface, as far as I know, is the 32 bit. A lot of other interfaces have better mic gain range, line output dyn range and headphone output amp... I hope this MKII also gets better construction, because 70% of music producers I know who bought the SSL2 or SSL2+ got troubles with the knobs or even the interface itself stopped working after 1-2 years of normal usage. Be careful with your choiceslaunch

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October 3, 2024

One user testing the original version via loopback found the AD/DA conversion quality poor and hopes it's improved in the MkII, calling it possibly the worst part of the product.

@pepesebastiao9654

I hope this version has really improved the quality of the converters. I bought one from the first version to receive a stereo signal from my main system on my laptop using Audiomovers (just to avoid using the internet on my primary system while mixing), and the converters are terrible. Thanks to the 'mix' button, it was possible to hear exactly what the conversion cycle did to my mixes. Possibly the worst part of the productlaunch

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October 9, 2024

One buyer described a difficult registration process with login errors, plus initial confusion getting front-panel inputs to work correctly.

@nabilchaouli3489

Buyer be aware. I just got this one and it's been a nightmare so far, I created an audio track and plugged my guitar in the front line but it didn't work, I switched to line 2 and it worked.\nI bought a trs to 4.4 cable to plug it into my headphone amplifier using the second output in the back and it's not working, the registration process was a headache, I couldn't register it or even log in after creating an account (error 503 or something like that) i'am scared to even try the inputs in the back for microphone. I bought this because I like the hands-on experience with the interface instead of navigating endless software menus on the computer but it turned out to be a depressing experience. i'am gonna keep trying to make it work for the next couple of days but I think I'll be returning itlaunch

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January 13, 2025

One prospective buyer notes the unit's width could be a struggle to fit on a crowded desk compared to smaller competitors.

@Zocress

I have never used an audio interface before, but I'm between the SSL 2 MKII and the Focusrite Scarlett Solo 4th Gen. I'm planning to use it with an SM7B microphone, AudioEngine A2+ speakers and a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro headphones. What I am hoping to drive the SM7B without a cloudlifter. Drive my 250 Ohm headphones to a decent level and to be able to easily switch between using my speakers and my headphones by turning the audio up and down for each.\n\nMy issue with the Focusrite Scarlett Solo 4th Gen is the high level of impedance on the headphone jack you mentioned. While it might not affect my 250 ohm DT 990 Pro's, it could affect any future headphones I might choose to upgrade to (I am considering upgrading). This is a wild card and a headache.\n\nMy issue with the SSL 2 MKII is the physical size. It's doing everything I want (to the best of my knowledge), but I will struggle fitting everything on my desk with it's width.\n\nDoes anyone have any advice for me here? Otherwise I'll most likely go with the SSL 2 MKII and figure out the desk space issue as I go lol.launch

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February 23, 2025