SPL Pre One - The Perfect Preamp Match for Marc One?
If you're looking for a "Made in Germany" audio interface on a budget, the SPL Marc One is currently your most affordable option.
However, when we reviewed the One series three years ago, we noted that the Marc One "lacks preamps and DI inputs, requiring an additional standalone preamp for recording."
Well, after a three-year wait, the preamp unit in this One series has finally arrived:
Here comes the dual-preamp SPL Pre One.
The Pre One keeps things relatively straightforward, offering a gain range of 8dB to +62dB.
Each preamp channel comes with standard features like a low-cut filter, 48V phantom power, and phase reverse. What's unique is the "tone selection" feature in the upper left corner, which provides two fixed EQ settings from the factory: Flair and Contour.
- Flair enhances high-frequency "air," similar to the "Air" setting found on Focusrite interfaces and other audio devices
- Contour (while somewhat vaguely described in official documentation) appears to boost presence around 10kHz
The rear panel layout is straightforward and intuitive. As expected, it uses Neutrik connectors and proudly displays the "Made in Germany" badge.
There's a neat feature in the form of blue toggle switches that provide independent -20dB pad options for each preamp channel.
This makes it perfect for recording high-SPL sources like drums, trumpets, or traditional Chinese Suona.
While preamps in this price range often skimp on detailed specifications, SPL provides comprehensive data:
-126dBu of EIN and 117dB of dynamic range.
While these numbers might seem lower than some integrated interfaces, the impressive part is that even at maximum gain (62dB), the THD+N remains at just 0.017%.
That's remarkably clean - you'll hardly notice any noise even with the gain maxed out and no microphone connected.
SPL even provides teardown images, emphasizing their commitment to transparency.
Let's see how it looks paired with the Marc One!
While the Pre One isn't exactly cheap, it's reasonably priced for a German-made preamp at around £500.
However, pairing it with a Marc One might stretch the budget a bit...
Of course, you can use the Pre One with other interfaces, but matching it with the Marc One creates a visually cohesive setup.
SPL has also announced the P8 preamp - an eight-channel rack-mount unit.
It's fully analog but can be expanded with digital audio connectors.
Its specifications are similar to the Pre One, so I won't delve into details here. If you're interested in SPL preamps, check out our review of the Channel One 3 from earlier this year.
