“With the SPL Marc One, the German manufacturer introduces a monitor and recording controller of the highest audio standard to their portfolio. The product convinces with an excellent manufacturing, best hardware components, visual appeal and a converter concept that gets the maximum out of the signal flow with 32 bit at 768 kHz.”
“Monitor and recording controllers are an essential part of every project and pro studio, so the choice of products is almost gigantic. However, if you focus on the sound, the oversupply quickly melts down to a comparatively small pool. The German flagship company SPL is once again preparing to leave a relevant scent mark in this segment with its SPL Marc One, as we will show in the course of the test. The focus of the One series is on an affordable alternative to the high-end products from their own production, without sacrificing the ‘Made in Germany’ quality.“
You can find the complete review (in German) online at Amazona – here we provide you with a short overview in English. Have fun reading!
Outer appearance:
“The elegant shape in the black layout, the interior packed in a solid steel case, provided with a slightly textured surface. If the product were not primarily at home in recording studio facilities, the controller would even survive the ‘interior design policy’ of the lovely wife, so attractive does the rounded housing come across. Anyone who has ever had a discussion with their partner about interior design knows what I’m talking about.”
Sound:
“I am…sure that every user of the SPL Marc One can agree on the sonic description ‘excellent’. The product has an extremely solid basic sound with excellent resolution and plenty of headroom for any kind of headphones. The…values speak for themselves in terms of headphone performance and, in combination with the crossfeed control, allow for excellent flexibility normally only delivered by pure world-class headphone amplifiers.”
“Any audio material is very finely resolved and receives the maximum sound quality that can be attributed to a signal flow via the components used. The product convinces not only with outstanding audio values, but also with its ‘straightforward’ appearance and the basic and effective haptics, which makes working with this product a real highlight.”
Conclusion:
“The handling of the controller is intuitive, self-explanatory and of a simplicity that you would wish to find more often, especially in the monitor domain. The timeless appearance, combined with the best inner values, convinces all along the line, especially for the solo producer who does not need to route independent mixes to additional listeners. Best marks!”
