On the online platform Bonedo you can find a review of our two-channel microphone preamplifier with 120V technology – SPL Crescendo duo. You can find the complete review online – here we have summarized some highlights for you.
“Finally! I am generally very happy about the facelift that SPL has given some devices. The mic preamp has a very high-quality feel to it in terms of its materials and manufacturing. All controls are as you would expect from German technology (but no longer always gets).”
“As a small special feature, you can see on the rear panel that there are two line outputs for each channel. ‘Bing’ – this earns an extra point, because it provides you with a built-in splitter.”
“Like all SPL devices, the preamp is not only developed in Niederkrüchten, Germany, but actually manufactured there.”
120V technology:
“SPL has used its proprietary 120 volt technology for this amplifier. With common amplifiers, some values are limited by the amount of supply voltage to components. SPL has the built-in power supply output +/- 60 volts for internal use, which is much higher than usual. This requires its own operational amplifiers, which SPL develops and manufactures in ever new generations. It is astonishing, If you take a closer look on the specs. Even the maximum output level of 32.5 dBu is several points higher than what other devices achieve. At 30 dB gain, the SPL Crescendo only distorts with 0.0036% in the entire listening area, at 70 dB it is 0.32. ON at 70 dB is 121.7 dB. These are top notch values.”
“During testing, the SPL Crescendo duo did not care what kind of microphone signal it had to amplify. Phantom-powered condenser microphones with decent output, those with low output, moving coil microphones with high or low transmission factor were just as unproblematic as various ribbon microphones. Especially the ‘weaker’ microphones could absolutely score compared to other common preamps.”
Sound:
“It was probably not to be expected otherwise: The SPL Crescendo duo V2 delivers a highly neutral and transparent sound. However, it is not ‘crystal clear’ in the sense of ‘edgy’, but remains natural. Nevertheless, the 120V amp is not a device that ‘cheats’ with, say, a dent in the sharpness range. It is a clear, high-quality, technical tool that always provides everything in terms of information from which to choose later in the mix. The resolution down to the air band is terrific.”
Conclusion:
“Regardless of the type of microphone, regardless of the source and situation, the Crescendo is able to handle anything.”
“If you are looking for a two-channel preamp for the most important signals of a session at that moment – from voice and vocals to supporting acoustic instruments such as acoustic guitar or strings to the drum overheads or the stereo main microphone in orchestral, choir and organ recordings – the SPL Crescendo duo does the job superbly.”
