SPL Channel One Mk3 Premium
Professional music gear - detailed information and where to buy
The Channel One Mk3 Premium is a serious tool for engineers and producers chasing a high-end, character-rich sound. Its combination of clean gain, tube saturation, and flexible processing options makes it ideal for tracking vocals, acoustic instruments, or adding warmth to line signals. It's a focused, premium-priced solution best suited for those who prioritize sonic quality over channel count.
Product Description
- SPL Channel One Mk3 Premium
- Channel Strip
- Microphone inputs and output Out 1 with Lundahl transformer
- 1-Channel tube preamp with tube saturation
- de-esser
- transient designer
- compressor and EQ
- Discrete preamplifier with 68 dB gain
- Simultaneous connection of two microphones with separately switchable 48V phantom power supply for simple A/B comparisons without reconnection
- 20 dB Pad
- Phase inversion and high-pass filter switchable at 80 HZ
- 1x XLR line input with adjustable gain from -20 dB to +16 dB
- 1x 6.3 mm Jack instrument input adjustable from -6 dB to +30 dB
- Tube saturation determines the degree of tube saturation
- Tube Post option switches the Tube Saturatio after the EQ stage and before the output stage
- De-esser with adjustable S-reduction
- Transient Designer with attack and sustain controls for envelope editing
- Compressor with adjustable threshold via compression control and make-up gain
- Equaliser with semi-parametric low/mid and mid/high bands and Air Band with centre frequency at 19
- 000 kHz
- An illuminated VU meter visualises the input level
- output level and gain reduction
- Two XLR outputs connected in parallel for back-up or emergency systems
- 1x XLR Preamp Out picks up the signal directly after pre-amplification and can be used simultaneously with Out 1 and 2
- Dimensions: 482 x 88 x 210 mm
- Weight: 6 kg
PROS
- • Lundahl transformers deliver a noticeably richer, more detailed low-end response.
- • Discrete preamp offers clean gain up top, with a smooth, musical tube saturation.
- • Flexible routing options (Tube Post) allow for tailored tonal shaping and coloration.
- • Dual mic inputs with independent phantom power simplify A/B testing for vocalists/instruments.
CONS
- • Premium-priced, putting it out of reach for many project studios or hobbyists.
- • Limited to a single channel; requires multiple units for multi-mic or stereo tracking.
- • Transient designer, while useful, might feel overwhelming for users unfamiliar with it.
Product Video
Key Features
Channels
1
Preamp Type
Discrete Class A with Tube Saturation
Gain Range
+60 dB (instrument input), +68 dB (microphone input)
Phantom Power
48V (switchable per input)
Connections
1x XLR Microphone Input, 1x XLR Line Input, 1x 6.3mm Instrument Input, 1x XLR Output (Out 1)
Weight
5.5 kg (approx. 12.1 lbs)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Tube Post places the saturation *after* EQ, adding warmth and harmonic richness without influencing EQ decisions, offering more subtle tonal shaping.
The de-esser is designed to be relatively transparent, but aggressive settings can introduce some pumping or unnaturalness – careful adjustment is key.
While sharing similar functionality, the SPL offers a more modern, flexible feature set and a distinct tube saturation character; the Neve and API offer classic, more 'vintage' tones.
