Blackstar POLAR 2 Audio Interface

Feel and response of a real guitar amp –The only audio interface in the market with a FET input stage and Enhance feature that mimics the behaviour, characteristics, and electronics normally found on the input stage of a valve guitar amplifier. Plugging a guitar directly into a normal audio interface produces an anaemic signal with peaky transients, which makes playing through amp plugins sound like a plugin, not an amp. With the flick of a switch, POLARs Enhance feature makes all software amp plugins sound better by restoring the touch, feel and response of real amps. Works perfectly with pedalboards, no need for D.I. boxes or extra hardware.

Setting levels made foolproof –Our innovative input stage will never digitally clip, allowing the user to drive the interface like an amp. The input stage has an impressive amount of headroom running on +/- 12V giving 24V headroom, an outstanding comparison to competitor units at 5V. Setting guitar input levels and improving your tone has never been easier. We put an equal amount of effort into designing the POLAR MIC preamps, which boast a response that matches one of the most famed preamps in studio history: the Neve 1081. In a blind A/B setup, the POLAR sounded identical to the vintage Neve. Additionally, the Enhance function on the MIC input acts as a gentle high-frequency lift that adds just the right amount of air and clarity to vocals.

Quick and simple to use – While Enhance improves feel, it was also engineered with an input stage that cannever digitally clipfor foolproof input level setting. Users can set levels quickly without worrying about clipping, allowing them to focus on the most important part: the music. POLARs innovative features, alongside an incredibly low noise floor (115db), 48V phantom power and headphone outputs that can drive both high and low impedance models, make POLAR the go-to audio interface for all musicians who record guitar and audio.

Features

• 2-channel versions
• FET high headroom +/-24V inputs, low noise -121dB
• INST Enhance switch reacts like the input stage of a valve amplifier
• INST Enhance input never clips, foolproof input level setting
• MIC Enhance adds air and clarity
• MIC preamp same response as Neve 1081
• Headphones Outputs
• Monitor Outputs
• 48V Phantom Power

Specifications

• Number of Microphone Preamps 2
• Phantom Power Yes, 48V
• Instrument Inputs 2
• Line Inputs 2
• Line Outputs 2
• Headphone Outputs 1
• Loopback Yes
• Connectivity USB Type-C
• Protocol USB 2.0
• Form Factor Desktop
• Simultaneous I/O 4 x 4 (including Loopback inputs)
• A/D Resolution 24-bit/192 kHz
• Bus Powered Yes (960mA)
• Supported Sample Rates 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz

Microphone inputs

• Frequency Response 20-20kHz 0.1dB
• Dynamic Range 109dB (A-Weighted)
• THD+N -101dB (-103dB A-Weighted); 0dB Gain, 950mVrms, 20Hz-24kHz BW
• Noise EIN -121dBu (A-Weighted)
• Maximum Input Level 2dBu
• Gain Range 53dB
• Impedance 3.3k

Line inputs

• Frequency Response 20-20kHz 0.2dB
• Dynamic Range 112dB (A-Weighted)
• THD+N -85dB (-85dB A-Weighted); 8dB Gain, 380mVrms, 20Hz-24kHz BW
• Maximum Input Level 10dBu
• Gain Range 55dB
• Impedance 500k

Instrument Input

• Frequency Response 20-20kHz 0.2dB
• Dynamic Range 112dB (A-Weighted)
• THD+N -82dB (-81dB A-Weighted); 3dB Gain, 630mVrms, 20Hz-24kHz BW
• Maximum Input Level 10dBu
• Gain Range 46dB
• Impedance 500k

Line outputs (Balanced)

• Frequency Response 20-20kHz 0.15dB
• Dynamic Range 93dB
• THD+N -80dB
• Maximum Output Level 12.8dBu
• Impedance 1k

Headphone outputs

• Frequency Response 20-20kHz 0.15dB @ 33 / 300
• Dynamic Range 110dB @ 33
• 107dB @ 300
• THD+N -83dB @ 33
• -85dB @ 300
• Maximum Output Level 7dBu into 33
• 15.2dBu into 300
• Maximum Output Power 85mW into 33
• 66mW into 300
• Impedance 10

Analogue to Digital Converter

• THD+N -100dB THD+N
• Dynamic Range 114dB

Digital to Analogue Converter

• THD+N -100dB THD+N
• Dynamic Range 114dB

Power

• USB 960mA
• External (Optional) 4.8W
• Accessory USB A to DC cable, USB A to C cable