Universal Audio SOLO/110

A single-channel Class A mic pre and DI built on the "ultra-fidelity" reputation of UA's flagship 8110. Clean, clear, and still able to get crunchy when pushed.

Overview

The Precision 110 is the solid-state half of Universal Audio's SOLO series. It is a compact single-channel mic preamp and direct box that arrived in the mid-2000s as the affordable entry point into the company's preamp heritage. Its sibling, the SOLO/610, carries the all-tube Putnam 610 console lineage. The Precision 110 descends from UA's flagship Precision 110 mic pres, which are Class A, all-discrete designs. The company's own literature describes them as "ultra-fidelity," a sound both clean and clear yet still offering a wide tonal range. Universal Audio pitched the SOLO series as "Stellar Sound, Boutique Build, Project Price," hand-built in the USA and aimed at project studios that wanted UA tone without a flagship price tag.

The two units share the same chassis and control set, so the difference is entirely in the circuit. UA's marketing framed the choice plainly: the all-tube SOLO/610 for "silky vintage warmth," or the SOLO/110 "from the mighty 8110" for "lightning-fast transients, and sheer tonal versatility - ultra-clean to crunchy Class A."

The front panel has gain and level controls, plus a switchable input impedance, which UA billed as delivering "maximum tonal variety." The rear adds a mic or line level output selector and a ground-lift switch. As a direct box it does the job without fuss, and the layout follows the SOLO series house pattern. Mix (2005, p.49) ran the launch advertising for the SOLO/610 and SOLO/110 together, positioning both as "go-anywhere" preamps for desktop studio or stage.

The Precision 110 is not a channel strip. There is no EQ, no compressor, no converter. It is a clean gain stage with a flexible impedance control and enough headroom for anything from a humble dynamic to an esoteric condenser. The Class A discrete topology gives it the speed and openness the 8110 lineage is known for. The impedance switch lets a single preamp suit a wider range of microphones and instruments than a fixed-impedance design would.

What it does carry is genuine UA construction and a circuit descended from a flagship design, which is more than most single-channel pres at its price point can claim. Buyers should confirm the exact variant, since the SOLO/610 and SOLO/110 share a faceplate layout and are easy to confuse in a listing. They should also check that the impedance switch and output-level selector work, as those are the controls that define the unit's usefulness.

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