Blackstar Polar2 audio interface

The USB Audio Interface for Guitarists

Overview
Introducing Blackstar’s POLAR audio interface, designed specifically for anyone who records guitar.

POLAR provides the ultimate solution for these customers, with three clear reasons to purchase:
1. 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, POLAR’s “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.

2. 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.

3. Quick and simple to use
While “Enhance” improves feel, it was also engineered with an input stage that can never digitally clip for foolproof input level setting. Users can set levels quickly without worrying about clipping, allowing them to focus on the most important part: the music.
POLAR’s 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.

 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
Plus
Ableton Live Lite
Relab lx489 Essentials
Polar Control Software
Specification Included FREE Software
Specification Blackstar Polar 2
Overview
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 3.3kΩ
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 500kΩ
Specification
Instrument inputs
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 500kΩ
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 @ 33Ω / 300Ω
Dynamic Range 110dB @ 33Ω
107dB @ 300Ω
THD+N -83dB @ 33Ω
-85dB @ 300Ω
Maximum Output Level 7dBu into 33Ω
15.2dBu into 300Ω
Maximum Output Power 85mW into 33Ω
66mW into 300Ω
Impedance 10Ω
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