Between the well designed 4 band eq and filters, I can eq any well recorded track in seconds, and can usually beat a poorly recorded track into shape in a few minutes. The thing about the SSL Channel Strip is not so much how it sounds, which to me is pretty transparent, but how perfect the interface is. I do use the SSL bus comp religiously though, if that things $29 again GET IT!I see your point. Figured I had just bought them both I might as well use them in a track finally hehe. The couple times I did use it, I ended up using it the way I would Logic's EQ just to do some surgical cutting. I didnt really hear any sort of SSL 'punch' or anything that everyone talks about. I dont know maybe I haven't really cranked it and let it do its thing but it doesn't really do anything 'special' for me like the API and the V-Series do (watch the V-Series get super awesome when you crank boosts up to +12db hah).

I have both the SSL's and I think Ive used the E channel maybe twice. Its definitely not a Swiss-Army type of EQ (that would be more the 560) but what it does to heavy guitars and drums is awesome! For the style of music I make, an API board would be right at home here at my casa. You're using the 550 on the wrong material. I do use the SSL bus comp religiously though, if that things $29 again GET IT!

Meanwhile I found the API 550 to be pretty limited and I don't think it has ever made it to a final mix (of mine).You're using the 550 on the wrong material. I could and have mixed entire albums with only it, a reverb, and a buss compressor. It is often on every channel in my mixes. I've used it for many years now, and I have become so acclimated that I would really struggle to mix without the SSL E Channel.

Waves ssl e channel on vocals