Which budget USB stereo audio interface?

[R_A]

Which budget USB stereo audio interface is currently considered the best buy?

I need:
Stereo Mic & Line inputs
Pre-amps
As good as it can be headphone amplifier
MIDI I/O

It's mainly for remote work on a laptop and recording voice overs. I'll be mostly working on headphones (and only need one headphone out).

As far as I can tell my options are:
Focusrite Scarlett 4i4
SSL 2 Plus
Steinberg UR242
Steinberg UR-RT2

Is the headphone amplifier better in any of these models? Do any of these models have reliability / quality issues?

[fatbenelton]

I’m sure they will all be fine but Motu M2 might be worth a look at the higher end of the budget range. Had the M4 and very impressed. Also had a super cheap Presonus Audiobox USB96 for my son and it was really good! Midi was proper 5 pin DIN as well. Headphone out seemed fine to me.

[sonics]

The MOTU M2 and M4 would seem to be very good indeed, but you should add the Tascam US-2x2HR and the PreSonus Studio 24c to your list.

[resistorman]

The list could become very long

[OneWorld]

The list could become very long

Yep, and I for one won't be sat here writing that list! Best I could suggest is to advise going to the Reviews section

[Arpangel]

The list could become very long

Yep, and I for one won't be sat here writing that list! Best I could suggest is to advise going to the Reviews section

The Behringer UMC202HD, it’s fine, will do the job, exceptional value for money.
IMO, if I wanted to spend more, it would be the Focusrite Clarett 2Pre, only worth it if care about that last inch of audio quality, there would be a noticeable difference in some circumstances.

[ef37a]

Which budget USB stereo audio interface is currently considered the best buy?

I need:
Stereo Mic & Line inputs
Pre-amps
As good as it can be headphone amplifier
MIDI I/O

It's mainly for remote work on a laptop and recording voice overs. I'll be mostly working on headphones (and only need one headphone out).

As far as I can tell my options are:
Focusrite Scarlett 4i4
SSL 2 Plus
Steinberg UR242
Steinberg UR-RT2

Is the headphone amplifier better in any of these models? Do any of these models have reliability / quality issues?

Do you mean "two mics PLUS two line inputs"? If so the MOTU M4 is no-brainer.

I have had the Behringer 204HD and it is "ok" but not a patch on the M4.

Dave.

[Wonks]

Whilst budget, do you still need the recording quality to be as best you can get? Are the voice-overs full commercial quality or do they just need to be good enough for a decent podcast etc?

[ef37a]

Whilst budget, do you still need the recording quality to be as best you can get? Are the voice-overs full commercial quality or do they just need to be good enough for a decent podcast etc?

Also, MIDI was mentioned and that usually goes with a low latency requirement. I did not check my 204 with MIDI but I would guess the M4 beats it?

Dave.

[R_A]

Whilst budget, do you still need the recording quality to be as best you can get? Are the voice-overs full commercial quality or do they just need to be good enough for a decent podcast etc?

Commercial work. 95% of ADR happens in a studio. This is for the occasions when this is not possible & when I've got some spare time to do some remote work on a laptop.

My main concern is the headphone amplifier. I've not purchased a little audio interface in a long time - the last budget audio interface I owned was an MBox2. The headphone amplifier was bad.

I don't trust MOTU products (a couple of mates have had trouble with them & my own MIDI Express 128 is flakey to the point where I'd much rather get on my knees & unplug / replug the MIDI inputs from my RME sound-card if I need access to another module when working on music projects). I'd never buy anything Behringer - I hear they've got a bit better, but for the sake of a little extra money I'd rather not lose any time.

I guess the options are:

SSL 2 Plus
Clarett+ 2Pre
Steinberg UR-RT2

Does anyone know if the headphone output is better on any of these products - or are they all much the same?

Thank you

[Drew Stephenson]

SOS review of the Clarett 8 here: https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/fo ... arett-8pre
Quotes technical improvements to the headphone amp.

SSL2 review also has positive mention of the headphone amp: https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/ssl-2-plus

Doesn't look like SOS has reviewed the Steinberg.

[Wonks]

I like the Julian Krause YouTube reviews of the smaller interfaces. He’s certainly covered the Steinberg interfaces.

https://www.youtube.com/@JulianKrause/videos

He covers things like the headphone outputs and how well they power low and high impedance headphones.

[DGL.]

Whilst budget, do you still need the recording quality to be as best you can get? Are the voice-overs full commercial quality or do they just need to be good enough for a decent podcast etc?

Also, MIDI was mentioned and that usually goes with a low latency requirement. I did not check my 204 with MIDI but I would guess the M4 beats it?

Dave.

Didn't notice any issues with the MIDI interface on mine, even when using it to do a MIDI sample dump to my S2.

[ef37a]

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/na ... dio-6-mkii

Not on the list but my Mk1 is an excellent interface in almost all respects except feeble phantom power. This is fixed in the Mk2.

You make much of headphone performance R.A? Are you seeking high levels because if so you might have a problem? 'Bus' powered headphone amplifiers are always going to be limited* in power output and possibly in the sound quality. If high,hi-fi phones levels are really an issue you might look at an external H/P amplifier?

I can understand your prejudice for the "B" products but really must protest at your dismissal of the M4! My son and I have had one each for over a year and had no problems at all. MOTU are also very helpful people.

If the post had not said "budget" I would have suggested "RME Babyface" NO brainer!

*N.B. This does NOT mean line output voltages must be limited as has been suggested in past reviews.

Dave.

[tea for two]

Commercial work. 95% of ADR happens in a studio.

My main concern is the headphone amplifier.

+1 for Julian Krause testing audio interfaces including headphone out.
Motu M2 M4, Focusrite Clarett+ 2 has the best headphone outs in their price range according to Julian's test measurements.

I currently have M-Audio M-Track 2*2 usb C. The M version had MIDI in out. It's possibly a bit long in the tooth 2016 yet the MIDI version is available approx £50 used.
Headphone out is alright not too bad.
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/m- ... k-2x2m-2x2

[ajay_m]

I have a KA6mk2 and have previously owned some Roland interfaces and a Scarlett 6i6. The KA6 is superior to these with good low latency audio performance and very quiet preamps. It does not suffer from usb noise and the metering and controls are quite adequate.

[Arpangel]

I like the Julian Krause YouTube reviews of the smaller interfaces. He’s certainly covered the Steinberg interfaces.

https://www.youtube.com/@JulianKrause/videos

He covers things like the headphone outputs and how well they power low and high impedance headphones.

Thanks for posting that link, his reviews are refreshingly good, with no "waffle"
What he says about the Behringer 404 is spot on, and I’d confirm everything he says, the low output level, can be a problem in some cases.
Another issue is that when the the line inputs are selected, you have little adjustment over input level, I use the instrument inputs for line level signals, and they enable me to adjust signals to give a much lower recording level.
If I don’t use the instrument inputs, my hardware mixer faders have to be set way below 0dB to achieve a decent level.

[ef37a]

If adequate headphone level really is a sticking point can I suggest the AKG K92 headphones?

These are of a decent 32 Ohm impedance and a high sensitivity of 113db/V. I find I need my laptop at only 50% for more than enough level and I am clinically deaf!

The cans are also comfortable and light in weight. They sound pretty good to me as well!

Dave.

[jaminem]

If it was me, I would rule out anything that doesn't have 2 headphone outs.
You may not need them atm but if you're doing anything with another person this is essential IMO.

So this rules the smaller Focusrites out, think you have the get to a 6i6 before you get 2.
The Audient range has 2 from the base model ID4 Mk2

[ef37a]

If it was me, I would rule out anything that doesn't have 2 headphone outs.
You may not need them atm but if you're doing anything with another person this is essential IMO.

So this rules the smaller Focusrites out, think you have the get to a 6i6 before you get 2.
The Audient range has 2 from the base model ID4 Mk2

Yes but, two headphone feeds does not necessarily mean either is hotter than a single output, they share the same supply. I assume this is the OP's main requirement?

Dave.

[jaminem]

It was more of a general guidance post based on ease of working and practical experience than a specific answer about the quality or design of headphone amps in particular interfaces...

[Arpangel]

If headphone out's were that important to me. I’d get a dedicated headphone amp, in fact, the Behringer one isn’t that bad.

[ef37a]

It was more of a general guidance post based on ease of working and practical experience than a specific answer about the quality or design of headphone amps in particular interfaces...

Fair enough but then OP has not actually specified what it is he is seeking from a cans output? FYI I know he disses the "B" word but the HA400 is easily loud enough and really very good sound quality. Same chips as a high end H/P amp.

Dave.

[R_A]

If adequate headphone level really is a sticking point can I suggest the AKG K92 headphones?

These are of a decent 32 Ohm impedance and a high sensitivity of 113db/V. I find I need my laptop at only 50% for more than enough level and I am clinically deaf!

The cans are also comfortable and light in weight. They sound pretty good to me as well!

Level is not a problem. Sound quality is. My HD650 headphones sound okay when powered by a little Drawmer MC2.1 - but sound horrible when powered by a Digidesign MBox2.

Thank you very much to everyone who contributed to this thread. I now have enough information to do a little more research and make a choice. I'll report back in a three months or so to let you know how I've got on with whichever product I choose.

[Wonks]

Best of luck!