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Head-to-head · Best Audio Interfaces

Audient iD4 MkII vs Universal Audio Apollo X GEN 2

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Audient iD4 MkII and Universal Audio Apollo X GEN 2 score essentially the same (4.5 vs 4.5). Pick the one whose trade-offs match your priorities — the strengths and watch-outs below are where they actually differ.

Audient iD4 MkII
Ranked #2 in Best Audio Interfaces
Audient iD4 MkII
3 sources$195as of Jul 31

The Audient iD4 MkII packs professional performance into a compact desktop box with an all-metal shell. Reviews cite a -114.8 dB A-weighted noise floor and 115.0 dB of dynamic range. The complaints are physical: the volume knob feels flimsy, and volume settings reset every time you power cycle. It also skips the input monitoring hardware its sibling, the iD14 MkII, includes. Solo recording setups are a good match; anyone wanting more advanced monitoring features will be disappointed.

Strengths
  • — All-metal construction with solid heft and professional appearance
  • — Excellent technical performance with low noise floor (-114.8 dB A-weighted)
  • — Good dynamic range (115.0 dB A-weighted)
Watch-outs
  • — Volume knob feels less robust compared to other models
  • — Volume level does not persist between power cycles
  • — No input monitoring on hardware (unlike iD14 MkII)
$195 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Universal Audio Apollo X GEN 2
Ranked #3 in Best Audio Interfaces
Universal Audio Apollo X GEN 2
3 sourcesall derived$1,199as of Jul 31

The Universal Audio Apollo X Gen 2 is a substantial refresh of the Apollo line, keeping Thunderbolt connectivity while improving dynamic range and lowering THD. Reviewers pointed to the industry-leading Unison preamps, the pristine conversion quality, and real-time UAD processing, with Sonarworks SoundID correction now integrated for monitoring accuracy. The premium price and the missing Thunderbolt cable were both noted as drawbacks. Professional musicians and producers who want studio-grade performance on a desk are who it's for.

Strengths
  • — Industry-leading Unison preamps with analog emulation
  • — Pristine AD/DA conversion with wide dynamic range
  • — Real-time UAD plugin processing for zero-latency tracking
Watch-outs
  • — Premium price point
  • — No Thunderbolt cable included in the box
$1,199 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Audient iD4 MkII

The Audient iD4 MkII offers excellent technical performance with a low noise floor and good dynamic range, surpassing the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen and Behringer UMC22 in these areas. However, it lacks the analog preamp features of the Universal Audio Volt Series and the specialized podcasting capabilities of the Focusrite Vocaster Two, making it more suitable for solo recording setups rather than multi-mic tracking or podcasting.

Universal Audio Apollo X GEN 2

The Universal Audio Apollo X Gen 2 excels in industry-leading Unison preamps and real-time UAD processing, features not available in the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen or Audient iD4 MkII. While it's more expensive than the Behringer UMC22, it provides pristine AD/DA conversion and professional-grade performance that the budget option cannot match, and unlike the Focusrite Vocaster Two, it's built for professional studios rather than podcasting.

Specs side-by-side

SpecAudient iD4 MkIIUniversal Audio Apollo X GEN 2
Inputs24x XLR-1/4" Combo
Outputs22x Balanced 1/4" TRS
ConnectivityUSB-C, 3.5mm jack, 1/4" jackThunderbolt 3
Sample Rate96kHz—
Bit Depth24-bit24-bit
PreampsJFET4x Unison-enabled
PowerPhantom power available—
Headphone Jack3.5mm and 1/4-inch—
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